To All Warriors: When Were You a Newbie?

by Joshua Rigley Banned
68 replies
I thought this would be a fun discussion.

To those of you who are earning a full-time living with IM, are considered "gurus" or are experts in IM, or who are simply active in this forum, would you be so kind as to answer the following:
  • When were you a newbie in IM?
  • How did you first start out?
  • How did you get to where you are today?
  • What do you wish you had done differently?
  • What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?

In short...what is your IM story?

As for myself...



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I started out in the Summer of '08. I was 18 years old at the time, and a college student. I had stumbled across an ad for "The Rich Jerk" ebook, which I took a look at. I had remembered seeing that ebook a couple of years before, but I couldn't get it at the time because I didn't have a paypal account.

I decided to buy the ebook, because although I didn't know anything about IM at the time, I knew I wanted to be self-employed. It's been a life-long dream of mine. Anyway, it was a great ebook. I loved the info, even though I didn't realize most of it was considered "black hat" by the IM community. Unfortunately, most of the info was outdated, so I couldn't use it. But I did start dreaming about the possibilities...

Sometime later the same year, I created an account for the WF, using an alias. I did a lot of reading, and a lot of pointless arguing, as some of you may remember.

I got a lot of useful information. But...



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I never took action.

Never. Not once. I just kept absorbing more information, telling myself I'd do it later. It took around 2 years before I finally did anything, and I had to literally force myself to take action. I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to do anything unless I'm absolutely sure I'm doing it right.

My first earned money online was from selling the $7 secrets script as an affiliate. I wrote a review, put it on a blogger blog, wrote an article, and put it on EZA. With no backlinking, I got to the 1st page (less than 10,000 competition, and EZA had more authority with Google back then).

After that, I went on vacation with my family, and when I got back about 2 weeks later, I had made 4 sales. Not a lot of money, but it was pretty exciting.

For some reason, I never tried to replicate my success. I told myself it was too much effort for too little reward. That was pretty short-sighted.

To this day, I still don't have an online business. I am taking action now, and am currently working on building an info-product. Although it's proving to be much harder than I thought it would be, I'm determined to see it through to the end.

The biggest mistake I made was this:



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I didn't take consistent, focused action.

If I had taken action every single day for just 15 minutes, working on the same method/technique/business without jumping around to other ideas, I'm almost sure I would have a 6-figure income by now.

My biggest regret is that I didn't simply work on something every single day for just a short while. I can see now what a huge mistake I made by not following up on the success I had with affiliate marketing, or by not committing to a single method until I had completed it.

But that's okay. It isn't too late for me to learn from my mistakes and change what I'm doing.

It's really hard though. Even though I'm determined to finish the project I'm working on, I still have to force myself to work on it. Why? I guess it's because I still don't have the business mindset.

The most important thing I've learned about running an online business, is that it takes a paradigm shift to make it happen. You need to change your mindset and your daily habits if you are to be successful.

That's why taking consistent, focused action is so important. If you were to work on one method/project for 15/30/60 minutes every day, for a whole month...it would be hard. Especially the first week. You'd keep finding excuses to just put it off and do something else.

Don't do that. Set aside a time of the day when you will work on your business, and let nothing (except family emergencies) get in the way.



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Here's a tip; on the evening before, write a list of tasks (write an article, submit article, etc.) that you want to complete the next day. Then, set an amount of time that you will spend on those tasks. After that, set a time of day that you will use to work on those tasks. You may want to use an egg timer to help you stay focused and on task. Or, you could use software such as "The Action Machine", to help you out.

Look, even if you don't make any money after the first month, it won't matter. You will have gained something far more valuable than money; you will have gained the habit of building an online business, and that is invaluable.

Okay, I'm done. It's your turn now. What's your IM story?

Joshua
#gurus #newbie #warrior
  • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
    I grew up a poor black child living on a farm in middle America. Shortly after Paw lost his leg to a rabid coyote, I ventured off to the big city. After working as a carnie, a dishwasher, and a belly dancer, I stumbled across an old ADAM computer in the dumpster I was living in. From that dumpster, I made my first squeeze page. The rest is history.
    Signature

    Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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    • Profile picture of the author John Durham
      Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

      I grew up a poor black child living on a farm in middle America. Shortly after Paw lost his leg to a rabid coyote, I ventured off to the big city. After working as a carnie, a dishwasher, and a belly dancer, I stumbled across an old ADAM computer in the dumpster I was living in. From that dumpster, I made my first squeeze page. The rest is history.

      My story is similar... only I saw something shiny on the ground and I was hungry...i thought it was a candy wrapper that might be only partially eaten, so I picked it up and it was a piece of a cell phone, and suddenly my mind went to reeling...you see we had never had a phone in our cardboard box, we just parked it under a telephone pole and when we needed to call some one we just climbed to the top and yelled at people.

      Till our box melted, then we had to move under the bridge, which is where I made the discovery..

      Finding that piece of phone changed my life, and later I had all the candy bars I could ever dream of, even protein sometimes.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
      Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

      ...in the dumpster I was living in.
      Years ago I was cleaning up my wood shop and filled a large trash can full with sawdust and extrainious small woodchips that were swept up from in and around the various pieces of equipment (saws, drill presses, grinders/sanders, lathes, etc.).

      I hoisted the now heavy trash can and walked over to the dumpster and emptied the trash can in a vile cloud of dust and debris that filled whatever air remained in the dumpster, as well as the extended proximity.

      Almost immediatly a dust covered dumpster diver raised up from inside my dumpster, and let me tell you it was quite a sight.

      I think it was the first bath he had taken in a month...:rolleyes:

      ~Bill
      Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author sanjaysharma
      Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

      I grew up a poor black child living on a farm in middle America. Shortly after Paw lost his leg to a rabid coyote, I ventured off to the big city. After working as a carnie, a dishwasher, and a belly dancer, I stumbled across an old ADAM computer in the dumpster I was living in. From that dumpster, I made my first squeeze page. The rest is history.
      and what is your answer regarding these three questions.

      1. How did you get to where you are today?
      2. What do you wish you had done differently?
      3. What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?

      i am really interested to know your wisdom regarding these three questions.

      sanjay sharma
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    • Profile picture of the author Kal Sallam
      Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

      and a belly dancer .
      Belly Dancers make an unbelievable amount of money!
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      • Profile picture of the author RyanJohnson
        Originally Posted by Kal Sallam View Post

        Belly Dancers make an unbelievable amount of money!
        I don't know about that but EBR did shake MC Hammer's hand once. I saw the picture so I know it's true.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    * When were you a newbie in IM?

