Time Flies

Where did November go? I spent most of the month in learning mode, exploring a variety of opportunities available to internet marketers. The assortment is endless and there is quite a bit that is simply a rehashing of someone else's product. But now I think it is clear to me who I find viable and who is not my cup of java. Until I actually go through one or more of the processes I won't report on that quality of anyone's offerings. It wouldn't be fair to report from the outside.

So far, I have one site that is actually working and producing some results. In my repertoire are also several informational sites, a couple of blogs, and one site that is driving me crazy because it gets tons of traffic and no results. When I step back and look at my results after 3 months, I guess that is not terrible. But I always want it to be better.

The main issue I have found in this new business is isolation. It is extremely difficult to reach an actual person in this field. This makes me crazy. I find someone whose work I like, attempt to contact them and NOTHING. I've never seen a business that was this personally elusive. To me that means that something is not quite right. I challenge internet marketers to get visible! I dare you to be available to answer a question. If time is the issue, charge by the minute- I don't care- but I will never spend thousands of dollars on anyone's product that can't answer a question for me, or who has so many emails that you never know which one will get to the person.

Looking for a mentor with a sense of humour

Everything that I know needs to be done is done. Now I am traveling along in that vast wasteland referred to as "what I don't know, that I don't know"..sigh. It gets pretty challenging in this place because I have not found a mentor yet, and I am limited in my investment dollars for programs. All the internet research that has looked promising -either isn't- or is too expensive. The results are trickling in slowly..too slowly for my taste. I think I should be glad I have results at all, but that is not really what is going on. I want it to happen faster and I feel stuck.

In the past I have seen a pattern occur when I am attempting something new. When I am experiencing a lot of internal resistance -or external for that matter-that is a very good sign- even though it doesn't seem like it at the time. As a matter of fact I've learned to relate the level of resistance to the level of positive results I will end up having.

Many years ago I sold real estate. Every time I would write up a contract that I knew was solid, about two or three days before we closed it would fall apart. I started telling myself this was a good sign- and sure enough- it would be. I came to look at breakdowns or problems of this sort as proof positive that I was on the right track. It fell under the heading of mind management- but whatever- it worked.

That is how I push through difficult times like waiting for results. In terms of not knowing what to do next- I have a similar strategy. I look at who I'm being right now rather than what I am doing. Am I being a successful entrepreneur? Is there something I can shift slightly? Is there someone- even if I don't know them- that I can model my actions after? In this case the answer is yes. A couple of the aforementioned gurus are exactly the type of internet marketing person I would like to be. See? There is an action I can take, even when I have run out of things to do. I can shift my perspective to the domain of being- and I will find a whole new set of opportunities to embrace.

Like the wind, baby.

Regrouping

I thought it would be a good idea to regroup and say what I am currently writing about in this blog. I have been attempting to describe my process of becoming an internet marketer in real-time in order to offer some insight into the process of being an entrepreneur in a new field. Having been an entrepreneur and management consultant for a number of years I will be describing these events without foregoing my business experience. So it is my hope that I will be able to communicate it in such a way that it is useful to someone else just getting started.

The beginning of any business has some similarities and some experiences that can potentially frustrate a budding entrepreneur. The thought being that, if it is understood that this is a normal"operating stage" then the probability of failure at this particular point will diminish. It is an experiment in simultaneous learning and mentoring. "If I can do it, then you can do it". I'm not sure if it will help anyone- but at the minimum I will be able to tell the truth about the process and eliminate a little stress for myself .

I've read many times that the beginning can be the hardest part for someone starting a new business. That is not usually the case for me. In the beginning everything is challenging and new- just what I love. Personally, I can get tripped up when things get boring. Usually after the newness has worn off and I'm in the middle of a project. But I'm getting ahead of myself with regard to this Internet Marketing project, since I am still in the beginning. A variation on the theme is having no or few results. Now this is something that I can relate to. I am a very patient person, but after pressing out, and pressing out harder, and still seeing no results, I can get lost very easily. It is painful to have no results after so much work. This would be the ideal time for me to get a mentor to keep me on track.

