The Year That Changed Everything: Why I Stepped Away and What I\u2019m Bringing Back<\/b><\/p>\n
Almost a year ago, I wrote about finding your niche in internet marketing. I was excited and confident, sharing strategies and insights like I had it all figured out.<\/span><\/p>\n The past year of silence taught me more about internet marketing than the previous few years of reading, researching, and theorizing combined. And honestly? I needed every messy, confusing, scary, frustrating, and enlightening moment of it.<\/span><\/p>\n My Biggest Failure: Inconsistency and Poor Time Management<\/b><\/p>\n I spent the past year working on my business, listening to webinars, learning about implementing different marketing strategies, building funnels and creating content, among other ideas. Sounds productive, right?<\/span><\/p>\n The problem was, I was incredibly inconsistent. I started four different projects, but never finished or launched one single one. I got caught up in what I\u2019ll call \u201cresearch and development mode\u201d \u2013 always planning, always optimizing, never actually executing. I was suffering from the exact problem I was trying to help others solve!<\/span><\/p>\n The technical side became my biggest stumbling block. I was following a proven system from a coach I trust completely – all the essential tools were mapped out clearly. However, what should have taken 30 minutes, working consistently and focused, took me hours. I had a support desk at my beck and call, but felt too embarrassed to reach out as often as I needed to.<\/span><\/p>\n On top of the tech struggles, life happened. Poor time management, procrastination, and if I\u2019m being completely honest, FEAR crept in. Could I really be successful at this? Was I just fooling myself? The combination of all of this created the perfect storm of INACTION.<\/span><\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing \u2013 the system works. The tools are solid and proven. The guidance is there. The only missing piece was me showing up consistently and pushing through the tech hiccups that can trip up many of us starting out.<\/span><\/p>\n 3 Fundamental Lessons That Changed My Internet Marketing Approach<\/b><\/p>\n This year of behind-the-scenes work taught me three fundamental lessons that changed how I approach internet marketing entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson 1: Execution Over Experimentation: Why 80% Action Beats 100% Planning<\/b><\/p>\n I admit, I have checked out a lot of different avenues and aspects of Internet Marketing.\u00a0 Everything from multiple marketing funnels, various content strategies, email automation, and product concepts. I consumed courses, attended webinars, and filled notebooks with brilliant ideas. But here\u2019s what I discovered: There\u2019s a MASSIVE GAP between understanding something in theory and making it work in practice.<\/span><\/p>\n Barring unforeseen circumstances and emergencies, I have learned that life does not \u2018get in the way\u2019 unless you allow it.<\/span><\/p>\n I allowed it. I focused on what other tasks were in front of me, instead of PLANNING and SCHEDULING a specific time to COMMIT to my online business. Days would fly by, sometimes more than a week. I couldn\u2019t wait to get back to learning and starting my business, but because I was not CONSISTENT in my work, I lost my momentum and therefore what I had already learned became a fuzzy memory. I do take notes, but it doesn\u2019t make up for dislocated inconsistency. Overwhelm then moves in, and brings its roommate -fear. Can I really do this? Am I just technically challenged?\u00a0 I\u2019m so lost. My coaches are going to think I\u2019m an idiot. My website does not look like I want. I\u2019m not sure what to write.<\/span><\/p>\n I discovered that perfectionism and inconsistency are business killers. You can have the most sophisticated marketing funnel in the world, but if you don\u2019t consistently drive traffic to it, it\u2019s worthless. You can create the perfect product, but if you never actually launch it, it helps no one.<\/span><\/p>\n The hard truth? 80% execution beats 100% planning EVERY. SINGLE. TIME<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lesson 2: How to Beat Perfectionism: Why Small, Regular Actions Compound<\/b><\/p>\n Starting four projects and finishing zero was humbling. Each time I\u2019d begin something new, I\u2019d get excited, work intensively for a few weeks, then get distracted by the next shiny strategy or hit a roadblock and abandon it. Sound familiar?<\/span><\/p>\n This taught me about the compound effect of small, regular actions as opposed to sporadic big pushes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve become a huge baseball fan (NY Yankees!), and although we love to see those out-of-the-park home runs and grand slams, we know that getting on base is the bones of what wins the game. I was trying to hit home runs when I should have been focused on getting on base CONSISTENTLY. The projects I abandoned weren\u2019t failures because the ideas were bad \u2013 they failed because I didn\u2019t show up for them every day.<\/span><\/p>\n So, I\u2019ve built systems to ensure I follow through. Simple things like time-blocking, accountability tracking, and most importantly, committing to smaller, achievable daily actions rather than overwhelming weekly sprints.<\/span><\/p>\n Lesson 3: Real Learning Happens in the Messy Middle<\/b><\/p>\n There\u2019s a huge difference between consuming marketing content and actually doing the work. I was great at the consuming part. I could tell you about the marketing framework and cutting-edge strategies. But when it came to implementing them? That\u2019s where the real education happened.<\/span><\/p>\n The mistakes I made, and the frustration I caused myself by not treating this as a business and not showing up to my job every day, contributed greatly to the lack of momentum and therefore my inability to conceptualize the big picture.<\/span><\/p>\n These weren\u2019t failures \u2013 they were expensive but invaluable lessons. Now, I am on my way to be able to share real, tested insights instead of regurgitated theory.<\/span><\/p>\n The Rebuild: My Plan for Daily Presence and Consistency<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019m back, but with a completely different approach. Instead of coming from a place of theoretical knowledge, I\u2019m going to document my journey in real time. You\u2019ll see the strategies I\u2019m implementing, the results I\u2019m getting (both good and bad), and the lessons I\u2019ve learned along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m starting with BEING PRESENT DAILY.<\/span><\/p>\n I am a morning person. My favorite time of day is the quiet of the early morning, when there are no distractions, no noise, and no TV. I especially get excited in good weather when I can take my work outdoors. I wake around 4:45 am and after my morning routine, I am dressed and ready for work by 6 am.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Years ago, especially during COVID, telecommuting became a necessity. Additionally, home-based business opportunities flourished. I remember a big \u201cselling point\u201d was that you can work from home in your PJs!\u00a0 NO. NO. NO.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0I believe that to be successful, to take your business seriously, and to show up 100%, you must approach it 100% professionally and focused. No matter how comfy you may feel in your PJs and with your morning coffee, get dressed and get out of bed! I\u2019m not suggesting that you dress for the office, unless you want to.\u00a0 My go-to is jeans, a T-shirt and a cozy sweater. I\u2019m dressed, I\u2019m present, I\u2019m at my desk or table, and I\u2019m in work mode. Believe me, it makes a huge difference.<\/span><\/p>\n Take a moment and really look at your daily routine and when you feel the most productive and available time-wise.\u00a0 You may be retired like me, or commuting to your job, or perhaps telecommuting. Regardless, it\u2019s essential you block out committed time to develop your online business. You may not be able to schedule the same time every day, that\u2019s OK, if you have a schedule and stick to it.<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m not promising overnight success stories or miracle transformations. What I am promising is radical honesty about what\u2019s working, what isn\u2019t and what I\u2019m learning in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n Join Me for the Rebuild<\/b><\/p>\n