    1996-2001.


    * How did you first start out?

    Ghost writing.


    * How did you get to where you are today?

    Worked my ass off. I put full-time in on the computer, while working a 60-hour a week job.


    * What do you wish you had done differently?

    Outsourced more.
    Built systems that required less of my daily labor to be effective.
    Built systems that could survive my absence.


    * What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?

    Learn all you can.
    Try, fail, and keep trying until you get it right.
    Don't be afraid to work hard to achieve great results.
    Understand that in order to make real money online, you must offer people real value in exchange for those dollars.
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author CoreWorkouts
    I'M STILL A NEWBIE!! When will I be a 'guru'?
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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by CoreWorkouts View Post

      I'M STILL A NEWBIE!! When will I be a 'guru'?
      November 19th at 4pm.
      Signature

      Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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  • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
    What exactly would define someone as a guru?

    The knowledge to know how to become successful? Making $500,000 a year? Teaching others how to make money?

    As an example, I've had months where I've almost pulled in $20,000, does that make me a guru? Or is there a different definition.
    Signature

    My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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    • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
      Originally Posted by Justin Lewis View Post

      I've had months where I've almost pulled in $20,000, does that make me a guru? Or is there a different definition.
      A guru is somebody that likes sweets.
      Signature

      Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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      • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
        Originally Posted by E. Brian Rose View Post

        A guru is somebody that likes sweets.
        Oh yum!

        I totally made 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies in the last 48 hours equaling 1 cookie per hour (48 ).

        On top of that I am a huge fan of adding sugar to my oatmeal, making gingerbread houses (demolishing them of course), and slamming out some wicked Oreo fudge rounds!

        Whew.. I'm lucky my metabolism can handle all that. I must be a guru
        Signature

        My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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        • Profile picture of the author E. Brian Rose
          Originally Posted by Justin Lewis View Post

          Oh yum!

          I totally made 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies in the last 48 hours equaling 1 cookie per hour (48 ).

          On top of that I am a huge fan of adding sugar to my oatmeal, making gingerbread houses (demolishing them of course), and slamming out some wicked Oreo fudge rounds!

          Whew.. I'm lucky my metabolism can handle all that. I must be a guru
          You are definitely a guru.
          Signature

          Founder of JVZoo. All around good guy :)

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    • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
      It was a dark and stormy night,
      I had just gotten in from....I'd rather not say, when I found out this here computer got me something called an instaguru it arrived in my that there mail box I can shows ya if ya like, it says right there I can be's an instaguru just gots ta click that there link. So you know what I ma gonna do? I ma gonna click that link, so if I change into some guru thing don't be afraid it is just me wd I guess I would be WD Guru now, here we goooooo. "CLICK".....

      What... 9999.99 what in tarnation, how my goin ta get that there instaguru if I have to pay 9999.99
      YOU'LL MAKE MILLIONS JUST DROP IN YOUR 9999.99 DEPOSIT AND WATCH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT FLOOD WITH CASH, IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.... click here


      So I guess that there is how I got to be in this here farm house, playin with ma sling blade

      Thank you for your time I appreciate it
      -WD
      Signature

      "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    The first time in weeks that I took a question half-serious, I was one of the only persons in the thread who did...

    Suddenly I look like that name that my 4yo always calls me, "Butt Cheese!!" :p
    Signature
    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      The first time in weeks that I took a question half-serious, I was one of the only persons in the thread who did...
      I don't think any of the rest of us consider ourselves "Gurus"...

      ~Bill
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

        I don't think any of the rest of us consider ourselves "Gurus"...

        ~Bill

        Nor do I...

        This is what I answered:

        Originally Posted by Joshua Rigley View Post

        To those of you who are earning a full-time living with IM, are considered "gurus" or are experts in IM, or who are simply active in this forum, would you be so kind as to answer the following:
        Signature
        Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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        • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
          Originally Posted by Joshua Rigley View Post

          To those of you who are earning a full-time living with IM, are considered "gurus" or are experts in IM, or who are simply active in this forum, would you be so kind as to answer the following:
          Okay here goes. I'll take this serious for a second just to give my little rundown of how things went.

          Serious face.

          All throughout my childhood I was picked on, bullied, pushed around and I felt like I was pretty much worthless.

          In high school I roughly received straight E's and the occasional D, which led me to be able to pass my classes (that's how Virginia works..).

          I was never really "intelligent" I suppose and I honestly hated myself for everything that I was. I felt like I could never achieve anything and the teachers actually made me feel as if that was true.

          In 2005 (or 06) my brother Lee was diagnosed with cancer. He went from being this big dude, to this really small dude in the matter of months.

          It was a real shock to the entire family and I being somewhat close with him, felt like the world was just trying to screw all of us.

          Later that year he was told he had 3 months to live.

          Luckily, the doctors were wrong and he ended up living for another year and a half when he passed away in 2007 (I'm sorry if the dates are off, I was a different person).

          I was devastated because I had never lost anyone in my life and I told myself that I would change... well truth be told, I didn't really change that much. I ended up still screwing up in school. In 2007 I skipped classes probably more than 30 times, and somehow in 2008 I graduated.

          Well..

          Just a few days after my graduation, I was working on a cheap car that I had bought for $200, at my dads shop. My dad pulled me aside and told me that he had some bad news for me.

          He told me that my other brother, Jonathan, had passed away from committing suicide.

          I suddenly felt absolutely abandoned. My entire life fell apart and I felt like I would never get back up.

          Both of those moments totally screwed up my family, and they occured right before and after what was supposed to be one of the best days of my life.

          From that moment, I realized that life isn't all sunshine. It's tough. It's scary. It's real.

          I had to prove to my brothers that I could achieve something in my life. I had to prove to myself that I wouldn't let a single day pass by without living it. I had to show my family that I was worth something, not only for me, but so that they could have a son and be proud of me.. because I was the only one left.

          Well... my mom was an alcoholic (she's okay with me sharing this) so a few months after my brother Jonathan passed away I living on the streets in my 95' Pontiac Sunfire behind a cops house so that I could stay safe at night. Occasionally I would even sleep at the pizza shop that I was a delivery boy for on top of the pizza bags (they're no longer in business, so I have nothing to hide there).

