Every year I've been in business for myself online
has been better than the previous one. Recently, I
decided to create an "Apprentice" program (Yes, even
before Trump) and I was extremely pleased that we
had nearly 100% of my Apprentices get an online
venture up and running.
I've gone back and thought about their projects and how
they developed and I came to a striking conclusion that
will be worth a lot of money to you this year if you heed it.
There was one key aspect that got them off their butts and
making money and it came down to one thing...
...A Deadline!
As simple as that sounds, once a firm deadline was
established that's when the rubber met the road and all
obstacles melted away like snow flakes in a frying pan.
I'll give you a perfect example for one Apprentice we were
going back and forth a bit tidying up some finishing
touches on the project and trying to get it out the door.
Many times people can try to make everything too perfect
and it never gets out making money so we said we are
launching this project at the LIVE Apprentice Summit. That
was it and that was final.
The date of the Summit was getting closer and closer and I
could see this Apprentice start to sweat a bit. But I made
him make the commitment to this deadline publicly during
our group call and he couldn't back out now.
Fast forward to the day of his launch he had multiple
obstacles that would normally have put the project on hold
get swept away but not now. With the firm deadline in place
and the opportunity for him to be embarrassed our fine
Apprentice finished his project. We hit the 'send' button
and he made a tidy sum from a tiny list over the weekend.
And this was just the start because his project has made
well into the five figures already. And why did it get
finished?
The deadline once again.
What's your deadline for your first project or your next
project?
Is it something that's in your head? Not a good idea. It's
pretty easy to keep moving that forward or letting other
things take precedence.
Who knows about your deadline and who's going to hold you
to it? In some cases it's not a good idea to share your
deadline or goal with another person, especially if they're
the kind of negative energy vampire a lot of well-meaning
friends and family are. But if you've got a group of
colleagues all with the same thinking use them. This works
especially well if you don't want to look like an "idiot"
in front of them and they are people you really respect.
I'll tell you what works for me and maybe it'll work for
you too.
For me, I work best when I absolutely "have to" perform.
For instance my first product on Internet marketing
might never have been made (or at least it would have taken
much longer) if I didn't sell it before it was done. In 2000
when I first started marketing online a lot of people wanted
to know exactly what I did and how I started making money
so fast.
Well, I got my first opportunity to share my story in
Atlanta at an Internet seminar. I was extremely nervous and
my heart was beating out of my chest to go talk in front of
100 strangers. I gave my presentation and then I sold this
product (yet to be created).
I told people it would be delivered in a few weeks so they
knew it was a prepublication offer. I walked away with 10
orders at $200 bucks. All well and good except I couldn't
charge anyone until the manual was done. Even though it was
only $2,000 (less what I had to pay the promoter)
I knew that at least people wanted this information and I
could keep selling it once I finished it. I probably had a
week or two of 3 o'clock in the morning work sessions but I
completed it and charged the cards. I was under pressure to
get the manual done because these people paid me (though I
didn't charge them) and I owed them the material.
Since then I've updated my course material and it's been
worth well into the six figures just because "I had to
do it".
How can you set something like this up for yourself? If you
can stand the pressure - you can decide to put on a tele-
seminar. This is one of my favorite ways of creating
product by a deadline. You can do either a one-time tele-
seminar or series of tele-seminars and you get paid to
produce the product. How great is that? It doesn't matter
if you have 1 person or 1000 people on the call because
this is forcing you to create product and perform.
Once you've set your deadline for anything you'll
"magically" see certain resources fall into place. Trust
me, it's a bit eerie but when it occurs every time you set
a firm deadline you know there's something to it. Just the
act of making the decision sets these events into motion
for you. It's also because what you focus on becomes your
reality. Your perception has changed. Your internal
"radar" is now attuned to resources, allies, etc that can
help you get your project completed.
Now I leave you with one more secret...Set "mini
deadlines".
When you're looking at the whole task of setting up an
Internet business (or anything really) it's easy to get
overwhelmed. But if you break everything up into small
tasks with their own deadlines you'll be at your
destination before you know it. I promise it'll work for
you. In fact, that's one of the reasons I really like
Franklin planner systems (now Franklin Covey). I've been
using them since 1998 and that's when I first started
making some significant changes in my life.
Actually the founder of Franklin, Hyrum Smith has a great
book called "The 10 Essential Laws of Time and Life
Management" - this should be required reading for you!
Even though I hate ad slogans (since they don't work) this
one should become your mantra for the year - "Just Do It".
As cliché and overused as it is - that's all it comes down
to. Whether you're willing to roll the dice and put
yourself out there a little. I promise whatever the worst
case scenario you're thinking, it is far from the reality.
And if you need someone to send your deadline list to - go
ahead and email it to me. I'll keep it confidential and
we'll celebrate together when you reach your destination.
(c) Surefire Marketing, Inc.
==========================================================
Yanik Silver is recognized as the leading expert on
creating automatic, moneymaking websites...and he still
doesn't know how to put up a website.
He is the author, co-author or creator of several best-
selling online marketing books and tools, including his
newest resource for making this year your best yet -
http://www.33DaysToOnlineProfits.com
==========================================================
