The Secret to Getting Past Go

06 May 2010

The Secret to Getting Past Go

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Overcoming Excuses

Editor’s Note: This is an awesome post from someone who’s been there, done that, and you should really listen to what she has to say here. Follow her at Erica.biz.

“But I don’t know how to…”

If I had to name the one phrase that has stopped more potential entrepreneurs than any other–in fact, the one that is probably stopping you right now–it would be: “But I don’t know how to…”

It’s the reason we buy so many information products, each offering a “proven system” to making money online. But it’s also the hidden reason why we don’t take action and start a blog, create our own product, or start writing articles.

You can buy all the products and read all the books filled with how-to guides and inspiring stories, but I’d put money down that in most cases, consuming more “how to” information won’t help you succeed online.

The truth is that there is a deeper belief behind all this. The belief underlying your lack of action is, “I don’t have what it takes to succeed.”

Unfortunately, “what it takes” is nebulous. This leaves you stuck in a cycle of buying products, reading blogs, reading books, and otherwise consuming
information, hoping against hope that something will contain whatever it takes for you to succeed.

But it doesn’t work, does it? All that information consumption leaves you burned out and with a sinking feeling that you may never have what it takes to succeed.

I’ve Been There, Too…

This is exactly where I was in 2009. I realized I had spent over $20,000 on information products, but I was no closer to success than I had been before I
started buying them. I was spinning my wheels in the dust instead of putting my car into drive.

I resolved to stop buying more products until I could figure out what was going on inside my head.

And then I meditated on what I needed to succeed. I wanted a visualization of exactly what I felt I was lacking. Then, I figured, I could buy one or two
products that would solve that lack, or I could hire someone to fix the problem for me.

Boy, was I surprised to find out that there was nothing behind the belief! I had simply ingrained a truism in my brain. I had a belief that I lacked what I
needed to succeed.

So I flipped it around. I said to myself, “I have everything I need to succeed.”

And every time I felt desperate, overwhelmed, lost, or confused, I repeated that belief to myself. “I have everything I need to succeed.”

The One Belief Successful Entrepreneurs Have…

The truth is that most successful entrepreneurs didn’t follow a blueprint or “proven system” to success. They simply threw something out there to see if it
worked. Then, based on feedback from customers and from the folks who didn’t buy, they tweaked it. Then they tweaked it some more. And, after several years of doing that, they had a multi-million-dollar business.

Once I turned my belief around, my life changed for the better in a huge way. I realized that the product I hoped to release (a “comprehensive” guide to
starting a blog) was too complicated, and I needed to get something out the door.

So I used some of the videos I had already created, cut a couple new ones, and got a product on how to guest post on popular blogs out the door. That product went on to make nearly $2,000 in its first 30 days.

Then I released a new high-end product: a private workshop with just a few small business owners here in San Diego. That product made just under $4,000 in one day!

Finally, my Internet business was starting to show signs of life! I went from spending 5 figures a year on information products to spending only on the
information products that would directly help me succeed with my goals. I ran two successful product launches and my business became cash-flow positive.

But I have no doubt that, without changing the belief that I didn’t have what it took to succeed, I’d still be in the same situation of spinning my wheels and
getting nowhere. There is no better teacher than actually doing whatever it is you want to do: Get your blog up and running. Create a product and sell it.

Write more articles; create, edit, and publish more videos.

You have what it takes to succeed. Believe that, and anything is possible.

About Erica: After selling her online business for $1,100,000.00 at age 26, Erica Douglass “temporarily retired”, and now writes an online business blog at erica.biz.

She recently showed how to make money blogging. Quick link: Download her free Blog Success Manifesto—30 tactical tips to grow your blog faster than you ever have before.

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http://twitter.com/shannonrss/status/13482372665 Shannon Albert’s RSS

Nathan Hangen – The Secret to Getting Past Go:

Editor’s Note: This is an awesome post from someone who’s … http://bit.ly/cHHpDV
http://twitter.com/alltop_blogging/status/13485777086 Alltop

The Secret to Getting Past Go http://bit.ly/9A0w2K Blogging.alltop
http://twitter.com/bloggingninja/status/13485779063 The Blogging Ninja

The Secret to Getting Past Go http://bit.ly/cUrpll
http://twitter.com/aaronmmielke/status/13492391650 Aaron Mielke

Don't get sucked in the consumerism trap. Take action. Excellent guest post on @nhangen's blog by @ericabiz: http://ow.ly/1HJOt
http://twitter.com/ericabiz/status/13492539034 Erica Douglass

"The Secret to Getting Past Go" — my guest post on @nhangen 's blog is up! Read it if you haven't yet started yr biz: http://bit.ly/beBeTp
http://twitter.com/nhangen/status/13493844530 Nathan Hangen

Check out today's post by @ericabiz – a great one about escaping "I don't know how" and taking that first step http://bit.ly/beBeTp
http://twitter.com/marsdorian/status/13494393895 Mars Dorian

RT @nhangen What an insightful story – I can totally relate ! http://bit.ly/9gMpMf
aaronmielke

As I was starting out, just a few months ago, I found I was spending WAY too much time “consuming” instead of planning. I thought the more info that I took in the more educated I would be so I would then be able to make better decisions. The problem was, I wasn't putting anything to use.

That's when I turned down the “volume knob” and stopped going down the consumption path. I started applying the knowledge I had gained as well as using my own instincts and launched my blog.

Now, I follow just a few bloggers that I've connected with and am putting my plan into action and working towards achieving my goals.