          By the end of 2008 I met up with a friend, whereas we signed a lease together at the apartment that I am still living at today (due to leasing agreements ARG). I struggled to pay the bills, even with roommates, and could barely afford to do anything for myself.

          Sometime in 2009, I left the pizza place and started selling art on the streets. I thought that was fun, for the first 2 weeks, then I realized it was some pyramid scheme and immediately quit. They never paid me.

          As soon as that was over, I went to another pizza place and they hired me to work from 11am - 2pm as a dishwasher/delivery boy. I made very little, so after a few weeks, they got me hired at another pizza place where I would then work 11am - 2pm and then 5pm - 10pm.

          Near the middle of 2009, I got a job at a major trucking company as a dock worker where I drove the forklifts. I was now working from 11am - 2pm, then 5pm - 10pm, and then 11pm - 6am (sometimes even to 10am) Monday through Friday.

          Even then, I was barely making enough money and couldn't afford all of my expenses. I had rent, water, electricity (internet of course), and a few other small additional expenses that made my life bearable.

          Around the end of 2010, the trucking company told me they needed me to work more hours and the only option I had was to quit working for one of the pizza places. So I quit my night job.

          Well, a few weeks later, they told me they needed me even more, and it screwed up my hours at my day job, so I had to quit that one as well.

          So now I'm working nights and partial days for this trucking company which I absolutely hated. I would come home covered in black ash, smelling of burnt rubber, and I started to get health problems from breathing all of it in and working so hard.

          I would work at various different hours sometimes for 16 hours straight doing what I would consider hard labor (moving 150 tires tractor tires from trailor to trailer, picking up boxes that weight an average of 40lbs - 70lbs, bending over nonstop, getting on the forklift, nearly cutting off fingers with wires).

          That's when I started to look towards the internet as a way out. I didn't have time for it until around the end of December (right after Christmas it got REALLY slow).

          Then January hit.

          They laid me off on January 4th, 2010.

          I was in a position where I had to find a way out of this hell-hole, called "a job". They screwed me over so badly that I could acquire unemployment (they laid me off in between a quarter) for two months and I didn't receive health insurance, which I had worked 6 months for and they laid me off 5 months and 3 weeks into my time there...

          That's when I thought about my brothers, my family, my friends, my life.

          I realized that I had done exactly what I didn't want to do. I didn't achieve my dreams. I didn't do what I enjoyed. And I certainly didn't live a good lifestyle.

          In January, I put all my efforts into learning how to build websites, how to build traffic to them, and of course how to make money. With no prior experience, it was tough. I didn't know what I was doing, but I knew that I had just enough money that I would be okay until the end of February.

          My first step was to learn how to build a website. That was tough. I spent countless hours learning and trying to figure out how it all worked... it took time. And I honestly sucked at it.

          My second step was to get traffic to that site. I started joining forums, communicating, going on Yahoo Answers, classifieds, writing articles, all that jazz.

          My third step was learning how to make money from the site(s).

          To be fair. I didn't really profit that greatly in the beginning but when I made my first $0.23 off of AdSense (that check didn't come for months lol), I was jumping for joy. I ran up and down the streets, told all of my friends, called my family, shared the news with random neighbors, I was super stoked.

          And this is where I realized I had something huge.

          Every single person thought I was insane. They thought it was a stupid venture and I would never succeed. They did exactly what my teachers did and put me down.

          I was blown away, "How could people not realize that I made $0.23 online?", I thought to myself.

          I knew from that instant that if I could make $0.23, I could make $2.30, if I could make that, I could make $23.00, and of course from that I realized I could make $230.00, and then $2,300.00 and so on.

          Again, everyone thought I was crazy and they bashed the hell out of my ideas, they told me to find a "real job" and to stop going on about my small success.

          By February I had pulled in just a little over $100. So I didn't have rent money for the end of March (which is considered rent for April where I live).

          By the end of February, I made just enough money for rent and I was shocked. I couldn't believe I had done it. And all from this "internet thing". I felt like I was ontop of the world and nothing could hold me down.

          So that's my "story" as a newbie.

          Continuing on into my future, I had a big month in 2010 where I pulled in almost $6,000. In 2010 I have had multiple months where I have made upwards of $5,000, and even 2 months that exceeded $10,000. I've set my future to such a degree that some could consider me a "guru" but I don't like that term. I would rather just be "that dude".

          My goal for next year is to have a month where I pull in upwards of $100,000 and from seeing what I am doing this year with all of my niche websites and the progression that I am making in building websites faster and faster, I can definitely see that happening.

          Moral of the story: Take a risk. Don't be afraid. Take action. If you fail, try again. If you still don't succeed, try again. If something gets in your way, keep going. But be real with yourself. Don't let the money get to your head. Enjoy life.

          One last note.

          Sorry I may have taken this one a bit too seriously.. that was one of the longest things I have written pertaining to my life. But.. I'm proud of myself for at least writing it. If this get's deleted, I have it saved. Never give up on your dreams.
          Signature

          My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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          • Profile picture of the author john1818
            Originally Posted by Justin Lewis View Post

            Never give up on your dreams.

            Epic. You hit it the bulls-eye dude. It's nice to see and read stories such as yours over the net. it makes me feel that I can achieve whatever I want to achieve in the future. By the way, how long did it take for you to make thousands bucks a month? Just curious.

            Cheers,

            john
            Signature

            For white label SEO visit http://www.seoreseller.com

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            • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
              Originally Posted by john1818 View Post

              Epic. You hit it the bulls-eye dude. It's nice to see and read stories such as yours over the net. it makes me feel that I can achieve whatever I want to achieve in the future. By the way, how long did it take for you to make thousands bucks a month? Just curious.

              Cheers,

              john
              Glad I could help push you John

              I'm a little off with some dates as that was back when I started, but seeing as I truly started in right around the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, it took me about 3 months to reach $1,000/mo.

              It then rose upwards and is still continuing to increase. I am not some rich internet millionaire, but I understand what it takes to get there
              Signature

              My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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          • Profile picture of the author 1960Texan
            Great thread everyone, and @Justin Lewis, wow! What an inspirational post! Instead of focusing on what you couldn't change, you focused on the things that you could do something about. Never forget how strong you are.

