8 responses so far ↓

• 1 Jeffrey Levesque // Apr 14, 2008 at 9:45 pm

  Hello John,

  Nice wrap-up!

  I just recently went through this thought process with my own online business.

  For the past year or so, I was trying to “push” my way into the lime-light. Simply because I thought that was “the next thing” to do.

  Then it hit me. I not only DIDN’T want to be in the lime-light, I absolutely hated the idea.

  I’m a behind the scenes kinda guy, a “mechanic” of sorts. Researching, building sites, providing tools and resources for others to use and benefit from is where “my light shines”.

  Now I’m back to what I was doing a year ago.

  Consulting, brokering and managing and I couldn’t be happier.

  Thanks again for that 2 part work of art!

  Jeff

• 2 Ed Thiessen // Apr 14, 2008 at 10:23 pm

  Ok john it looks like another night of thinking for me! Nice job!
  Thanks !
  Ed Thiessen

• 3 Marnie // Apr 14, 2008 at 10:35 pm

  Hi John,

  I love reading your “ramblings” (as you call them) and trying to put into practice what you have relayed to us. It’s discouraging to hear that others are judging your wise words by anything other than the point you are trying to make (enough said). I see your writings as a vehicle for you trying to help us succeed–kindly giving us advice that stems from your vast experience.

  Thanks for caring,
  Marnie

• 4 Aaron Kravetz // Apr 15, 2008 at 2:43 am

  Thanks John,
  Inspiring words of wisdom. You are generous in the way you share your”self” your experiences, gentle nudges and suggestions.
  I am a “NEWBIE” in this world. How you speak and write is refreshing, almost sounds like it comes from somewhere in my own mind.
  Our site goes live April 26th, the tenth Anniversary of World Tai Chi Day. A social site for Tai-Chi-for baby-boomers and older adults.I still have a lot of work to do. Thanks for the Nudge (…)

  Aaron

• 5 Smiley Webb // Apr 15, 2008 at 4:53 am

  Until May 17 JD, Enjoy your day I’ll silently celebrate with you and remember it’s my day as well, as some others that were also born on that day in May. Now on to my comment. Most of the second chapter seems familiar like I have read it all somewhere before. As I think about it I know that you have written various bits & pieces of this 2nd chapter in several other articles.

  Don’t misunderstand this JD, what you are saying here is crystal clear and it’s entirely a new approach of what you have been trying to help others understand for a long time.

  But I’m sad to say JD, some will never get it no matter how many times or different approaches you take they just won’t be able to connect.

  That’s ok though because I know that if you know that if just one person connects with what you are teaching you will be thrilled.

  You will be glad to know I have and am implementing many things from your teaching.

  Thanks JD,

  Smiley Webb

• 6 Jim Kelley // Apr 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm

  Hi John,

  Over the years, I have read all of your writings that you have shared with us, all of which included your “wisdom of having done it yourself”.

  These two parts of “Where the money is?” is the most pointed and direct wisdom that if followed will provide all who read them, an opportunity for success of their choosing.

  Some of the most important statements to me are as follows:

  “Money is not the target; it is the Means to reach your destination - but above all you must know where you want to go.”

  “At the very bottom end, you need to discover yourself and see what you can eventually want to do.”

  “What you can do right NOW can bring profits, What you can do tomorrow can establish you in the market.”

  “However, what YOU need to do and be deadly serious on this, is to re/discover yourself…”

  “You can do what you CAN do and be happy - for as long as you know WHAT you CANNOT do and focus on what you CAN do better instead.”

  Every “newbie” in the IM arena should read these two articles , as well as every experienced person who is looking for their next step in this arena.

  It comes down to a matter of making choices and it reminded me of a story.

  Making Choices

  Joseph Henry used to tell a rather strange story about his childhood. His grandmother paid a cobbler to make him a pair of shoes.

  The cobbler measured his feet and told Joseph that he could choose between two styles: a rounded toe or a square toe.

  Little Joseph couldn’t decide. It seemed to be such a huge decision; after all, they would become his only pair of shoes for a long time.

