How To Start An Online Business - An Uncommon Approach

Over the years I've seen most of the people who started at the same time as I did, quit. Most of them aren't online anymore. Every month I have to go through and delete dozens of links on my blog - links that are "dead" because the blog they pointed at, the blog that a long-gone commentator loved at the time, is deleted. 

On the other hand I've seen others start with little or no fanfare - and they are now successes. What's a success? Well they make more money than I do, they have a lifestyle that they enjoy, they're happy. 

What's the difference between the successes and the failures. Have a guess: choose an answer below - before you read down further…

You see most people think I succeed in this business because I'm "good with computers" or even, hilariously, because I have a degree, or I can write. 

They are wrong. 

I've succeeded because of just one thing - I didn't quit. OK so the smart-arses amongst you will - well say yeah  but the failures quit.

Yes, that's exactly my point! Ssomeone once said to me

"99% of people who try to make a living online fail and quit. And they quit, just before they start to succeed". 

And when I look around at the people who have succeeded, the ones that have done really well? Better than me? Why's that then - why do they make three, or five or even more times a month more than I do? Are they smarter? Nope. Younger? Some of them. A different gender? Some of them. 

Some of them have kids, some not. Some are single, some not. Some are in debt and trying to save their homes. Others had neither income nor debts. Some are old, some young, male and female, educated and not. 

They have nothing in common, they don't even sell the same products, use the same affiliates, or have the same business models. Quite a number of them have had (or their families have had) health issues - which if you are American, seems to lead, invariably to huge debts. 

There is just one thing that all of these people do have in common. They have worked bloody hard, and they really, really wanted to succeed.

Not everything they have tried has made them money, but they have tried so many things, and done so much work, that they have finally made some money. If something failed to work out they didn't spend a lot of time bitching about it in forums or on Facebook. Instead they picked themselves up and tried a different approach.

One day it happened.  I couldn't believe it - I'd got some people to sign up for an program I was an affiliate for! I was amazed, I figured I might even make some money. I did, the first month I made over $100, I was disbelieving, was this for real (it was)? The next month I made over $400. I was in tears of joy - and I don't cry easily. 

Then I made a mistake - I told some friends, I was just so excited I had to share!

I'll never forget the looks I got. Was I insane? I'd been doing this for over 6 months at the time and I was EXCITED about $400??? I used to have a job that I would earn that in a day, when was I going to get a real job? 

They will never be entrepreneurs or own businesses, they don't get it. The very best money I ever made online - the first time Adsense paid out because I'd reached $100 (that took about . The second best - that first $100 from the affiliate program - because I'd got real people to trust me and sign up to a program on my recommendation! 

I'd got lucky.  

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
Seneca Roman dramatist, philosopher, & politician (5 BC - 65 AD)

I will add the next articles in this series as I write them, below. 

How To Start An Online Business - Personality Skills 

How To Start An Online Business - How Much Money 

How To Start An Online Business - What Technical Skills 

How To Start An Online Business - Which Services Are Worthwhile