            Will
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Hey everyone. I appreciate the humor y'all brought into this thread, it's fresh as always. But would you mind taking this a little more seriously? I really feel like the stories you guys have to share can really inspire some people. Personally, I love reading stories of how people started out in IM, had their first "ah-ha" moment that turned it around for them, and how they got to where they are.

    I know the word "guru" isn't a popular term here on WF, but I use it as a term of respect. I define a guru simply as someone who is experienced in a certain field, and is capable of teaching others to replicate their success (or avoid their failures). Though some people would call that a "teacher".

    So whichever term you prefer. I'd really like it if you guys could take a moment to share your personal IM stories, whether or not you consider yourself a guru. Being the sensitive soul that I am, I'm a little upset that the effort I put into this thread has been met mostly with snarky responses.

    Thanks for your time and for understanding.

    Joshua
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Justin, that's an awesome story. And when I think about it, my life is very similar to yours in some respects. I was also bullied a lot in school, put down by my teachers, lost a loved one because of cancer, got laid off a good job because they went out of business...though I gotta admit, my life has been nowhere near as tough as yours. My family has been very supportive of my goals for running an online business, even though they don't really understand it.

    Thanks for sharing your story. It truly is inspiring.
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    • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
      Originally Posted by Joshua Rigley View Post

      Justin, that's an awesome story. And when I think about it, my life is very similar to yours in some respects. I was also bullied a lot in school, put down by my teachers, lost a loved one because of cancer, got laid off a good job because they went out of business...though I gotta admit, my life has been nowhere near as tough as yours. My family has been very supportive of my goals for running an online business, even though they don't really understand it.

      Thanks for sharing your story. It truly is inspiring.
      I'm glad I could put on the serious face. It's tough to share that information sometimes, but I think it helps enlighten others to know that anything is possible, as long as you put your mind towards it.

      I'm not a salesman, I'm not outrageously interesting, I'm a regular dude, just like everyone else. People need to know that there aren't jerkwads all over the place on the internet.. even though a very large majority are in my opinion

      I want to say that it's cool that we have the same type of story, but I feel that's not really an amazing thing to have in common. If anything it sucks for both of us and we can't change anything about it. All we can do is live on, continue enjoying our lives, and reach for our dreams.

      But remember, if you don't achieve your dreams today. Who cares. You'll reach them one day. You just have to stay with it. Funny thing is... you might go in fighting for one dream and come out with another.

      I came in dreaming that I could one day make enough money to support myself without too much worry (no matter how much you make, there's always going to be worry).

      I ended up coming out with the dreams of helping others, sharing with as many people as I can, and ultimately doing something for this world. The people around me are fine, I'm here to protect them, but there are others out there in the world that I can't do anything about right now. Even making a decent income online, I want more. That way I can help more people, give hope to those that are hopeless and one day be looked up to, but not as a "guru". Just as "that dude". That dude that changed something

      Awww.. I got all teary eyed writing this lol.

      Glad I could share my 2 cents and keep at it Joshua! You will succeed, you are already succeeding, and you will continue to succeed.
      Signature

      My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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    • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
      Originally Posted by Joshua Rigley View Post

      Justin, that's an awesome story. And when I think about it, my life is very similar to yours in some respects. I was also bullied a lot in school, put down by my teachers, lost a loved one because of cancer, got laid off a good job because they went out of business...though I gotta admit, my life has been nowhere near as tough as yours. My family has been very supportive of my goals for running an online business, even though they don't really understand it.

      Thanks for sharing your story. It truly is inspiring.
      One last thing.

      Thank you for providing the link in your signature. I donated $25 to help Kim and suggest any other Warrior that has made even a little online to donate something. He's dealing with a lot more than I could probably ever deal with. It's stories like this that make me so grateful for what I have been given.

      For anyone out there that hasn't seen this go to: Kidney Transplant Medical Expenses by Kim Winfrey - GoFundMe

      Thanks again Joshua.
      Signature

      My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Barrs
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        The first time in weeks that I took a question half-serious, I was one of the only persons in the thread who did...
        Don't worry Buddy, I'll back you up

        When were you a newbie in IM?

        All the way back in the 90's. Remember them? Heck, some of these kids were born then!

        How did you first start out?

        Unemployed single father - had no choice, my youngest was only three. By the end of my first year I'd built a subscriber list of about 200 and earned about $1500. I had no cash reserves so I could only spend what I'd earned and put it back into building the business.

        How did you get to where you are today?

        I focused on learning skills that people would pay for.

        Website design, website marketing, sales processes, online automation. With these skills people paid me to do their sites for them. After a couple of years I then started teaching others to do the same. This began my first membership site in 2003.

        What do you wish you had done differently?

        I wish I'd focused on just one, maybe two things rather than all things. It took me a lot longer to make some serious money because I wanted to wait till I "knew it all" - Doh!

        Instead it's a far better idea to "just get started now". It doesn't have to be perfect, heck, it doesn't even have to be the best you can be - jusy get started.

        What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?

        1 - DON'T try and enter in the "how to make money" niche - forget about it. There are way too many people trying to teach how to make money who have never done it - therefore many IM newbies are learning the wrong things. EG - most WSO's.

        2 - Learn how to BUILD a BUSINESS not just a job. Don't get stuck on the "latest and greatest widget", whatever it is. Learn skills that will last a lifetime, not just a little while.

        Paul Barrs
        Signature
        **********
        It's Simple... I don't "sell" IM anymore, but still do lots of YouTube Videos
        **********
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        • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
          Originally Posted by Paul Barrs View Post

          Don't worry Buddy, I'll back you up

          When were you a newbie in IM?

          All the way back in the 90's. Remember them? Heck, some of these kids were born then!

          What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?

          1 - DON'T try and enter in the "how to make money" niche - forget about it. There are way too many people trying to teach how to make money who have never done it - therefore many IM newbies are learning the wrong things. EG - most WSO's.

          2 - Learn how to BUILD a BUSINESS not just a job. Don't get stuck on the "latest and greatest widget", whatever it is. Learn skills that will last a lifetime, not just a little while.

          Paul Barrs
          Well let's not be too hasty Paul What a lot of people lack is the focus to sit down and research properly, right? So regardless of the niche the discipline and will has to be there, without it any niche chosen would be just as useless as the next.