Great points, Erica.
http://twitter.com/eblogr/status/13495250599 James Tayo

RT @nhangen Going on a diet… Information style http://bit.ly/9gMpMf
http://twitter.com/5kmission Jillian McCoy

Excellent post. Erica's “Blog Success Manifesto” was one of the first resources I came across when I was thinking about learning to make a living online – and it's the main reason I finally decided to start a blog. I'm still getting my bearings, but it's thanks to straight-up advice like hers that I'm starting to take steps instead of just reading and planning.
http://www.marsdorian.com/ Mars Dorian

What a genuine and authentic story, Erica

I can totally relate – you keep reading and buying stuff and get on an emotional high, and as soon as it wears out you buy the next product, without implementing anything at all ! It took me a looooooong time to get over that, instead of just doing your things and fixing them as you go !!
Grreat story, definitely worth a tweet
http://www.77successtraits.com Mark Foo | 77 Success Traits

Great post! This reminds me of my all time favourite quotes:

“You don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going!” – Mike Litman

“You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.” – Les brown

Cheers~

Mark
http://twitter.com/adamkingstudio/status/13497680568 Adam King

Great stuff from @ericabiz guest post over at @nhangen on escaping "I don't know how" and taking that first step. http://bit.ly/beBeTp
http://entrepreneurblogr.com james

Yes, Erica, the information diet is so important. That is why I asked for a refund from something I purchased yesterday because I know I will not have the time to consume the content.
Thanks for the push.
http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

It's a tough balance to achieve, because on one hand, there's so much to learn from, but on the other…if we don't just start something then we'll never become producers.

I have some fantastic $2k courses on my hard drive that I just haven't had time to get to. I'd like to take a week sometime to go through them all.
http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

and that's so true. Had I tried to make my 1st product perfect, I'd still be working on it. Instead, I launched it and made 5 figures. Big difference.
http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

It's hard, but necessary. It's easy to think you're always one great gem away from unlocking the secrets.

We don't all have to crack the DaVinci code to be successful.
http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

I love her approach. No nonsense and straight forward advice. Doesn't get any better than that.
http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

Amen. That's what I had to do too. Besides, if you get too wrapped up in the “blogger” circles, then your priorities shift to pleasing them instead of your customers. Hugh (@gapingvoid) had a great post about that on Copyblogger yesterday.
http://twitter.com/zemalf/status/13505816873 Antti Kokkonen

Reading: The Secret to Getting Past Go by @ericabiz http://bit.ly/aoNNEq (at @nhangen's blog)
http://www.financiallydigital.com Nunzio Bruno

This was really another great post! Visualization is huge, I can't stress that enough it's an exercise I use with my own clients. The only thing I get stuck on myself is trying to put my finger on what my first packaged product offer should be. I love consulting and I really love sharing my stories and insight on my blog. I'm picking up traffic but want to offer more, I downloaded Erica's 30 Tips and can't wait to flip through it. Thanks for the motivation!!
ItsDorothy

Nathan, thankyou for introducing me to erica.biz !
http://twitter.com/richlazzara/status/13555056532 Rich Lazzara

RT @nhangen The Secret to Getting Past Go http://bit.ly/aoNNEq
http://tonyteegarden.com/the-single-biggest-secret-of-moving-from-fear-to-your-freedom/ The Single Biggest Secret of Moving From Fear to Your Freedom | Tony Teegarden | Social Media Blogging | Personal Development

[...] don’t think it will bomb but even if it does, it’s a stepping stone of which I’ll learn lots of valuable stuff. What I do know is that my results if I [...]
http://twitter.com/kbloemendaal/status/13680923242 Keith

RT @nhangen: The Secret to Getting Past Go ##digitalempire http://is.gd/bXeod
http://hotblogtips.com/ Keith Bloemendaal

Trying to “balance” consumption and production can be the key to crossing a line you have been stuck on. But, I believe that line is a living being, and moves with your progression.

2yrs ago, I did a hell of a lot more consumption than I do now.
http://twitter.com/camplommer/status/13702738953 Cameron Plommer

RT @nhangen The Secret to Getting Past Go http://bit.ly/aoNNEq
myrtlebeachcondos

Your learning curve in the internet marketing business has proved a good guide in these times of downturn, to set our own internet business going.
http://twitter.com/scottstafstrom/status/13722342911 Scott Stafström

RT @nhangen The Secret to Getting Past Go http://bit.ly/aoNNEq
myrtlebeachcondos

Your learning curve in the internet marketing business has proved a good guide in these times of downturn, to set our own internet business going.
http://twitter.com/onbloggingwell/status/13737906080 On Blogging Well

The Secret to Getting Past Go by @nhangen | http://bit.ly/ayUipe #blogging #business #success
http://twitter.com/christianfea/status/14254750339 Christian Fea

The secret to getting past go. @ericabiz @nhangen Recommended read for entrepreneurs. http://bit.ly/a41i7z
http://twitter.com/donnakozik/status/14254810179 Donna Kozik

RT @christianfea: The secret to getting past go. @ericabiz @nhangen Recommended read for entrepreneurs. http://bit.ly/a41i7z
http://twitter.com/ldtips/status/14761968124 Life Design Tips

The secret to getting past go http://j.mp/d5mIap
vinman

Information overload actually kills the initiative and make people mere researchers. This is the main reason why many webmasters fail. No one can start an internet business only after mastering everything. Just take the initiative and make the wheel to move. Then only one can learn and build the business.