The difference between those who actually earn extra income online and those who do not is a factor that has no basis in sex or race or money. It is available to all but the most ADD challenged. The only cost is self-discipline. Yet it can be as out-of-reach as the stars.
Successful authors call it BIC (butt-in-chair). They’ve realized the best muse in the world is useless if one is not putting in the time getting the writing done. The same applies to succeeding in any endeavor.
The key to success, online and offline, is found in the focus factor. It requires a narrowing of the vision so that shiny objects (aka the latest, greatest ways to make money online, improve self, etc.) do not distract attention from the goal. Tunnel vision that leaves no room for shiny detours, gritty detractors or plain old procrastination goes a long way in keeping the end goal appealing and possible.
Focus requires self-motivation – the act of making oneself do the necessary tasks and take the necessary steps to achieve the desired result. Even if those tasks are tedious. Even if it would be more fun to watch a movie, read email or surf the net.
So why do so many people fail when it comes to focus? There are many reasons. The ones that occur most frequently include:
Self-sabotage: One of the biggest reasons for personal failure. Deep inside, these people really don’t believe success is possible for them. They’re so afraid of actually succeeding that they sabotage their own chances. They tend to do this one of two ways: 1) They mentally talk themselves straight into failure. 2) They deliberately take steps that lead to failure – procrastinating until it’s too late to achieve their goal.
Environmental-sabotage: Some people allow others around them to poison their goals and dreams. (That stuff never works….You’re just wasting your time…you aren’t smart enough to do that….) It’s been said that if you want to see how far you can rise, take a look at your friends. (Translation – It’s hard to soar with the eagles when you’re hanging out with the turkeys.)
Fear: Fear of failure. Fear of success. Some people fear succeeding every bit as much as others fear failing. Fear of the unknown. “I’ve never done this before.” “What if it does work? What if I succeed? What will I do then?”
Shifty Sabotage: This type of sabotage isn’t as obvious as the spoken word. But it can be just as defeating. This happens most often to those who are trying to work from home or those want to spend their evenings creating an online business that will rescue them from their day jobs. The person seeking to succeed is left with no time to do so. Family and/or friends find ways to take up every moment of available time.
Destination Detours: Often, people will embark on a business journey only to stop half-way and start questioning themselves. This tends to be a side-effect of shiny-object-syndrome. The road to an affiliate marketing blog stops suddenly and a new road toward ebooks, or videos, or review sites, or etc. is begun. A bit of time goes by and now there are half a dozen half-roads leading nowhere. None are complete. None have actually become businesses. None of them are anywhere near bringing in money.
Defeating Defeat
Focus is a deadly weapon in the war against failure. Those who succeed in business are those who manage to keep their focus on the destination – not on the road. Sabotage attempts and other interruptions are road hazards – not road blocks.
Many find that putting their route in writing provides a map to the success they are reaching for. If time is a big obstacle, their map for the day may contain only ONE action, one step, in the journey to success. Those steps will add up, even if it takes days, or weeks, or months.
Even the most dedicated will experience days when the passion to succeed has gone into hiding. When passion is absent, focus gets them through. Especially if they’ve mapped out daily steps. Maintaining the habit of completing those steps and crossing them off the list keeps success in focus and puts another brick in the wall against failure.
When it comes to actually making money online, there is one, very important, common denominator found in those who receive checks in the mail or deposits in their bank accounts.
The F Word.
FOCUS.