          But that ties into your advice on building a business. While I completely agree there is a ton of people "teaching" who have never even broken a dollar nevermind 10 thousand or more but that doesn't mean people shouldn't pursue the niche, it just means like anything they need to develop a strategy and ramp up what works, don't mean to disagree here partner but just wanted to add that
          -WD
          Signature

          "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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        • Profile picture of the author Azarna
          Originally Posted by Paul Barrs View Post


          What do you wish you had done differently?

          I wish I'd focused on just one, maybe two things rather than all things. It took me a lot longer to make some serious money because I wanted to wait till I "knew it all" - Doh!

          Instead it's a far better idea to "just get started now". It doesn't have to be perfect, heck, it doesn't even have to be the best you can be - jusy get started.
          A huge thank you for this. I am very much a newbie and still dithering - 'learning and preparing'. Having read this I am now going to draw up an action plan, with clear goals and deadlines. I will never 'know it all', so you are quite right, it is better to get on with it than procrastinate any longer.
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      • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Justin Lewis View Post

        One last thing.

        Thank you for providing the link in your signature. I donated $25 to help Kim and suggest any other Warrior that has made even a little online to donate something. He's dealing with a lot more than I could probably ever deal with. It's stories like this that make me so grateful for what I have been given.

        For anyone out there that hasn't seen this go to: Kidney Transplant Medical Expenses by Kim Winfrey - GoFundMe

        Thanks again Joshua.
        Thanks for doing that Justin. It thrills me beyond words to know that donating my sig to Kim has led to at least one donation for his kidney transplant. I was starting to think it wasn't making any difference at all. Here's to hoping he makes a speedy recovery.

        Once again, thank you to everyone that has shared their experiences. I hope other Warriors will share their IM stories as well. This is shaping up to be a great thread, thanks again for your contributions.

        Joshua
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        • Profile picture of the author Paul Barrs
          Originally Posted by WD Mino View Post

          Well let's not be too hasty Paul What a lot of people lack is the focus to sit down and research properly, right? So regardless of the niche the discipline and will has to be there, without it any niche chosen would be just as useless as the next.

          But that ties into your advice on building a business. While I completely agree there is a ton of people "teaching" who have never even broken a dollar nevermind 10 thousand or more but that doesn't mean people shouldn't pursue the niche, it just means like anything they need to develop a strategy and ramp up what works, don't mean to disagree here partner but just wanted to add that
          -WD
          Just adding my POV brother, it's neither right nor wrong, it's just my POV

          Originally Posted by Azarna View Post

          A huge thank you for this. I am very much a newbie and still dithering - 'learning and preparing'. Having read this I am now going to draw up an action plan, with clear goals and deadlines. I will never 'know it all', so you are quite right, it is better to get on with it than procrastinate any longer.
          Glad my words helped.

          Consider this also - even a bad sales letter / poor product will still make money when you put the right people in front of it.

          Paul
          Signature
          **********
          It's Simple... I don't "sell" IM anymore, but still do lots of YouTube Videos
          **********
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  • Profile picture of the author Sheila Dunfrey
    I am not a guru, i am a newbie here. It's good that there's a thread like this. I learned from you (gurus) so much. I will certainly apply some tips and ideas here. Thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author WD Mino
    My story is simple.
    I started out online back in 06 I made my first sale through a giveaway ran by reed floren for 97 bucks, I thought this is it, I have done it that was the only sale, but it gave me the confidence to know I could do this.

    Fast forward to present I have now made thousands online doing this, the key is simple. Learn.APPLY.Never give up NEVER if something doesn't work, bye bye find what does, don't waste your time and energy beating a dead horse no money to be made that way, due dilligence is not just a phrase or saying it is a requirement, before you buy anything, write anything, partner with anyone, due diligence will help you keep on track and that is invaluable.

    Build relationships with people, help people,when you create a product (which is always advisable) make sure you consider the end user, the person who is going to buy the product should have the easiest experience possible, be a good person, help your customers, and you will continually propel forward, you will have flops in fact Paul and I just had one flop this past week, you never arrive and you never stop learning.But if Paul and I had not had relationship that never would have happened to begin with. This business is all about relationships and though not everyone will like you who cares if they don't many will

    Cheers
    -WD
    Signature

    "As a man thinks in his heart so is he-Proverbs 23:7"

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  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Riley
    Originally Posted by Joshua Rigley View Post

    I thought this would be a fun discussion.

    To those of you who are earning a full-time living with IM, are considered "gurus" or are experts in IM, or who are simply active in this forum, would you be so kind as to answer the following:
    • When were you a newbie in IM?
    1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

    • How did you first start out?
    1994 EDIT: (Can't read English, that's "how" not "when") The kid down the road had this new-fangled provider thingy and my new computer had Netscape. the rest is history.


    • How did you get to where you are today?
    Pain, lots of pain. Do you have any idea what it was like in those early day? Telnet uploads, no video, pictures the size of thumbnails, ugly (very ugly) graphics and icons...


    • What do you wish you had done differently?
    Bought a Mac instead of the damned Windows machines


    • What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?
    Quit reading and go get it done.
    Signature
    Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan

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    • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Kevin Riley View Post

      1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

      1994 EDIT: (Can't read English, that's "how" not "when") The kid down the road had this new-fangled provider thingy and my new computer had Netscape. the rest is history.


      Pain, lots of pain. Do you have any idea what it was like in those early day? Telnet uploads, no video, pictures the size of thumbnails, ugly (very ugly) graphics and icons...


      Bought a Mac instead of the damned Windows machines


      Quit reading and go get it done.
      Hey Kevin, thanks for your input. I actually do have some memories of what the net was like back in the 90s (I had learned HTML, CSS, and some Javascript when I was just 10 years old...so somewhere between 1999 and 2000).

      To be honest, although it was really hard back then, I wish I had just built a website and kept with it all this time. I always get nostalgia when I think of those old websites.

      LOL about Windows. Been a PC user my whole life. Tried a Mac ONCE, and hated it because it was so different. I think my first PC was a Pentium II with Windows 95. I remember playing really old 2D games on that machine. Good times.

      Everyone else, thank you for sharing your stories and giving your feedback. I'm grateful.
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  • Profile picture of the author greenowl123
    Thanks Justin for sharing with us.

    That was the most inspiring thing I have read here on WF.

    I thought EXACTLY the same thing you though when you made your first pennies online.

