Why you fail and how to succeed.

32 replies
I am writing this because we were all newbies at one point in time.
I myself have been doing this since 2004 and until 2010 (a long 6 years) I did nothing but buy Click Bank products and jump from niche to niche.
I was a niche jumper.

It finally hit me when I got soooo pissed off at myself for failing for the up-teenth time.
I decided to get into offline marketing and since I have done pretty well for myself.
But the other day I was rifling through some old note books and upon opening it I read the 1 sentence that changed it all for me.

Mental Clarity and an Action Plan are the two most important things next to action itself, needed to become a success.

So anyone who is stuck in the mud, please read and DO what I am about to tell you.

1. Go out and buy a notebook and a pen.
2. With said products write down the following
a. What info do I need to become a success?
b. What materials / products do I need to assist me?
c. Where do I want to be in 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 5 years from now?
Now as far as c. goes, do not worry too much about exacts, dream a little but be real.

And now the most important thing to write down is an action plan.
Write down what steps you need to take to start making money online.
Be thorough and specific.
Write, write, write.
I keep a notebook next to me and reference it every single day.

I used to be a dreamer.
I used to think how nice it would be to make a million dollars a month.
And when someone came up with a sales page that seemingly promised that, I stopped what I was doing and tried the latest fad only to keep doing that same thing.
One big ass circle.

You will pick one thing, niche or segment of a market and concentrate on that and that ONLY!!!!

Promise yourself that you will stop buying product after product.
Click Crap or WSO's.

Concentrate on what you want to do and write down an action plan and dammit do it.
This forum has helped me and a lot of other people.
Now as far as that goes there are nay sayers that will tell you not to do what you know is right.
Screw them.
DO NOT GET DEPRESSED OR DISENFRANCHISED BY THE MORONS THAT TELL YOU NOT TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT.

It's your G-damn business and who died and made them god?
Nobody and sure as hell not you.
Anyway I hope I helped at least 1 person that reads this.
Mental clarity is the most important thing (IMHO) you need to succeed.

Now go do it and when the dough starts to roll in, thank me by helping someone else that is now in your shoes.
#fail #succeed
  • Profile picture of the author shane_k
    Great post, mental clarity is such a huge thing.

    What helped me with having clarity is using mindmaps.

    I use xmind which is free.

    What I done was took one month and went through all the ebooks and courses that I had, and dumped everything into different mindmaps that I created.

    Anything about articles went into an article mindmap, anything about SEO went into an SEO mindmap, same with twitter, facebook, banner ads, PPC, etc.

    And I created a product creation mindmap where I dumped everything and anything about creating different products into it. Ebooks, Videos, Podcasts, etc.

    Then when I was done with that, I scheduled in time to go through each mindmap and organize that information.

    What I started to notice is that there were "one-off actions" actions which I would do only once. Like download youtube downloader on my computer.

    And a lot of actions that I noticed I would have to repeat over and over again. Like when I submit a video to youtube and fill out the title, description, and keywords.

    These repeatable actions you can create as checklists. Then whenever you take that action you can pull out that checklist, or choose to autmoate or outsource that.

    If anyone else try this out with mindmaps, dumping all the information into categories, it creates so much clarity, and you will start to see how things fit together.

    Not only that but when new information comes up you can easliy dump that into a mind map as well. So when I read something new about SEO that I didn't know before, I just put that into my SEO mindmap.

    It's all organize in the mindmaps, and organized in my head and give great clarity.
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    • Thanks , great post.
      I was also a victim of "shiny object syndrome".

      What I would add about buying a product :
      - just stick to your plan and buy only products which help you solve specific problem (when you are stuck in some point and don`t know what to do)
      - after you buy it use every tools and strategies explained in the product before you buy any other product,squeeze from it as much as possible
      - move forward according to your plan
      - avoid "knowledge storage" , you don`t really need to be expert in everything, just apply what you`ve learned ( I bought lots of IM product and probably know as much as some gurus but still don`t make any money),
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    • Profile picture of the author Walter Parrish
      Great thread and great posts guys.

      I will add just a little. Roughly 95% are doing little or nothing. The 5% are the movers and shakers. So, it's that 95% you need to avoid. When you begin to take real action and reread the forums, from your very own experiences you will know that the masses are lazy and full of crap. Don't fall in with the ignorant masses.

      As far as habits make taking action a daily thing. Anything you want to accomplish start NOW. Not tomorrow not a few hours, but NOW.