Nobody Said It Would Be Easy

The last three weeks have been nose to the grindstone. I have completed a training program, a coaching program, intensive and ongoing self training, and still have only small results. There is no shortage of people attempting to advise me for substantial amounts of money, and a few that generously and freely send me new information on a regular basis. Being on this side of the equation as consumer, I can truthfully say, the next person who I work with will show me their wares upfront. People like Perry Marshall and Ken McCarthy (leaders in the field) have sent new training material daily- and it has substance. For someone new in this business,and I imagine for some that have experience as well, it is great training. When it comes time to buy- that is where I will be heading. It is too easy to spend a fortune as an internet marketer; everyone whose materials I've read says the same thing. And my own experience has shown that the amount spent on the product is not necessarily an indication of a promising outcome for the consumer.

Day three

Yesterdays challenge was more successful in igniting inertia -however much of an oxymoron that may be- than my social life. Gradually, I've been able to bring myself back, albeit with many distractions. Nevertheless, that is what happens sometimes when a worthy goal is looming on the horizon. The most important thing I can do right now is to keep going at whatever pace my unconscious mind will let me proceed. I've started to see that the goal is huge and I would benefit from breaking it down into some smaller elements. One of course will be to work on myself a bit. You know, the exterior and the interior. Although I've done significant work on the interior over the years, there is always more, some greater nuance, or sometimes back to square one. The point being that it is always an area of opportunity. My theory is that when you want to create something, and you aren't getting the result, that you should look for what is right in front of you as your first action step. Whatever your personal sense of integrity says is "out" that is where to begin. So, some of the things I plan on having be back "in" again are stillness in my core, gratitude for all things-just as they are, and playfulness. Just a few minor details..lol.

Day two

I didn't take the weekend into account when I made that daily log agreement, so today is day two. Now, in the past, I would have kept on writing through the weekend, because I basically know how to work better than almost anything else. However, a focus of the coaching I am getting is about being more successful and working less time. I have to say, having been a coach since the inception of coaching, and knowing the person who started the whole profession of coaching as well as numerous major players in the field- this coach is hands down the best coach I have ever worked with. He is speaking my language which is contextual in nature, and he gets what is really important, which is living life.. All that said- I took the weekend off and spent some time with my daughter.
The biggest challenge I face, other than investment dollars, is my total lack of involvement with anything social. For anyone that knows me from San Francisco- that is crazy. But since I moved to Florida, I have been putting out fires and scrambling to make a living. What's gone by the wayside is my actual life. I was reminded, in my coaching this morning, that any difficulties I may be having in my business are likely not a function of my business at all, but rather a reflection of something that was missing in my life.
The irony is that this is exactly what I teach in business ecology. And exactly what I would be telling my own client! Ah well, you know what they say about the shoemakers children...
So I have decided to reignite my life. That is today's agreement.

Starting With a Whole New Business Concept

About a month ago, I started to learn about internet marketing. Things being what they are these days in the economy, I decided that I would enjoy learning this business and not commuting for a change. I started investigating various entry points and decided that I would take a training to get me jump started. That is how I cam across Mary Gerston and her program. You can find a link to her on the top of this page if you are interested. The first thing I want to report is that no matter what anyone tells you, this is not an easy business. If you are a complete newcomer to marketing there is a pretty steep learning curve, and it is one that I am still traversing. But I have learned a great deal so far. There is no shortage of people telling you they know how to do it better, faster, and yadayada, you get the idea. As with any endeavor in life- it pays to stay awake. Otherwise, you will be visiting many a rabbit hole. I did run into one coach with whom I am doing a short term program and it is great. I'll give the details on who the coach is at the end of my ten day period. But for now, I am bringing it up because I made an agreement with myself in the context of this coaching that I would write an entry every day to talk about my experience from the point of view of a newcomer to building a business, rather than the usual expert stance. This is day one.

Your Own Business-Are You Sure You Want This?

I have asked some of my most successful friends to contribute to this blog by writing about the ins and outs of being in business for themselves. Arax Hovsepian is a Realtor and Broker with a fantastic track record. She also has a great deal of personal vitality and I enjoy conversing with her on many topics. But for today she is offering up her experience to help the new agent find success. Her comments are widely applicable to the small business owner and no matter what field you are contemplating I know you will find some pearls of wisdom in her writing.