    I knew that if I could make $30 my first month, then eventually I could make $300 a month or $3,000 a month, with more knowledge and experience. My fiancee at the time thought I was nuts, and thought that 30 bucks was more or less is what I would earn every month.

    She is eating her words now, as are many others. Persistence is everything.

    Like Thomas Edison said when asked about perfecting the light bulb : "I have not failed. I have just discovered 10,000 ways that don´t work."
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    Total new respect for Paul Barrs here. Many props! Many props!

    The determined single Dad thing gets me everytime. Much respect brother.
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  • Profile picture of the author simonbuzz
    Banned
    I am making a very good amount of money online but still I will call myself a newbie cause I am learning new things everyday.
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  • Profile picture of the author vip-ip
    I'll remain a newbie until my first million

    Best Regards,
    vip-ip ...
    Signature
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  • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
    Started back in '07. Made a lot of money fast and it was the worst thing that could have happened as it lead me to believe it would always be that easy. Over time, I have done very well and currently am in process of doing something I really enjoy - being an RN. My IM stuff is working for me and will be set aside for retirement down the line. This is a great place that has taught me so much.
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  • Profile picture of the author GetKane
    Banned
    I was a newbie in 2005, but things have changed so much since then that alot of what I did back then was irrelevant.
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    • Profile picture of the author vip-ip
      Originally Posted by kaneinsurance View Post

      I was a newbie in 2005, but things have changed so much since then that alot of what I did back then was irrelevant.
      How many years did it take to make this realization and come to that conclusion?

      Best Regards,
      vip-ip ...
      Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
        • When were you a newbie in IM?
        1997, only I hadn't heard of IM, I just started a hobby web site and started making money pretty quickly. Sometimes I think it's easier if you don't have bunch of other people's rules to follow.
        • How did you first start out?
        I was a shift supervisor for the security department of a large company. Three weeks before Christmas they laid off the whole department and went to contract services. I took part of my severance pay and bought my first computer. Taught myself HTML, graphics, FTP, and a bunch of other things and built a hobby site. The "hobby" part didn't last long.
        • How did you get to where you are today?
        One fellow soon discovered my hobby site and asked me how much I'd charge to make a background graphic for him. I asked what he wanted but had no idea what to charge. He wanted a left border background image that looked like a coast line. I made it and told him if he liked it he could just pay me what he thought it was worth. He gave me $75. That was a "light bulb" moment for me, and that's when I started offering a "pay what you think it's worth" graphics service.

        Then I started posting free graphics, and soon had an inquiry from a company that wanted to include my graphics with their HTML editor, another company soon wanted to use some in a computer game, and then Ziff Davis, now ZDNet, the worlds largest publisher of computer books and magazines wanted my graphics for a CD-rom book insert.


        I also started writing web design tutorials because I kept getting the same "how do I do this" questions via email. My "fans" urged me to start a newsletter. A publisher asked me to write a book and I was written about in books, magazines, and newsletters. The rest, as they say, is history.
        • What do you wish you had done differently?
        Started a mailing list sooner, started studying marketing sooner, and started investing in my mind sooner.
        • What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?
        In some ways you could say I accidentally started an online business. I started with a hobby site, but in 2 years it was my full-time business. If I wasn't married I would have gone full-time after one year.

        Would you like to know the reason I've been blessed with much success without knowing a darn thing about marketing?

        Value. I delivered as much value as I knew how. I didn't follow anyone's system or method - I'd never even heard of that kind of stuff. I just blazed my own trail based on my own creativity and common sense. I wasn't afraid to fail . . . well, I was actually, but I ignored my fear. Fear keeps you sharp, but shouldn't become your master.

        Failures are learning bridges. Bridges are shortcuts between two points. Failures are the shortcuts to success!

        There is a star that shines only for you. Believe it. Believe in yourself. Success is not an event. It's a process. Learn from others when you can and where you can, but remember that YOU are the chief decision maker and action taker for your business. Design and work your processes. Follow your star in this way and you'll find your success.


        @ Justin Lewis - There are some parallels between your story and mine when I was your age. You just earned a heap of respect from me for how you've handled your challenges. You're doing fine, and you're smarter than you're giving yourself credit for, trust me on that.
        Signature

        Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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        • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
          Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

          @ Justin Lewis - There are some parallels between your story and mine when I was your age. You just earned a heap of respect from me for how you've handled your challenges. You're doing fine, and you're smarter than you're giving yourself credit for, trust me on that.
          That really means a lot to me Dennis, especially from a veteran like yourself. I'll be honest your response made my day and it's 10:50pm at night now.

          I want to thank you for just typing out that short message as it really does show that people care about what I have to say and what I have to share with the community.

          Keep up the amazing work Dennis and never give up.
          Signature

          My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    Here is my story....

    1. When were you a newbie in IM? Dabbled with MySpace and AOL but never started marketing online until 2007
    2. How did you first start out? I joined an Internet Education/Internet Business company called Carbon Copy PRO in 2007, I am still with the company and just got back from an Master Marketing Event in Las Vegas this past weekend. Being part of this Forum has also been a huge part of my success.
    3. How did you get to where you are today? I would say 90% of the training and mindset came from being part of the CCPRO community of Internet Marketers and The Warrior Forum. The biggest decision I made was to start my own Internet Marketing Company in April 2008. I now consult small to large corporations on Social Media and Internet Marketing and created my own coaching programs to help others follow my path. I also earn 25%+ of my income from affiliate sales with CCPRO.
    4. What do you wish you had done differently? I would have trusted in my ability earlier on. I would also would have spent more time on educating myself at an even higher level.
    5. What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies? Spend 2 to 3 hours per day watching webinars, reading e-books, Googling any questions you can't get answers for, find a mentor or even several mentors. Mastermind with people in your community, attend Meet Up groups. You might have to get some new friends that understand your new career and soon to be new lifestyle as an Internet Marketer.

    Hope this helps...and good luck to everyone...you all can do this !!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    Wow Dennis, I never knew any of that stuff about you (except the book publishing gig). That's a really awesome story, and some great advice too.

    Just a thought I'd like to add to my OP.

    I think one of the reasons I haven't been successful is because I never stopped being a newbie. I never really considered myself a true Internet Marketer. That "I'm-too-new-to-succeed" mindset may have been holding me back.

    Now, I'm always learning new things, so in that respect, I'll always be a newbie. But, I need to start thinking and acting like someone who is successful. In other words, I need to change my mindset from that of a newbie, to that of a real Internet Marketer.