      And the last thing remember that it actually takes about 90 days to build new habits, so forgive yourself for the past and give yourself a chance. And if you start NOW in that 90 days you will find that you are a totally new person.
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      • Profile picture of the author meta-blogger
        Originally Posted by Walter Parrish View Post

        Great thread and great posts guys.

        I will add just a little. Roughly 95% are doing little or nothing. The 5% are the movers and shakers. So, it's that 95% you need to avoid. When you begin to take real action and reread the forums, from your very own experiences you will know that the masses are lazy and full of crap. Don't fall in with the ignorant masses.

        As far as habits make taking action a daily thing. Anything you want to accomplish start NOW. Not tomorrow not a few hours, but NOW.

        And the last thing remember that it actually takes about 90 days to build new habits, so forgive yourself for the past and give yourself a chance. And if you start NOW in that 90 days you will find that you are a totally new person.
        this is excellent advise too. what i've been taught is to plan only a few activities per day so you don't get overwhelmed(unless you're outsourcing or
        have an assistant to help out), and resolve to do at least one important task each and every day that is certain to help you reach your ultimate goal. Darren Hardy calls this the compound effect, just taking consistent action toward your goals, sometimes just a few actions sometimes a lot of actions, but always do at least one thing every day. You can even do seven things in one sitting and then spread them out into the future like queing up post in wordpress and using a plugin to auto share to facebook or twitter, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author meta-blogger
      Originally Posted by shane_k View Post

      Great post, mental clarity is such a huge thing.

      What helped me with having clarity is using mindmaps.

      I use xmind which is free.

      What I done was took one month and went through all the ebooks and courses that I had, and dumped everything into different mindmaps that I created.

      Anything about articles went into an article mindmap, anything about SEO went into an SEO mindmap, same with twitter, facebook, banner ads, PPC, etc.

      And I created a product creation mindmap where I dumped everything and anything about creating different products into it. Ebooks, Videos, Podcasts, etc.

      Then when I was done with that, I scheduled in time to go through each mindmap and organize that information.

      What I started to notice is that there were "one-off actions" actions which I would do only once. Like download youtube downloader on my computer.

      And a lot of actions that I noticed I would have to repeat over and over again. Like when I submit a video to youtube and fill out the title, description, and keywords.

      These repeatable actions you can create as checklists. Then whenever you take that action you can pull out that checklist, or choose to autmoate or outsource that.

      If anyone else try this out with mindmaps, dumping all the information into categories, it creates so much clarity, and you will start to see how things fit together.

      Not only that but when new information comes up you can easliy dump that into a mind map as well. So when I read something new about SEO that I didn't know before, I just put that into my SEO mindmap.

      It's all organize in the mindmaps, and organized in my head and give great clarity.
      good advice. i personally prefer to keep a book of notes of all my projects and i use a mechanical pencil as they never let me down when i need to get something out of my head fast, and i can even write upside down(smiles). I do use digital mind maps too though.

      I learned from jimmy d brown that you should build a system, for example mondays you might create content, tuesdays you might review your tracking stats and anylitics to see what is working well and what can be improved or dropped, wednesday you may do email management like unsubscribing and also do a lot of networking and socializing, etc. Most of all you will notice as you analyze your overall system is that there are many things that need to be repeated daily, weekly, monthly, and things that are rare but that may have many steps. So you really should make a step by step procedure to get you through it in record time - and these are good for outsourcing or if you decide to sell the business later on.

      so you definitely need written procedures and regular routines. jimmy says he spends about 3 hours per day on list building activities, traffic generation activities, and offer creation or revising existing offers, and finally admin tasks like emails - but a lot is outsourced, and he has checklists and procedures for everything - he does these 4 things for 45 mins each as part of his daily routine. i probably spend about the same amount of time but spread out throughout the day.

      so this is definitely an area i'm working on getting these 4 tasks into one continuous segment of time, and i've already got quite a few checklists and procedures that i use for recurring items.
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    Great advice. Another KEY REASON PEOPLE FAIL: They fail to establish POSITIVE feedback loops. Explanation = Boost Your Blog’s Success With Feedback Loops | webmaster resources
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Some people hear motivational talk and never act on them. Some dont even know what the motivational talk was all about.

    The best motivation you need without saying anything is a consistent stream of new sales in your inbox everyday. When you have this, what kind of motivational talk do you need?
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    • Profile picture of the author DavePalermo
      Action is just as important as mental clarity.
      You need to step out of your comfort zone.

