Remember That Journey to Building an Online Business?

Remember that journey to starting an online business that I started ages ago?  On Wednesday I had an aha that shook and shifted me just enough that I actually went into immediate action.  Although I had heard these words numerous times, especially from my coach, and I have said it at least 100 times to clients and friends that one would have thought it would have crept in through osmosis, but because I just couldn't seem so shake off the need to be perfect before I applied thesse deep words of wisdom that I couldn't gain any momentum in my own online business world. 

What are the deep quotable words?

Just do it, take action any action.

What has continually gotten in the way?  My desire to do things well, to have them be perfect from the beginning.

What did I do?

You'll love this - yes one of my secrets that most people don't know about me (although now you do) is that I love and find tattoos completely intriguing.  Yes, I'm one of those tattoo gawkers (I'm actually quite polite) that loves both the color and intricacies of tattoo design as well as the individual story that  goes with it.

I started a one page mini-site for tattoos called Get A Tattoo Now. 

What pushed me to start this?

As you know I've been working on a multiple online marketing and business ideas.  Unfortunately they have been much sweat equity versus dollar equity and are still in process because now they are done in my limited free time during the work day. In other words, they are pretty much stalled and haven't made much progress over the past few months.  Plus I just haven't been feeling the passion to get up extra early and when I do would rather spend the time playing with my preschooler Eli instead of showing up in my office to focus on them. 

So I decided to take a different approach. Instead of creating a product that is "business savvy" and fits within my neat business portfolio or could help my current coaching and consulting clients I decided to go with some thing that is totally unrelated and has held intrigue for quite some time - tattoos.

Over the past couple of months I've learned a lot about tattoos.  In fact I thought I would compile some of the information, create an ebook and sell it, but I just haven't got there yet and I didn't want to come off as a fake just trying to make a buck, because that isn't who I am. 

That Gets us back to "just do it, take action any action." Yesterday I was listening to the internet marketing guru John Reese video on Reboot Your Brain.  Although the 8 step process is interesting and many will find helpful...I've played with so many different processes to undo and redo that it really didn't stand out in itself.

I found myself jumping through the  video stopping when it connected.  Like most tutorials it isn't professionally scripted and he's not a professional, and I think he wants it that way.   Besides, he's making more money than the average person can even imagine.

Yes I did do the Reboot My Brain exercises. It was after the actual process when some comments that John made hit, or perhaps I actually rebooted my brain. Below are some of my comments: 

"…the best thing you could do right now is to just go, pick any product, set up a one page site and sell it…and then fail because we will all fail at one time and you’ll get over it…learn…move on.

I loved the sharing of…even if you earn $1 it’s more than you had before and you can then double that…we all start some where."

The big obstacle was that I didn't want to play online unless it was both "professional" as well as I was "financially successful." The shift in paradigm was that "it is OK to fail....how else will I learn to make it better?"

1. I let go of needing to be the one that created the product and picked a couple of tattoo products from Click Bank.  It's easy to sign up and they pay on a regular basis and you can both buy or sell products through them without a merchant account.
2. I moved to a strategy of true GIVE and GET.  This means I want to both give away useful information for free as well as offer products for fee where I will earn an affiliate commission.  I'm being totally honest with this to any one that signs up on my list. I'm also asking for input.
3. I'm using Aweber to maintain the database, broadcast email/newsletter and auto-responders.
4. I'm using Lisa Preston's Instant Niche Email to easily create my auto-responder series.
5. I'm hosting the account on 3ix.org - they were recommended to me - and I've got to admit that although my technical background is limited I had no problem setting up the one page site and email.
6. I'm using Google Adwords and analytics...so far, so good.
7. I want to do this just because I do - plus I want to have fun.  Not having any of this attached to my current work and expertise has created a sense of ease and a whole new attitude.

Of course, I intend on being successful because that is also part of who I am.  I have some initial results after 24 hours with my new one page mini site Get A Tattoo Now. I’ve had close to 247 or 1.97% (a respectable number) clickthroughs on Google Adwords Pay Per Click.  I've added 12 people to my list, and I've have had numerous people click through on the affiliate links.

Most importantly on my way to my first $1 that isn't attached to my current business model or clients and is solely about playing online, having fun and connecting with some interesting subscribers that think and live a bit differently from my day to day life.

Obviously most of the programs and software mentioned above have a cost associated to them...so truth be told I'm still waiting on that damn $1!

Here's to you finding your own paradigm shift and taking action and delight in how ever it turns out

Have a great one - you can do it too!

Regards,

Michele Corey, Advanced Approach, Knee Deep:  A dose of insight from your not always average home based business and internet mom aka entrepreneur and the WordStreamz Blog:  simple real estate blog marketing

PS. I'd love to hear your story of your first online $1 - especially if it was some thing that was created out of your own paradigm shift.

Comments

[Des Walsh]

Hidden depths, Michelle - and Jessica too. Who woulda thought, from two such elegant ladies? :)

Such a great post. Should be required reading for all those people who have bought the packages, downloaded the programs, researched the niches, futzed around with autoresponders...

Fantastic of you to share so honestly. I know someone immediately who will surely find this very timely and empowering and I will be forwarding the link right now.

The $ - and $$$ - will come :) You deserve it!

[jessica duquette]

Hey, Michele, what a GREAT post! I, too, am stuck and struggling with that perfectionist brick wall in front of me and loved hearing your tale. (Not to mention that despite my proper and professional exterior, I am actually quite 'inked'.)

My first tattoo came when I was 20, from a woman named Jacquie in New Orleans, and three tattoos (and many years) later, Vyvyn Lazonga in Seattle did a beautiful leafy strand around my right ankle. I am hooked and have been planning my next one for the last few years.

You are an inspiration!

warmly,

jessica from It's Not About Your Stuff