Becoming your own boss is often touted as a fast track to freedom, financial stability and personal satisfaction. This is a career that gifts you everything in terms of flexibility and income potential.
But it’s not achieved without hard work and perseverance. There is no blueprint (regardless of how many people use the word in the title of their products) that tells you step-by-step everything you need to do to go from broke and worried to thriving with your earnings.
Very rarely has someone come into this business without some sort of need, and it’s often financial in nature. But even if you’re not struggling financially, you might be hoping to make this work so you can say goodbye to the stress of the corporate world – or just maximize your enjoyment in life.
If you’ve been struggling up until today – trying to figure out which business model, niche or tasks to implement to help you achieve your goals, you need to step back and conduct an analysis of what you’ve been doing so you can put yourself on the right path from this moment on.
You have to pinpoint the problems that have plagued you so that you can most past them. There are some common things holding people back in this industry. One is a lack of commitment.
The follow-through most newbies have for projects is dismal. They get excited about the hype of an idea and race out of the gate, only to lose enthusiasm, often from a lack of confidence, and they quit before they see any success.
Some people choose a business model or niche that’s not right for them. If you’re not good at creating an eBook or video course, you either have to take time to learn how to do it, hire someone to do it, or switch to a business model that’s a better fit for you!
That might be affiliate marketing or digital printable downloads. Maybe you decide to become a FBA (Fulfilled By Amazon) entrepreneur or dropshipper. What gets you hooked on Internet marketing isn’t what you have to be stuck with.
There are dozens of business models out there, regardless of how you got interested in this industry. The same goes for niches. You might be a newbie who hung your hat on the idea that the make money online niche was where you’d earn millions.
But if you know nothing about it (or are trying to pursue another niche that you just can’t get excited about), switch gears! There are thousands of niches – broad and narrow – that are just waiting to have someone step in and lead the target audience in a way that only you know how to do.
There are those who refuse to spend any time learning, and instead expect someone to take time out of their busy schedule to walk them through it while holding their hand. Once you get out of school, nobody enjoys the learning process usually, but if you can muster up some enthusiasm or at least determination to spend time learning each day, it will help you in all areas of your business.
What do you need to learn? Learn more about your niche. Learn better copywriting skills. Learn new ways to build a list. Learn how to utilize the different features on all of the social media platforms.
You can learn search engine optimization strategies and email marketing tips. You might learn time management hacks or ways to motivate your subscribers. There’s no end to the amount of tips and hacks you can absorb if you just dedicate a little bit of time each day to elevate your knowledge.
You might not be looking for workarounds, and feel like you’re held back by tools or courses that are too expensive for you to afford – or you don’t understand something, so you feel sidelined.
Sometimes, there’s a free way of doing something that you may not know about. For example, CamStudio is free whereas Camtasia isn’t. So if you felt stuck not being able to edit your videos, there’s a solution within your budget.
You have to be willing to put yourself out there and ask for help. Not everyone will ask you to mortgage your home and pay for a five-figure coaching program. In fact, most of your fellow entrepreneurs are going to answer questions simply because they remember what it was like to feel lost or stuck – and they love helping a go getter!
You may have spread yourself too thin. Ever heard the phrase, “Jack of all trades – master of none?” Don’t be that person! Pick a lane and stay in it. Don’t try too many business models (and two is too many if one isn’t profitable yet).
Don’t start building five niche websites before one is turning a profit, either. You don’t want to water down your focus or your expertise. Content creation takes a lot of time and focusing on building one virtual entity up into a massive authority site is better than putting a little bit on many domains.
Get yourself on a consistent schedule. It doesn’t have to be at the same time every day – but have the same areas mapped out that need to be accomplished. Check emails. Spend time learning. Network.
Develop new content for your blog, social profiles and info products. Research and test things. Don’t waste time looking back and beating yourself up about why you didn’t do it right the first time.
There’s an old proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” The only thing you can control in this journey is what you do today – right now.
So grab the bull by the horns and create the success you deserve. Say goodbye to wishful thinking and engaging in the blame game. Only you can set aside your fears and frustrations and build the kind of business you can be proud of.
