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What helps you overcome discouragement?

by Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter
9 replies
When I started my online business in 2000, I had to constantly battle discouragement. If you are a person starting out today I'm sure you know what I am talking about.

One thing I began doing back then (and still do today) is keeping track of my list growth each day, week and month to let me know I was building something.

I put into a spreadsheet how many new leads I got today, this week, this month and all time. Then, to stay motivated, I would multiply each of those figures by what I estimated I would make from those subscribers in a year--at the time I didn't have any data of my own so I just estimated I would make $5 per subscriber.

So if I added 150 subscribers in a month, I estimated that my work that month would eventually put $750.00 (150 x $5) into my bank account.

(By the way, it turned out I make about $23 per subscriber, so I actually make $3,450.00 for 150 subs.)

Using this I was able to stay motivated and eventually build a list of over 50,000 double opt-in subscribers.

So how to you overcome discouragement? What "tricks" do you use to stay motivated?
#discouragement #helps #overcome
  • Profile picture of the author badboy_Nick
    What helps is to set yourself ACHIEVABLE goals. Write it down and keep it in front of you. But what you will supply yourself is the DRIVE, the WILL to succeed no matter what. I find this lacking in a lot of people. Basically, if you fail enough you will eventually find out what works and you will succeed. But only if you keep going, so setting yourself small achievable goals is a great tool and it has worked for me!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter
      Originally Posted by badboy_Nick View Post

      What helps is to set yourself ACHIEVABLE goals. Write it down and keep it in front of you. But what you will supply yourself is the DRIVE, the WILL to succeed no matter what. I find this lacking in a lot of people. Basically, if you fail enough you will eventually find out what works and you will succeed. But only if you keep going, so setting yourself small achievable goals is a great tool and it has worked for me!
      Thanks Nick. What do you do to increase and cultivate your drive? Is it just keeping the goal in front of you, or are there other things you do to cultivate it?
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  • Profile picture of the author 3nikki
    What helps me is to avoid having a singular focus.

    Many years I was obsessed with my career. I used to get extremely upset when I did not land my desired assignment or work on the latest technology.

    I have since broadbased my interests. I continue to be passionate about project management and do well in it, but I am also an up and coming Toastmaster and very passionate about Internet Marketing. My strong technical skills and inclination to learn make IM attractive.

    So it really helps to have a few interests you are deeply passionate about.

    Naveen
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  • Profile picture of the author affilorama-portal
    I make myself a large mug of coffee with lots of cream and sugar, and a hefty sandwich, then sit in a comfortable chair and watch a funny movie. That relaxes me and puts me in the right mood. Feelings of discouragement usually come along when you are tired, hungry, and/or upset. Relaxing will make it go away.
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  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author webwriter
      For me, it's knowing that I've taken another step and am getting closer to my goal. That step may or may not yield desired results, but I've "been there and learned that" and consequently progress faster.
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  • Profile picture of the author pragun06
    I completely get what you're getting at mate. I started about 2 years back, and i still remember what the first one was like.
    I almost always felt as if i was spending all this time and energy and getting nowhere. But yet, I still managed to pop up on to my PC everyday and try a little bit of this n that, trying to figure my way around.

    At that time, the one thing that always kept me going, and in fact still does is that I had my goals set.

    I had my goals, and every morning i would think of how happy it would make me if i were to get there. That's what kept me going while it was tough...
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin-VirtualProfitCenter
      Originally Posted by pragun06 View Post

      every morning i would think of how happy it would make me if i were to get there. That's what kept me going while it was tough...
      I think focusing on the reward is key.
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      • Profile picture of the author Selena85
        I go to Flippa and browse the recently sold websites. It's encouraging to see how many people build successful, profitable sites from thin air. If they can do it, so can I. I study their monetization strategies and think if there's something I can apply to my own websites to improve them.
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      • Profile picture of the author JustinP
        Great topic Kevin.

        I have a lot of tricks for motivation and self encouragement. I'm like Big Mike in that I'm generally optimistic, but if I need encouragement, I first have to put myself in a state that can accept encouragement. For me, I use a negative motivator. I think of all the people who have doubted me or laughed at my goals and dreams. HUGE surge of adrenaline and motivation kicks in.

        THEN, I look at all of the things I have accomplished since becoming an entrepreneur (large invoices, testimonials, my subscriber list, my website, my client's success stories, etc...). Then I'm more than ready to go again!
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