Internet marketing is a strange industry. There are a lot of wild claims by attention grabbers and gurus. This sets up a herd mentality of people constantly chasing down every new niche and technique. In reality, most of these claims are completely unattainable and probably not true in the first place. These people are selling their idea of success to an eager audience just looking to better their position in life.
I have always believed it’s important to define your own success, not the ideal of success set forth by some random guru on the internet. Personally, I have no desire to ever be a “baller”, “grinder”, or “guru”. These may be someone’s idea of what a successful marketer is like, but not mine.
True story: when I was a kid growing up we didn’t have a lot of money. My mom always bought us frozen orange juice in a can because it was cheap. It was my task to make it, and it was always a real pain in the ass job. I hated scraping the frozen concentrate out and stirring it around endlessly trying to get it to melt. So each time I would proudly proclaim, “When I grow up, I’m going to make enough money to buy orange juice in the carton!” That was it. To me, buying orange juice in the carton was my definition of the pinnacle of success. I still think of that every time I buy a carton of OJ to this day. It’s these little successes that define us, not driving a fancy car or living in a mansion.
I’m a big fan of Henry David Thoreau and re-read all of his writings frequently. In the conclusion of Walden he has a great quote that relates quite well to Internet Marketing: “Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”
Put into marketing terms, don’t be so desperate to succeed that you chase down shady offers and tactics to make a quick buck. Don’t try to attain a lifestyle you see someone else promoting. Set your own goals to define your happiness. The ironic thing is, people who do their own thing and go in their own direction are always the most successful anyways.
For some that can be as simple as quitting their day job and supporting their family while working from home. Others may be able to put a monetary value on their goals, and that’s great too. Just as long as you are the one consciously setting your own goals and defining your success. Follow your own drummer.
Great post Chad, interesting to see someone vocalize (write) that mindset, especially since everybody else in the industry is seemingly trying to be a “baller”.
Very awesome post on so many levels.
Yes, $1k/day isn’t “the success” point but it sure is nice
much respect for this post, people in this industry can be quite flashy at times. I think you were spot on with this post
Great post Chad. It’s easy to get sucked into the whole money success thing . . . I’ve been there – 25 years old, own ecommerce business . . . Thought I was the Kahunas
I lost it all. Took my eye off the ball and got carried away. I’m still paying for it 5 years later.
When I look around at the people who’ve ‘made it’ at my age it’s easy to be envious – but then I just remember – I screwed up, it’s my fault – so I don’t have a flourishing business but I have lots of other great stuff:
> a beautiful family
> a nice home
> my health
> great career with a growing company, doing what i love
Success for me? I will have to excise those business demons, I’m back on course and building a steady business on the side . . .
But – most important to me is to know that I’ve done the right things, the right way
And so far I’m doing OK
This was a very insightful post Chad. It’s nice to read such a reality check, this will serve as a reminder for me as I come up the ladder. Thanks.
My aim is to not need to keep looking over my shoulder and watch what I post on the internet because of my ‘employers’, and expand my landing page design business to the level that I support my family whilst working from home. Once I achieve this, I can’t think of much else I particularly need. The freedom that it brings will pretty much make me a complete person. Thanks for such an refreshing post.
Great post. There is so much to learn every day. You have to keep growing to stay on top of everything.
I agree. It’s important to take what you can from the ‘experts’ but at the same time, use some of your own judgement.
Great post! I definitely will re-tweet.
Those are some good points… and it is a little strange how we benchmark ourselves to what people say is “good” and what is “bad.” For me, I’m a sucker for the common $1k, $5k, $10k benchmarks just because they make sense — but I also don’t think it’s a bad thing to define success that way. Having goals is never a bad thing, and the conventional wisdom typically points you in the direction of the best structure for them!
This is the very interesting post. here is some important point for the readers. Now , I am in field of IT. This post is provided various ideas of success.
THANKS
This is the very interesting post. here is some important point for the readers. Now , I am in field of IT. This post is provided various ideas of success.
THANKS
I can defined my success in only word and that’s “Patience”. I do my best in any type of field and get best result always. Anyone can get success in their personal and professional life. If he/she can set some goal and try to achieve with honesty and hard work..
Even if you have achieved a small goal, it is still ? success)
I agree with Career development it does take a lot of Patience to be in this industry. Sometimes like in that old fable long term that tortoise outdoes the rabbit. You have to set and prioritize realistic goals whether they be business or personal you will eventually reach your mark.
I think one’s definition of success can (and should) change from time to time! For example if you sell x amount of product right now, and you think selling 2X what you’re selling now is “success,” then what happens when you finally make it to that “2X” mark? I would think that “success” would then become the 4X mark. Right?
That is true, you are right to say it’s not wise to follow the gurus definition of success, and we don’t even know for sure they really have the earnings they are claiming to have.
The definition of Success from everyone point of view would be totally different and some one will say something and the others will describe it in other words. But in my opinion Success is something like goal that you want to achieve for a purpose that you have marked in your mind. Its achievement is knowns as Success. Thanks for sharing such a nice post with us.