It’s a cold, hard, thankless job.
The truth, I mean.
Telling it.
Earning a living running an online business is mostly dull. Except for dancing on the edge of brokenness.
That’s always a little exciting.
Like suddenly realizing you’re on a patch of ice as you’re driving.
Wondering if you’ll regain control or go skidding off into a ditch.
Exciting, but not really fun.
Being online doesn’t make a business magic.
All of the same rules apply.
There’s a bottom line.
Income must exceed overhead.
The difference is your profit.
And you’ve got to work daily to keep that profit and expand it as much as you can. Because sooner or later, you’re gonna hit a snag.
That’s life.
And it applies everywhere. Just think about how you got your current job.
You went to school. You learned some skills. You started at the bottom. Your ability, persistence and mastery of those skills is what determines how fast and how far you rise.
That’s the reality of the situation.
But everyone wants to be a coach. Or a mentor. A trusted guide.
Most of them are completely full of crap.
It’s not that they’re bad people. They’ve just “learned” a bunch of stuff that isn’t exactly true.
I say it’s not exactly true because there are points that are accurate. It’s just a misunderstanding of the way things work that causes the disconnect.
Take Branding for instance. Who you are, what you do and what you stand for are the things that will brand you.
You make the brand. Not the other way around.
But most newbies mistakenly believe that if they “brand themselves” they’ll “position themselves” as an “expert” and then they’ll be able to be a “leader”.
The problem with that thinking is that it’s possible to do that. Until someone discovers that you don’t really know what you’re talking about.
And they will.
It’s only a matter of time.
When they do, your reputation is shot. You’ll probably never get it back.
At least not with the people who witness your bad acting job.
So do yourself a favor.
Be who you really are.
Don’t “walk the talk”.
Don’t “fake it til you make it”.
Don’t portray yourself as something you’re not.
Learn the skills, apply your knowledge and grow your business by providing service.
It’s the only way you’ll make money and feel good about it in the long run.
Start by setting up your business with a solid foundation.
