How to not make an online living

I’ve been in the online marketing biz to some extent since 2002. Throughout the years I’ve made some money: though nothing to brag about on a consistent basis. It gets pretty old, really.

Throughout these 4 years I’ve learned a lot. Back in 2002 I didn’t know how to create a simple website link, and now I can create complex programs in perl as well as knowing how to make simple/complex websites writing in perl/html/css/javascript. I’m even starting to learn some php: which I regret not starting earlier.

As far as online marketing goes, I have done decent at times, and other times I almost go broke. For instance, back in 2003 I had a website (the first commercial website that I coded in perl), and after a short stint It was growing at the rate of 150-200 new members every month for several months consecutively. It was pretty successful in its own right: but it got shut down due to hosting issues. I designed a website for an up & coming MLM company in 2004. Without a personal list & no marketing training I received 26 paid signups (myself advertising only) in less than 2 weeks. The company folded before the official launch. . . so no luck there.

Also in 2004 I designed a MLM program which had a 2×11 forced matrix payplan (that was pretty complex coding). In under 3 weeks I had over 500 signups to the program with the help of some affiliates – only to discover a flaw in the payplan so I dumped the project.

I’ve had a few more half successes that ended in failures. The reason for me saying all this leads to my point: The reason I am not making a full time living on the internet is because I do not stick with anything! I jump from idea to idea, and if I run into a snag or something else catches my eye: I jump on that bandwagon. It amazes me the amount of energy I spend on things that I don’t follow through on. One of my older domains has some 20 sub domains with half finished projects. At one crazy time in my life I was actively working on 14 different websites.

At this point I am almost sickened by my ignorance. I guess what makes me the most upset is that I’ve had this answer all along. I learned this “secret” almost right when I started out. I know how to make my entire living off the internet: I just don’t stick with anything long enough for it to come to fruition, or I just dump it at the first sign of trouble. It was 2002 maybe 2003. I joined pushbuttonpublishing.com, it was my first subscription based purchase (besides webhosting). Somewhere through there I learned something, I’m not sure if it was in some infoproduct I downloaded, or if it was on the website itself. The thing I remember:

Do what you enjoy, Do what you love

The reason I start a program/service/website/idea & drop it so quickly is because I am not passionate about what I am doing. My motivation behind what I do is to make money, it’s not necessarily something I enjoy. From my experience: you shouldn’t do what you do only to make money. You need to have an interest in what you are doing & incorporate the moneymaking plan into it. That way if you don’t end up making a lot of money initially on your project – you’re still having fun at it.

Just the thoughts of a thoroughly frustrated marketer. And webmaster. And programmer. And customer support provider. And . . . I think you get my point.