      I once told a newbie that needed motivation to succeed to quit his day job.
      That would be the ultimate get-off-your-ass moment in your life.
      He quit his job.
      He is doing quite well.

      Action, mental clarity and that "step outside of yourself" moment is what we all need to succeed.
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    • Profile picture of the author johnpaulgrant
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      Some people hear motivational talk and never act on them. Some dont even know what the motivational talk was all about.

      The best motivation you need without saying anything is a consistent stream of new sales in your inbox everyday. When you have this, what kind of motivational talk do you need?

      exactly. It's just that we are required to be more of action than of talk. Or probably,walking the talk. This is a challenge for everybody.
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  • Profile picture of the author CalinDan
    I totally agree. Information overload has gotten to all of us at one point.
    It's as simple as this: stop buying, and start selling (products, services etc.)
    Of course there are some fine details that come with this for every specific activity.
    But basically this is it. Nothing happens until something gets sold.

    Cheers!
    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author Rob28x
    Describes me perfectly. I would work my ass off at getting something ready to go, then when it didn't get the results I was hoping for out of the gate I would get discouraged and jump to the next new thing.

    Now I have one thing I am working on for myself, and I am setting up something for the wife to work on. We will do them together and help each other from becoming discouraged. Hopefully we both have success.
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    • Profile picture of the author DavePalermo
      Originally Posted by Rob28x View Post

      Describes me perfectly. I would work my ass off at getting something ready to go, then when it didn't get the results I was hoping for out of the gate I would get discouraged and jump to the next new thing.

      Now I have one thing I am working on for myself, and I am setting up something for the wife to work on. We will do them together and help each other from becoming discouraged. Hopefully we both have success.

      Describes all of at one point.
      God knows I've done it a hundred times.
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Harris
        I have to agree Dave,

        The most REAL progress I have made,
        has been since I started writing a "to do" list
        of things I need to do the next day at the end of each day..

        I prioritize my list and make sure checking email, and
        posting in forums is last (not first)..

        Then at the end of the day I check them off,
        this does a couple of things:
        1. It minimizes my spending,
        2. I'm actually making progress and see results,
        3. And this empowers me to do more, faster..
        Funny things is my emails all get checked and answered and forum posting gets done, and it doesn't take all day like it used too..

        All the best..
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        • Profile picture of the author DavePalermo
          My notebook is the key to my success.
          When you write thing down, you tend to remember and you tend to do.

          And one thing I don't believe in is software.
          Typing things out get forgotten... at least for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Charles Roger
    People Do Not Fail at Internet Marketing, They Just Give Up Before All The Magic Happens.
    Persistence is the key, When I feel demoralized I always remember Thomas Edison story. How he failed 10,000 time and didn't give up. So why would I give up ?
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    • Profile picture of the author meta-blogger
      Originally Posted by Charles Roger View Post

      People Do Not Fail at Internet Marketing, They Just Give Up Before All The Magic Happens.
      Persistence is the key, When I feel demoralized I always remember Thomas Edison story. How he failed 10,000 time and didn't give up. So why would I give up ?
      yup...

      "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
      -- Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States

      ...but knowing what to do is more important than just doing for doing sake.

      you can't get different results if you keep doing the same things that have not worked(you can't keep planting peas and expect to reap corn). persistence is a key for sure, but you can go completely broke or into a lot of debt if you are foolish persistently doing things that don't work - getting caught up in the busy-ness of business.

      clarity is key, once you know where you want to go then you can work on what you have to do to get from point a to point b, and you can also fix or improve or drop what is not moving you closer as you proceed.
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  • Profile picture of the author picnic
    Banned
    Once you start making some decent money it's hard to stop, the intrinsic motivation is there
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  • Profile picture of the author ArcherWylde
    Very well said. I can completely relate, as I am relatively new to the IM career path I've chosen.

    I know all about the failures and flops that make someone just want to go and get a regular job again.

    You got it right, "Come up with a plan, then do it!"
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    The key is to set up an EASY system that prevents you from FAILING.
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    • Profile picture of the author Irish Intuition
      Originally Posted by icoachu View Post

      The key is to set up an EASY system that prevents you from FAILING.
      Does that exist? I bet we could make a billion dollars selling it

      Dave, your story was inspiring and certainly makes a person
      think. Good stuff! Thanks
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      • Profile picture of the author DavePalermo
        I feel like every now and then in the main thread I see a lot of newbies stuggling asking questions (in my eyes) that are almost a cry for help.

