My father is 65 years old. He’s retired, he’s very smart, he’s a mechanical engineer by education…he left Corporate America at 50 after being a very successful executive. He’s an analytical guy…certainly not very “salesy”…in addition, he has VERY little technical experience with computers, web sites, etc.
So…naturally, after listenting to me talk his ear off about Internet marketing for years…he wanted to give it a go. I kind of tried to talk him out of it. He really doesn’t strike me as the “marketing type”, he has zero marketing experience, he has no technical experience, and he seemed a bit skeptical of the whole thing really…so I wasn’t sure he’d really take it seriously. I didn’t want to see him fail, and I didn’t want to be the Internet marketing teacher that couldn’t even coach his own Dad!
My fears were unfounded. He threw himself into it! Attacking Market Samurai with a vengance, exploring markets and niches; learning how to set up web sites, deciphering DNS, FTP, HTML, Web 2.0, etc.
He found a great niche, set up a site, did some SEO, and he’s #12 right now, and climbing the charts…oh…and he made a sale!
All this in about 3 weeks!
He absolutely made some mistakes along the way…nothing was perfect, the i’s weren’t dotted and the t’s weren’t crossed. Really a major “ready, fire, … aim” kind of effort. Sort of like…well..everyone’s first attempt (and for some, their latest!)
It just serves to prove the same thing I see over and over again. The ones that manage to make a living in Internet marketing are not the ones who are masterminds of anything at all to do with the different aspects of how we do things…they are simply the ones that “show up”.
If you’re just getting started…here’s your New Year’s resolution. It’s very simple. Just do SOMETHING. Don’t worry about getting it perfect, or even good. Don’t worry about success or failure. Don’t worry about wether it’s the right thing to do now or not. Don’t worry about anything at all. Just do something.
Get one site up, get one campaign up, anything at all.
If you do…you’ve just “showed up”, and you’re ahead of the vast maority of anyone who ever gives Internet marketing a try!
December 15th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Steve,
You are so right. Thanks for sharing the family story. As an engineer myself, we tend to be very interested and driven to conquer new areas. I was in that same boat 4 years ago and would not turn back for anything.
I am deeply involved with family on the other age spectrum, my kids. At 14 and 12 they may get tired of daddy telling them about marketing/internet/business but I think we do a very big disservice to our kids if we do not introduce them to marketing via the internet and direct mail.
As a home school family, our kids actually are receiving “marketing” and business credit as electives. The colleges are starting to take notice as many have special areas on their websites now for home school kids.
Keep up the good work and thanks!
Keith
December 15th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Keith - Great point about the kids. Mine are 14 and 16, and I’ve been getting them involved in the business a bit too. My daughter is even taking a class in school that touches on Internet marketing!!
I have to see if I can give them some kind of part time job in my business…hmm…it would teach them a lot I think!
December 15th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Steve,
Thanks for the push. I’m older than your dad and struggling to keep all this information straight in my head.
I think I just have to jump in, but I’d love to find some phone support, someone I could call to ask the “stupid” question when I think I’m following the BluePrint instructions and info on the Forum but something doesn’t work.
Any thoughts?
Thanks again for your ongoing support.
Chris
(Chris77)
December 15th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Hey Chris…well…we’re always available by email at our commission blueprint support…AND..the forum (linked to on the access page) is amazing. There are lots of great folks in there…ready to help…and I’ve personally made over 1500 posts in the last 100 days or so.
My fingers are tired!
December 15th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hi Steve,
Thanks again. I follow the Forum, but I didn’t realize you were available by email at commission blueprint support. I’ll check that out. Promise I won’t be a pest.
Chris
December 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
True wisdom there my friend, true wisdom: just get going & do something.
John
December 20th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Good Simple Deals is an example of an internet marketing website.
Good advice. Get Started. Test Test Test.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
This is excellent advice and a great story..thank you
March 9th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
This is excellent advice and great story… thank you
July 11th, 2009 at 11:38 am
We need people like you to continue to encourage us. This is an amazing and a great story.
Thank you
July 12th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Great Story about your dad. Thanks for telling it. Sometimes out percieved knowledge of a subject gets in the way of our actually learning it as it has been for a friend of mine who is a software developer and just can’t get the hang of the internet marketing thing.
Thanks for the reminder that if we just take action, we’re guaranteed result.
August 13th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Great story. My son is studying music in college and is already finding a need to promote his services. I’ve been trying to educate him on internet marketing. He’s beginning to get it.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Good to hear that the “oldies” can make it work. Same age, started a year ago and finding it a great challenge. The problem I think is to stick to your guns and attack one piece at a time.
Regards,
Francois
December 11th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Great Motivating Words Steve.. Thanks alot.. I’m a newbie in internet marketing. Will be back to this page once i start geting some results, to paste my story.I’ve already started website and campaign building.
Thank you again..
Cheers..
January 15th, 2010 at 8:00 am
Learning how to market on the internet is such a great skill to develop. Even for the older generation, and I’m 50+ now.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:38 am
Your blog is very inspiring and motivating. Internet marketing ties together the creative and technical aspects of the Internet, including design, development, advertising, and sales. Thanks for sharing this.
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