A Roadmap to Success for New Real Estate Agents

Year after year thousands upon thousands of hopeful men and women get into the Real Estate Business. Some are taking this direction because of loss of a job, some because of a job they can not stand doing any more, some after buying a house which looked very easy or they thought the agents was so bad and still earned thousands of dollars, and some who have been waiting for years to see the children at a certain age so they can pursue their own dream. We have all heard the saying “The sky is the limit” when it comes to making money in Real Estate. In fact, it is relatively easy to get a real estate license, however, it is much more difficult to become a successful agent, and many of these hopeful new agents will be out of the business before license renewal. Why do so many otherwise successful people fail in real estate? Well, if getting licensed is the most important decision a person makes, the second most important decision will be, who will you work for? Many potential super stars come and fall thru the cracks because of lack of training and guidance. Regardless of your previous wins, real estate is different. Therefore you must be trained and guided until you understand the psychology involved. If you think that this business is about selling houses, GET OUT NOW! From day one, you need to understand that this is about building relationships. If you talk to successful Real Estate agents that have been around for a long time and are still on the TOP, They will tell you that most of their clients and customers have done numerous transactions and given them many referrals.. Being in this business for almost 25 years both in selling as well as management, I can tell you that most of the people that get in this business have no business being in it at all. This is not a business where some one is going to call you and tell you are late for work, or notice that you did not go to the office. If you are not a self-starter, self-motivator and believe in being consistent and persistent, you will not succeed. You must have a love of people. Real estate is a people business. You must know how to connect with them. People don’t care how much you know until they can trust you. How do they trust you? You have to earn that trust. In the sales business you must understand that you will be rejected more than you will be accepted. Do you have what it takes to pull yourself up and dust off the rejection and move on to the next person, phone call, or negotiation?

The most important point to understand is that you are in the business for yourself. Not only you must invest a major part of your day to servicing your buyers and seller, you must also work on creating new leads. From every commission check you get, at least 15-20% of that has to be re-invested back in your business. If you miss this step, you will always remain a 2or 3 transaction per year agent. Do you expect a good crop from a garden that gets no attention???? Hard work is what you hear from top producers. Of course, now we say “work smart and not hard”. Do not confuse activity with productivity. You can be very busy all day with absolutely nothing to show at the end of the day.

Do your homework. Ask yourself if you belong in real estate business. To succeed in this business is one of the hardest things you will ever do. That is why you need a great Manager who will help you to create a solid business plan, a clear list of goals you want to achieve and a large amount of GUSTO. You must believe to achieve! A great attitude will help you to succeed quicker than anything else you can imagine. The rewards are there but you have to know how to get them!

Arax Hovsepian has been a Real Estate Professional for the last 25 years. She has her Brokers License both in Florida and Pennsylvania. She also has her CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and GRI (Graduate of Real Estate Institute) designations. She can be contacted at arax.hovsepian@century21.com

This seems like a good time to talk about the meaning of our company name Business-Ecology. Our definition of the term business ecology is drawn from the combination of another discipline, which is deep ecology, and of course, business. In the deep ecology model, everything is related to everything else with profound implications.What if there was a part of the ecology of your business that was not working? What if it was something that you were so deeply immersed in and dependent upon that you couldn't observe it even if you wanted to? We like to think of it as the air your company breathes. In essence, it is the vital-and yet unseen- force between you and success.
Everyone realizes that they need air to live, but they don't walk around thinking about, noticing, or isolating the elements of air-right? We simply breathe it. In business there are contextual elements that we don't pay attention to. As a matter of fact if I came to your company and asked you and your staff to tell me what these background conversations or contextual elements were I can pretty much guess that each person would have a completely different understanding of the question- and probably none of them would accurately reflect the entirety of your business. What can be done to resolve this dilemma? We created business ecology as a means to discover the unseen forces that are preventing you from having the business you want become a reality.