        I know what these guys are thinking and how they struggle and just want to give up.

        If anyone needs a primer on that I did my first blog on this.
        Failure doesn't mean you failed, it means you are getting closer to getting it right.
        All the failures in life are the process of streamlining what does work.
        I never gave up.
        It took me years of failing.
        I still stumble every now and then.
        And so I get back up on my horse and keep on truckin'.
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        • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
          I don't understand why this is a constant topic of discussion on this forum. The reasons for failure are simple:

          Lack of skills, experience and resources.

          Funny how these "how to succeed" threads never address any of this stuff and instead focus on psychological obstacles. You don't dare tell anyone here they should learn to program or take writing classes at their local community college. Oh no, it's always a question of finding the right $12 bizop and pulling yourself together enough mentally to follow it step by step until you are rolling in money.

          Originally Posted by icoachu View Post

          The key is to set up an EASY system that prevents you from FAILING.
          Those systems have no financial upside. And frankly, it is people like you spouting this drivel that sends newbies down the wrong road. As long as newbies are being misdirected into delusions of easy money, they waste months or even years chasing a fictitious lifestyle.
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          • Profile picture of the author DavePalermo
            This isn't necessarily a how to succeed thread rather a stop the shiny object syndrome.

            Mental clarity is a problem for some people and I started this to point this out and get it out in the open for others that have not succeeded in marketing.

            Writing courses at a community college is not going to solve the problem.
            Making money online is a rather simple proposition and a lot of people fail because they don't see through what they started.

            I hope you now understand.
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            • Profile picture of the author RobertoM
              Originally Posted by DavePalermo View Post

              I am writing this because we were all newbies at one point in time.

              Mental Clarity and an Action Plan are the two most important things next to action itself, needed to become a success.

              Now go do it and when the dough starts to roll in, thank me by helping someone else that is now in your shoes.
              Originally Posted by shane_k View Post

              Great post, mental clarity is such a huge thing.

              What helped me with having clarity is using mindmaps.

              It's all organize in the mindmaps, and organized in my head and give great clarity.
              SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME WHEN READING THIS THREAD!!

              My brain has been shaked when I suddenly realized the words of Dave Palermo (Mental Clarity) and Shane_k (Using Mindmaps).
              Somebody said "the Master appears when the disciple is ready, never before", and it seems I got into that point.
              I read about these "simple" advises again and again everywhere, but through the way Dave and Shane expressed it, their words arrived to my very center.
              Dave and Shane: thank you!!
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  • Profile picture of the author J. P.
    Hello roomies, I'm J.P. and I'm a recovering "Shiny Object" Addict.

    I made my last WSO purchase yesterday... and in reference to another thread on OTO's bought the OTO. I've made a committment to myself that I am NOT going to buy anything else until I can purchase it out of my PROFITS. I'm attending the WarriorsLive in 3 short weeks in Orlando, and I'm going to spend the time between then and now, Busting My Ass to put together something.

    I actually have all the necessary components to get started. Are they all that I need? I think so, but if not, then it will just have been a test and a learning experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author GetShorty
    Yep clarity of your final goal is probably the single most important factor if you want to be successful. Stop using your vital energy chasing false promises and start designing your own pathway to success!

    Thanks for posting
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  • Profile picture of the author jamiebarclay
    Hey Dave,

    Thanks for the fabulous post. It is so true what you say about clarity. When I started in the IM world I too got lost and I think a lot of people do.

    Your comment about being the dreamer was me in a nutshell and it cost me big time.

    But we all have to go through this to learn.

    thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author moneymakerway
    @DavePalermo Thanks again for sharing this story with us! You said everything that is important! We all need to follow this crucial steps!
    Plan, action and determination!
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    • Profile picture of the author DavePalermo
      As a side note, one of the things that drives me is my circle of family and friends.
      My failures were at one point ridiculed by some of them.
      So I learned to keep my mouth shut.
      And on top of it, 2 of my brothers are successful at what they do.
      Deep inside I felt like I am just wasting away at life and on cruise control to nowhere.

      So my successful little brother wonders in amazement how I make some of the money I now make.
      Now he recently asked me to show him how I do it and it finally hit me that I made it.... (to a point)
      I smiled at him and said... "It's a little more complex than how I make it seem."

      Ah the satisfaction...
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    Even if you lack skills, money, or whatever, if you have the right learning system, you can succeed. It doesn't cost anything except time and effort.
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