  The cobbler allowed him to take a couple of days to make up his mind. Day after day, Joseph went into the shop, sometimes three or four times a day! Each time he looked over the cobbler’s shoes and tried to decide.

  The round-toed shoes were more practical, but the square toes looked more fashionable.

  He continued to procrastinate. He wanted to make up his mind, but he just couldn’t decide.

  Finally, one day he went into the shop and the cobbler handed him a parcel wrapped in brown paper. His new shoes!

  He raced home. He tore off the wrapping and found a beautiful pair of leather shoes – one with a rounded toe and other with a square toe!

  Joseph learned a difficult lesson about decisions:

  If we don’t make them ourselves, others will make them for us. And wholeness in life can only come about when we take full responsibility for the choices we make.

  “No man is free who is not master of himself…
  Is freedom anything else than the power of living as we choose?” - Epictetus

  Great writing, John. Thank you for helping us select our “shoes” for the walk on our Internet journey.

  My Best,
  Jim

  P.S. I’m ordering a new pair of shoes today!

• 7 Michael John // Apr 18, 2008 at 7:35 am

  Hi John,

  Yes, spot on. You appear to be the first one to talk in this way which I have always realized as it’s not making a million dollar overnight. As you know, John Reese had been on the net for years before his million dollar day.

  I am sure most people feel as if they are not adequate and a bit overwhelmed with all the processes and things that have to be done.

  It’s a must to learn and gain experience of outsourcing etc to go up the ladder to a publisher.

  Yes, know yourself, know your position and capabilities then go from there onwards and upwards.

  Thanks, John, excellent report.

  Michael John

• 8 Dennis Gerik // May 2, 2008 at 11:47 am

  John,

  Okay, this post definitely adds a different perspective the 1st part?

  I’m guessing your overall message here is that not everyone needs to be nor should be a “publisher”…

  Maybe you’re happiest being a “Journalist” or a “Copy Editor”, and that is okay. In other words, get happy with who you are and what you can do.

  You make comments about being a supportive “fish” for other “sharks”. I thought that was a great analogy.

  One of my favorite websites is TrendWatching.com. A few years back they published an article entitled “Feeder Businesses”. The basic concept here is find a larger business than yourself and create support services around that larger business. There are plenty of examples that can illustrate this point. Such as:

  Online Examples
  Auctiva for eBay
  Build A Niche Store for eBay
  Associate-O-Matic for Amazon
  Myspace Template Builders for Myspace
  Wordpress Plugin Creators for Wordpress
  Joomla Developers for Joomla
  etc,etc,etc.

  And other examples in the “real world”…
  Aircraft Component Manufacturers for The Boeing Company
  Software Trainers for Microsoft
  Flash Designers for Adobe/Macromedia Flash
  Etc, etc, etc.

  A few examples along this line…
  Consultant for John Delavera’s Fantasos
  Builder of Mike Filsaime’s Butterfly Marketing Websites
  Product Launch Specialist for Jeff Walker’s Product Launch Formula
  Teacher/Writer for Anik Singal’s Affiliate Classroom

  Are you seeing a pattern here?

  I guess the point I’m extending here is put your thinking cap on and figure out a way for you to support some of the big “sharks” in this industury (if that something you are interested in.)

  But, I think the hardest part of any of this starts with understanding who you are and what your “passions” are.

  Do you like design website templates?
  Do you like to write articles?
  Do you like to train people?
  Do you like to install & configure software?
  etc, etc, etc.

  Put creating new web-based business from scratch can definitely feel “paralyzing” by an over-abundance of options & choices. Consequently, it is easy to struggle with where to focus attention & energy. So, it is easy to flounder with trying to “find yourself” and your inspiration…and it become quite frustrating to not have a clear vision and direction, as I’m sure you might imagine.

  So, here’s a question to everyone…

  If you were starting out fresh and green today, How would you go about “finding yourself” and discovering what to build your web-based business around? Would it be a good idea to create something to serve the IM community? How would you go about picking your “specialty”?

  These are not easy, simple questions…And they are very individualistic and personal. But, I think these are some of the questions that need to be answered in order to move forward.

  Just a few of my “ramblings”
  Dennis

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