Do your homework

If you have decided that you really have a rebel heart and are interested in starting your own home business, then the following article by Travis Winn is especially helpful :

Would you try and make a journey to a part of the world you've never been to....without first getting a map of the territory? Of course not, that would be foolish. You would only end up getting lost, frustrated, and you would most likely give up on your quest.

This being the case, doesn't it make sense to do some 'homework' before diving head first into a home business? Wouldn't you have a much better chance of reaching your goals if you knew where to turn and what to do? Absolutely, we have all heard it before...KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

We all know that the vast majority of home business seekers fail. It's a fact. Why could this be? Maybe they haven't taken the time to learn about the field they were attempting to pursue? Ahhh, precisely.

They got so excited about all the benefits of success, that they forgot one important factor. "How do I actually succeed?" They dive right in...head first...and ouch, failure meets them with a nasty grin.

They often make all sorts of mistakes. They likely fall for all types of scams and "get-rich-quick" schemes. Money wasted....times wasted....and a painful memory that may keep them from ever attempting to build a home business again.

So what then is the solution? DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Take some time to invest in your success. Preparation will pay dividends in the long run. A few hours time "learning the ropes" will save you thousands of hours in the future.

Over and over again rich and successful people have stated that luck is "preparation meeting with opportunity." What's the key word here? Ahh, yes....PREPARATION. They didn't say "blindly rushing in to meet an opportunity." That is better a definition for unlucky....and also failure, frustration, and a bruised ego.

Preparation meeting opportunity, what a concept! The opportunities are everywhere, and yes they will still be around in a few days or weeks. The best home businesses, the reliable, profitable opportunities aren't going anywhere....that's why they are both reliable and profitable. So what's the rush? Invest some time learning from the pros. Invest some time planning your attack. Invest some time in yourself, building your confidence and motivation.

Investment of time is not the same as wasting time. Time wasted is gone forever....but time invested will pay dividends for years and years to come. So plan your journey, learn the territory, and create a map for success. This is the only way you can find the path to that will lead you there. The path of success is narrow and often missed.... it's much more narrow than the path to failure. What path are you going to take?

My name is Travis Winn and I am a professional Internet marketer, home business entrepreneur, and online success coach.

An entrepreneur is

Take a look at this article by Tino Buntic that describes at the most basic level who an entrepreneur is:

An entrepreneur is an innovator. She sees a need in the marketplace and creates something new to fulfill that need or improves upon an existing mechanism that already fulfills that need.

An entrepreneur is a risk taker. She dives head-first into uncharted waters to create a marketplace where none previously existed. There is no set formula to follow when creating something new. No textbook can teach an entrepreneur how to create a brand new business.

An entrepreneur creates jobs. She provides work for people where work previously did not exist. America’s entrepreneurs are the engines that fuel the economy.

An entrepreneur executes opportunities. She has the drive and the energy to make her dreams come true.

An Entrepreneur Is Not…

An entrepreneur is not a rule follower. There are no rules when creating a new process. She is a rebel; she creates her own rules.

An entrepreneur is not a manager. A manager manages something that an entrepreneur creates.

An entrepreneur doesn’t do 9-5. The reason she is an entrepreneur is to create the freedom to do what she wants, when she wants. She sets her own agenda.

An entrepreneur is not afraid of failure. She learns from her mistakes which motivates her to succeed on her next venture.

Tino Buntic is an entrepreneur and creator of TradePals, a B2B directory of business professionals across North America

greetings

Welcome to my new business coaching blog. I decided to write this as a result of the number of coaching clients that ask me for advice on how to start their own business. The platform is especially geared towards start up home businesses but you'll find that the business coaching will be applicable to any business on a theoretical level.
Let's start at the beginning. All businesses start with an idea. Your job as a business owner is to take that idea and put it into a form that can be easily communicated to your target customer. Hopefully, that idea is also something that you can see your customer needs. If your idea is about an actual product, the game of getting the message out there is made possible by proven business concepts. There are methodologies you can follow. If your idea is a service that makes things a little more complicated. But, before I get ahead of myself, I want to say that your mindset when beginning this business is quite important. It is very beneficial to think like an entrepreneur. Throughout the course of this blog, I will attempt to share what it means to be an entrepreneur both in theory and practice.