    Thanks again for your feedback Dennis, Paul, and everyone else.
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  • Profile picture of the author WebPen
    WAIT A SECOND...

    Isn't it supposed to be Newbies vs Gurus?!

    I mean, every sales letter starts with "Who Else Wants to Know the Guru's TOP Secrets to Make Millions on Complete Autopilot!"

    So maybe this entire thread is just an effort to get the gurus to show themselves!

    TAKE THIS GURUS! *tweets on his smartphone about how evil the Wall Street... I mean the gurus are*
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  • Profile picture of the author KayMaxim
    Now! I am new right now! I am right on the brink of getting a lead generation system going. And wow, it is taking longer than the hype led me to believe.

    I am taking your advice and focusing on action, action, action. Luckily I have a great tutor that keeps me going and doing it correctly.
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  • Profile picture of the author jrlsage
    • When were you a newbie in IM?
    • How did you first start out?
    • How did you get to where you are today?
    • What do you wish you had done differently?
    • What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?
    1) I am a new guy today.
    2) I was swamping around google to improve my websites conversaion rate.
    3) Clicking the link :-)
    4) No complaints thus far.
    5) I would say ask questions. We are all here to learn
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  • Profile picture of the author AlexisMoore
    Thanks so much Justin for sharing your story. I found it very inspiring. I'm sure it was your positive attitude and great work ethic that made you so successful.

    I wish you nothing but the best in the future. Way to go.
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    Many folks started out selling their junk on eBay, then selling other stuff, and moving on to the IM game, and selling their own products
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  • Profile picture of the author RatRaceWatch
    Ok guys and gals, this is a long story :0

    When were you a newbie in IM?

    2009 till Today :0, always learning, forever pushing myself!

    How did you first start out?

    In 2009 I started to realize there was more to life than a 9-5 job. I wanted to do something different, something that would allow me to be creative.

    My girlfriend inspired me (Almost 3 Years Strong Today), because she was a photographer, and she was getting paid for services outside a normal job, and this motivated me to go after something outside my work.

    After struggling through college, jumping from a university to a technical college, and going nowhere, I decided to take time off from college while I worked my full-time job at a gun manufacturing plant, and rediscover myself.

    In the summer of 2009, I discovered a person named Lisa from 2createawebsite, that had videos talking about adsense and her earnings.

    I was really excited about the information I learned, and within a few days I had watched every single one of her videos.

    I took this new found knowledge and put it to use, by learning Html and Css.

    It was a long tedious process, learning what domains were, hosting, ftp, etc. It took forever!

    Knowing nothing about proper keyword research, I made a website called IWannaBeInABand.com

    Although I look back and see how foolish a mis-spelled domain was, I thought it was cool as hell at the time, and because I had experience being in many rock bands, I thought it would be a perfect website.

    I also applied for google adsense at the time, and I started building the website from scratch, I can't even remember the name of the tool I used, but it was like a free version similar to dream weaver.

    I realized I loved designing the graphics, and I got many compliments on Lisa's forum, but I was very lazy when it came to writing the content, I had a poor plan in place.

    4 months later, and maybe like 2 dollars in adsense earnings, I jumped to another website idea that was short-lived and became a parked domain.

    I knew after the experience, that I had turned on my entrepreneur button forever.

    The funny thing is, I told myself I hated building websites, so I completely marked it off my list, and let the domains expire.

    How did you get to where you are today?

    I did many things in the mean-time, I ended up with an associate in arts degree that was worthless, moved to another state with my girlfriend after I got laid off with 200 other people from my job (worked there 1 1/2 years), went after trying to become a youtube partner, videographer, and craigslist flipper. I had great success with the craigslist flipping, but I wanted something more automated.

    I ran across a course for making money with cellphones through advertising to CPA offers. After purchasing the course, I read a lot of threads talking about the course was a scam, and I decided to not go through with it.

    In the mean-time I discovered the warrior forum, and on a gut instinct I decided to build websites again for money.

    The great thing was, I was doing it with Wordpress this time which makes it 10,000x easier than it was 2 years ago.

    Since I've started, I'm having major success, and only hope to push things further, and continue to learn.

    What do you wish you had done differently?

    I wish I had discovered this forum 2 years ago, and knew what I did now. Wow, I can't imagine what a difference that would of made.

    What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?

    Like Justin pointed out in his story, never give up. My story is similar to Justin's in the aspect that my support system really isn't there.

    Other than my girlfriend, no one really understands what I'm doing or going for. It doesn't help that I am currently unemployed (looking for work), so no matter what success I point out, no one understands it or recognizes it.

    Whatever you do, at the end of the day, the person you have to satisfy the most is yourself.

    If you are unhappy with your situation, go out there and do something about it. AND TAKE ACTION!
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua Rigley
    Banned
    I'm seeing a lot of really good stories here. Thanks for your feedback everyone, I really appreciate it.
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    • Profile picture of the author danr62
      When Were You A Newbie?

      Two days ago. That is when I realized that I know enough now to make this happen and that I need to stop thinking and acting like a newbie and start thinking and acting like a professional.

      My problem was that I didn't take consistent and focused action every day. If I had, I could be making more than a few dollars every few months from IM by now.

      How Did You Get Started?

      In December of 2010 I stumbled across HubPages in a search and found out that they pay you to write for them. After that I started reading hubs about how to make money on HubPages, one of which mentioned that Squidoo has a similar model.

      I checked out Squidoo, made a few lenses, found some of PotPieGirl's lenses which opened me up to the wider world of IM.

      How Did You Get Where You Are Today?

      I've read a few IM courses, read a bunch of blogs and forums, and made a few sites that bring me a few bucks from Amazon every now and then.

      I'm at the point now where I need to stop doubting myself, stop letting shiny things distract me, and start taking action on a daily basis. If I can do this, I will start making more money in the next several months.

      What Do You Wish You Had Done Differently?

      I wish I would have realized 6 months ago that I knew enough then. I wish I would have taken consistent and focused action on a daily basis.

      What Advice Do You Have For People Who Are Currently IM Newbies?

      First, learn the basics and apply what you learn. Take action and do something long enough to analyze and tweak.

