Edition #95 – 11/19/2006
Have you ever noticed that internet marketers like to tell you about how they’re writing to you from an airplane?
It seems like every newsletter I subscribe to has been written from 30,000 feet at some point.
I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be the “cool” thing to do, or what? I would personally much rather be sitting in the comfort of my office chair than cramped in an airplane seat hunched over my laptop.
I’ve written from planes a few times now, and trust me there’s nothing very luxurious about it, and you’re not missing out on much if you haven’t experienced it.
I actually wrote the last newsletter while on the way to Las Vegas for a secret meeting of top internet marketers (don’t worry, I brought my wife along to keep me out of trouble)…
And now I’m on my way home, cruising over the beautiful Rocky Mountains as I write this. It got me to thinking…
A few days ago, I wrote about VISION, and how it’s absolutely vital to the success of your business.
In talking with many of the world’s top internet marketers, it’s obvious that they all have vision. None of them would be where they are today without vision.
I hung out with guys like Mike Filsaime, who had a vision for Butterfly Marketing long before it revolutionized the online marketing world…
Sterling Valentine, who had a vision for generating $100k in 90 days starting from scratch, and then made it happen…
Jeff Walker, who had a vision for the product launch formula that would change the face of internet marketing forever…
And about 20 more marketers, ALL of whom had vision for their businesses.
So I got to thinking…
Having vision for your business is kind of like looking at the world from 30,000 feet. Everything looks perfect and calm. You can see the big picture.
When you’re looking down from 30,000 feet you don’t see the problems. You don’t even see the obstacles. You just see the big picture and it looks beautiful.
But as you get closer to the ground, you begin to see the obstacles. There are bumps, and hills, and mountains to overcome. Rivers, lakes, and valleys to cross.
The biggest stumbling block is where the rubber meets the road.
What happens is when we actually get started, we encounter obstacles and problems that obscure the vision and cause us to become myopic. We begin to see only what is directly in front of us and we lose sight of the big picture.
Unfortunately, that’s where so many aspiring internet marketers hit the brick wall. They never progress any further.
If you lose sight of your vision, you lose hope. And if you lose hope, it’s game over.
That’s why it’s so important to begin with the end in mind, and KEEP that vision as a central motivating factor in your mind.
I realize that I’m speaking somewhat metaphorically here, and it’s because I’m trying explain something invisible. Having VISION is an abstract concept, so the best way I know how to describe it is by painting a picture.
The successful marketers I met with in Vegas have this intangible quality that sets them apart from “everyone else”, and THAT is what I want you to understand in this.
Are they just lucky?
No, I am sure they are not. In fact, I watched several of them LOSE money on the blackjack tables. They are NOT successful due to luck.
Where they “born into it?”
No, I don’t think anyone has been born an internet marketer yet. Well maybe my kids will be, but I can assure you that these successful internet marketers did not just inherit a family business. The internet hasn’t been around long enough.
Are they smarter than everyone else?
Of course they are intelligent people, but I am sure they are not smarter than everyone else. After all, there are educators, doctors, and all sorts of extremely intelligent people reading this newsletter who are smarter than me in many ways, but who are not successful internet marketers. Therefore intelligence does not equal online success.
Is it simply a matter of prior experience?
Not necessarily. Some of them were very successful in the offline business world, but some never tasted success until their online businesses flourished.
So again, what makes the difference?
I believe the biggest common characteristic that successful internet marketers share is this intangible asset called VISION.
Of course there are other factors involved… like hard work, determination, specific knowledge, networking ability, and business management skills. Those other things are important too, and I’ll talk more about them in the future… but all of those other factors are null if they don’t have vision.
That’s why I’m taking the time to hammer this for the second time in a week.
It’s that important.
I’m going to move on soon and talk about what to do NEXT, but if you don’t start by getting a vision, further efforts could be somewhat futile.
If you’ve already taken me up on my challenge, that’s great!
If you haven’t yet posted your vision to my blog, take a few minutes to think about it, and then write it out now.
Remember this is YOUR vision, and there is NO wrong answer.
Have a great day!
