If there is one rule that stands head and shoulders above all others, it is the one that says, "Invest in Yourself!"
This saying gets repeated over and over again by a great many people and yet it is possibly one of the least acted upon rules out there. Chances are you don't really know what it even means. Let me explain.
An internet business isn't a building. It isn't a place...not a real physical place. An internet business exists only in cyber space and in the heart and mind of the owner of that internet business.
Essentially, your internet business consists of just one major component. YOU. You are your internet business.
If you had a bricks and mortar business you could make physical changes to the look of the outside of your building, the decor inside etc, and people would notice and be drawn to take a look on the inside to see what other changes had been made and see what products lines you may now be offering compared to the past.
With an internet business you cannot make those kinds of changes. The most important changes you can make are to yourself. This is what it means to "Invest in Yourself". In order to improve your internet business you need to improve yourself first.
How do you invest in yourself? It's simple. You educate yourself about new marketing methods, new technologies that could benefit your business, etc. In short, you need more knowledge. The more knowledge you gain, the more your business will grow in response.
Try spending just one hour a day reading articles or subscribe to an ezine that emails you information regularly about both your industry and also online marketing methods, and you will have invested a significant amount of time in yourself.
You can take courses. You can participate in teleseminars and webinars that will increase your knowledge. All of these things are what is meant by 'Invest in Yourself' and that is rule #1 in the internet marketing game.
Following on from investing in yourself is the principle of "Abundance Thinking".
Abundance Thinking? What the heck is that? This refers to one of two possible modes of thought. In order to clarify this I will explain the second mode first. 'Limited Supply' thinking is where you believe there is a finite amount of business out there. This is a bad model because it induces panic and the mindset that motivates you to grab what you can at the expense of others.
This type of thinking might allow you to make a reasonable income, but it doesn't allow you to maximize your income. It is the opposite of Abundance Thinking.
'Abundance Thinking' believes that there is a more than enough business to go around and that we will do best by working with others to provide customers with the best possible experience. Customers aren't stupid, they know that when you advise them to buy something from someone else it costs you a sale. This very fact that you value their welfare over you making a sale earns you trust, which can reward you with more sales from them over the longer term.
Abundance thinking believes in working as a team rather than as individuals. This is where symbiotic, or mutually beneficial two-way business relationships tend to do better than one man bands. In internet marketing this thinking has proven to be especially true.
Limited Supply thinking makes to selfish and reluctant to share ideas, methods, customers, etc with others. What is yours is yours and no-one else's. Many decisions are reactive ones based on your competitors perceived tactics. Very defensive and not with the customers interests at heart.
Abundance thinking is the exact opposite. It is proactive, customer focussed and thinks in terms of how things could be done better. This thinking builds relationships, makes more mature, healthy decisions and results in significantly less stress.
Abundance Thinking allows you to share effectively with others whilst enabling you to make the most of the opportunities you have.
Interestingly, when people see this principle working successfully, they are inclined to try it themselves, and are also more inclined to do business with you since they consider you more trustworthy.
Joint ventures won't be a problem to put together. There is more success in abundance thinking than there is in limited-supply thinking. - 15478
This saying gets repeated over and over again by a great many people and yet it is possibly one of the least acted upon rules out there. Chances are you don't really know what it even means. Let me explain.
An internet business isn't a building. It isn't a place...not a real physical place. An internet business exists only in cyber space and in the heart and mind of the owner of that internet business.
Essentially, your internet business consists of just one major component. YOU. You are your internet business.
If you had a bricks and mortar business you could make physical changes to the look of the outside of your building, the decor inside etc, and people would notice and be drawn to take a look on the inside to see what other changes had been made and see what products lines you may now be offering compared to the past.
With an internet business you cannot make those kinds of changes. The most important changes you can make are to yourself. This is what it means to "Invest in Yourself". In order to improve your internet business you need to improve yourself first.
How do you invest in yourself? It's simple. You educate yourself about new marketing methods, new technologies that could benefit your business, etc. In short, you need more knowledge. The more knowledge you gain, the more your business will grow in response.
Try spending just one hour a day reading articles or subscribe to an ezine that emails you information regularly about both your industry and also online marketing methods, and you will have invested a significant amount of time in yourself.
You can take courses. You can participate in teleseminars and webinars that will increase your knowledge. All of these things are what is meant by 'Invest in Yourself' and that is rule #1 in the internet marketing game.
Following on from investing in yourself is the principle of "Abundance Thinking".
Abundance Thinking? What the heck is that? This refers to one of two possible modes of thought. In order to clarify this I will explain the second mode first. 'Limited Supply' thinking is where you believe there is a finite amount of business out there. This is a bad model because it induces panic and the mindset that motivates you to grab what you can at the expense of others.
This type of thinking might allow you to make a reasonable income, but it doesn't allow you to maximize your income. It is the opposite of Abundance Thinking.
'Abundance Thinking' believes that there is a more than enough business to go around and that we will do best by working with others to provide customers with the best possible experience. Customers aren't stupid, they know that when you advise them to buy something from someone else it costs you a sale. This very fact that you value their welfare over you making a sale earns you trust, which can reward you with more sales from them over the longer term.
Abundance thinking believes in working as a team rather than as individuals. This is where symbiotic, or mutually beneficial two-way business relationships tend to do better than one man bands. In internet marketing this thinking has proven to be especially true.
Limited Supply thinking makes to selfish and reluctant to share ideas, methods, customers, etc with others. What is yours is yours and no-one else's. Many decisions are reactive ones based on your competitors perceived tactics. Very defensive and not with the customers interests at heart.
Abundance thinking is the exact opposite. It is proactive, customer focussed and thinks in terms of how things could be done better. This thinking builds relationships, makes more mature, healthy decisions and results in significantly less stress.
Abundance Thinking allows you to share effectively with others whilst enabling you to make the most of the opportunities you have.
Interestingly, when people see this principle working successfully, they are inclined to try it themselves, and are also more inclined to do business with you since they consider you more trustworthy.
Joint ventures won't be a problem to put together. There is more success in abundance thinking than there is in limited-supply thinking. - 15478
About the Author:
Ian Pelham is a marketer who has come through a very difficult time financially. He used debt consolidation loans to restructure his finances. Using a debt consolidation loan was one of the best things he did to rid himself of his bad debt.