      Second, if you consider yourself to be a newbie but have a lot of knowledge about IM, realize that you need a change in mindset, not some new "secret method". Take what you know and run with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author World Marketing
    The newbie stage is the absolute worst because of the "information overload" it is so hard to find something that works in IM when first starting out...My best advice to any newbies would be to stick with it and steer clear from the get rich quick scams...IM takes knowledge, patience, discipline, and hard work...

    Good luck to all you newbies!
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  • Profile picture of the author Pierce
    I was a newbie a little less than a year ago. Out of curiosity I get started with Bring The Fresh which was a great decision in my opinion. From then I did some local SEO for businesses in my city to fund the "big picture." Worked pretty well and I don't regret any of it.

    I highly recommend that newbies create your own stuff. Bottom line is that it is easier to make money selling your own products than doing anything else. From there start researching the heck out of list building, traffic generation, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author gomzydecor
    I am at same stage where Pierce was a year ago. I am a newbie right now, But i have patience in me & have start with blogging. Read daily articles & keep myself updated.
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  • Profile picture of the author RyanJohnson
    • When were you a newbie in IM?
    -July 2008 is when I started. got overwhelmed a bit, gave up and came back to it in the same year.
    • How did you first start out?
    -With the ugliest SiteBuildIt Site on the dumbest topic/niche ever, hoping for overnight Adsense Riches!!
    • How did you get to where you are today?
    -It started when I realized that just because it is "online" doesn't mean it doesn't take "work" Most people (that have regular jobs) don't realize it until they step foot in the IMer's shoes, but when I figured out that I had to MAKE things happen, that's when I started learning the goods. Just progressed from there.
    • What do you wish you had done differently?
    -I wish I had turned off the late night Joel Comm commercial that made me believe I was going to build a blogspot blog and instantly get people to click adsense ads. Well, for starters. Other than that, I wish I had started focusing on 1 thing that I knew worked, then mastered it, THEN maybe tried other things. Instead, I diversified too early, if that makes sense.
    • What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies?
    -Find a method that you know works, master it. Stop living on cloud nine. Just because it is "making money online" or "work from home" doesn't mean it will be easy. It takes effort and dedication just like most things in life. Don't "expect" things... make them happen. Take in all knowledge you can. Have a plan for everything. 90% of ventures fail or succeed before they are even put into fruition.... it's in the planning process. Throw out what you don't need. Stay focused.


    I could go on for days as I'm sure most successful IMer's could but ultimately this game is not for everyone. "Wishing" won't get you squat.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kal Sallam
    Originally Posted by Joshua Rigley View Post

    Look, even if you don't make any money after the first month, it won't matter. You will have gained something far more valuable than money; you will have gained the habit of building an online business, and that is invaluable.


    Joshua
    That's It! you have a great point there.The business mind set is far more valuable than anything else.Because if you have it you will also have what
    comes with it!
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  • Profile picture of the author alefa
    thank you for all the stories . i myself am a newbie. greatly appreciated!
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  • Profile picture of the author DogScout
    • When were you a newbie in IM? -> Now
    • How did you first start out? ->Then
    • How did you get to where you are today? ->Walked
    • What do you wish you had done differently? ->Driven
    • What advice do you have for people who are currently IM newbies? ->Take the train
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I thought I was a guru the night I awoke and found myself levitating above the bed. It turns out I was only possessed though.

    Years later, it was the autumn of 2004, I had just quit a job working for a complete nutcase and had enough of the crap. My technology skills were falling behind everyone else's so I couldn't get a good job or even compete freelancing any more. My ex was acting like a tyrant after I had spent all my cash boosting him when he needed it. So I was broke, jobless, and being treated like crap with only a little money left. I had to decide where to put it that would do me the best good. I needed a new car and I needed to learn at least enough technology to keep up with society. I decided to put the last of my funds into a computer.

    A week or two after I got online and looked around a little bit, I joined a completely worthless program because it promised "your own website". I paid two months for that program when I figured out that the website was a clone and not really mine at all and I was wasting time and money. It did point me to the Warrior forum, though, where I landed so out of touch that it's a complete surprise anyone even bothered with me.

    I used to be in Public Relations, but had a secretary in those days. Now I couldn't walk in the door of a job like that because they wanted someone who could do their own computer work. Okay - so I had the PR and was social enough to appreciate a forum. I signed up and figured out how to make a post. That was a trip. LOL. After a few weeks a few warriors picked me up out of the OT rubble and started to work with me on a project.

    My life at home was disintegrating and I kicked my ex out knowing that at the end of the month I was going to be out in the street without a car and it was winter. So I buckled down and started writing - it wasn't the best work I've ever done but it had its value. It had the story of what I was going through learning this stuff along with the different programs I was being taught to use and how to use them, step by step directions so anyone could understand. The pros teaching me how to use them figured that someone just learning could relay how to do it in terms other newbies could understand better than a pro could. It was really hard to write with the chaos going on around me, but it was good enough to get the points across.

    I finished the ebook and slammed up a WSO with just a few days to spare. Got enough in to buy a klunker of a car and rent a tiny dilapidated dump - both within 24 hours of being homeless.

    Am I a guru today? LMAO. um...no. Not even close. But I have been able to support myself so far at an age that corporations don't really want to see me coming. Things still get real tough for me, I'm single and the economy sucks. Seems I get kicked back a few steps every time I start to get comfy. But so far I've been able to keep above water on my own. I find it kind of feast or famine still. The hard times are still tough but the good times keep getting better. The economy is rough on everyone, so I figure I wouldn't have it easy on my own no matter what I do but I have a very promising plan in the works right now so those dips might just be leveling out real soon. Considering where I was when I started, the time it took wasn't really unexpected even if not all that convenient.

    As far as advice for someone just starting? Dig in your heels. Don't let anything take your focus away from what you are working on. You may need to work while the walls crumble around you -- keep going. You don't need to know it all. You can specialize and JV the ends you can't or don't have time to do. Keep at it - make friends in here. Getting to know people in here is the single biggest asset you are going to find online for a whole list of reasons. Be ready to take some crappy work now and again while you are working on bigger projects to get you through. Just stay on track at all costs.
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author Sandy Martin
    There are so many inspiring stories here whew! I have been on online jobs since 2007 but my goal of becoming an IM is not yet to come. I sold my first website last year for $100 and I was so happy that time. I am creating more sites for affiliates right now and I am hoping that I will reap some fruits in the near future and eventually can share many experiences for newbies too.
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