Welcome to Episode 105 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 105 of the “Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing” podcast! I’ve entered the second hundred of these helpful, interesting, and informative episodes for this podcast and looking forward to more! In this episode, the topic is “Your Expert Status As an Entrepreneur: Credibility, Visibility, and Profitability”

When it comes to your visibility as an entrepreneur, where may we find you to see what you’re doing? This expert status comes from your writing, videos and audios, and your social media presence on the most active platforms for your target audience. My three popular and active blogs are at ConnieRagenGreen.com, HugeProfitsTinyList.com, and at MondayMorningMellow.com.

Credibility is about what you already know and what you are learning. We all started our online businesses as adults, so we brought our knowledge and experiences with us. It made sense for me to help people write, market, and publish eBooks in the beginning, because I had worked as a classroom teacher for twenty years prior to coming online, and was learning about marketing and self-publishing.

Profitability means that you must ask “What’s for sale?” every day in your business. Create your own simple products and courses, recommend others with affiliate marketing, and look into buying the resale rights to sell other people’s products as your own like I continue to do in my own business.

The final part of this information on your expert status as an entrepreneur includes productivity, consistency, and attention to detail. Get everything in place as quickly as possible, and your online business is sure to grow exponentially!

During my first couple of years online, beginning in 2007 I connected with mentors Alex Mandossian and Raymond Aaron. When I inquired as to what they were doing together as strategic alliance partners, they gave me a brief explanation and told me that I was not yet ready to move up to this level.

Over the next two years they helped me to grow and elevate my business and my mindset as an online entrepreneur so that I could connect with others in this way.

Seek out the people and groups you wish to be involved with and show them that you have moved past tactics and on to strategies. It will make all the difference and as you uplevel everything you’re doing online in your business, your free time and disposable income will increase exponentially!

When I work with people in my Incubator Mastermind Mentoring program, the goal is to move them into position to become a strategic alliance partner with me and others to share their message in a bigger way.

WHY did you choose the career you started your working life with? WHY did you get married, have children, and move into your first home? WHY did you make the conscious decision to leave your career at some point and start your business? WHY do you want to be an author or entrepreneur, or coach? WHY do you get up every single day and do the work required to become more successful on an ongoing basis?

Everyone must have a WHY and there are no right or wrong answers here. But if you find yourself unmotivated to work or if you find yourself procrastinating on projects, then it’s time to re-examine the main reason for your business.

Name Your Reason – or Your WHY – for Starting a B...

Welcome to Episode 104 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 104 of the “Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing” podcast! I’ve entered the second hundred of these helpful, interesting, and informative episodes for this podcast and looking forward to more! In this episode, I’m asking the question “What is a “Strategic Alliance Partnership” and how may I get involved to grow my business?”

During my first couple of years online, beginning in 2007 I connected with mentors Alex Mandossian and Raymond Aaron. When I inquired as to what they were doing together as strategic alliance partners, they gave me a brief explanation and told me that I was not yet ready to move up to this level.

Over the next two years they helped me to grow and elevate my business and my mindset as an online entrepreneur so that I could connect with others in this way.

Seek out the people and groups you wish to be involved with and show them that you have moved past tactics and on to strategies. It will make all the difference and as you uplevel everything you’re doing online in your business, your free time and disposable income will increase exponentially!

When I work with people in my Incubator Mastermind Mentoring program, the goal is to move them into position to become a strategic alliance partner with me and others to share their message in a bigger way.

WHY did you choose the career you started your working life with? WHY did you get married, have children, and move into your first home? WHY did you make the conscious decision to leave your career at some point and start your business? WHY do you want to be an author or entrepreneur, or coach? WHY do you get up every single day and do the work required to become more successful on an ongoing basis?

Everyone must have a WHY and there are no right or wrong answers here. But if you find yourself unmotivated to work or if you find yourself procrastinating on projects, then it’s time to re-examine the main reason for your business.

Name Your Reason – or Your WHY – for Starting a Business

Focusing on your WHY can help motivate you, so write down your reason for starting a business on a regular basis. Did you want to fill your free time? Did you want to earn some play money or contribute to the family finances? Did you want to pay the medical bills of an aging parent or a sick child? Did you want to pay for your child’s higher education or private school tuition?

In my case, my answer to “what’s your why?” was always around having enough income to live life on my terms. Over time, I came to the realization that every choice I was making, and each time I could not do something that had meaning for me, was all related to me needing to earn a paycheck or a commission from the classroom teaching and real estate work I was involved with each day.

I missed just about every family event, vacation, and other activities because I was working 60 or more hours a week in order to cover my bills and other expenses. I wasn’t angry or resentful because I believed that I didn’t deserve to have a better life during those decades. This all changed in 2005 when I began reading books and attending events based on self improvement and personal development principles.

Writing these reasons down – no matter what they are because every person’s WHY will be different – should help motivate you to work hard. You should feel driven to make your business a success. You should be willing to tackle things outside your comfort zone because you know the end result will help your business.

If you’re not feeling motivated, then you need to dig deeper. I worked closely with a woman who was struggling to make her online business become profitable,

Welcome to Episode 103 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 103 of the “Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing” podcast! We’re celebrating completing over one hundred episodes of this podcast and looking forward to more! In this episode, I’m asking the question “What is Your Why for Becoming an Online Entrepreneur?

During the years leading up to my coming online in 2006 and leaving my previous life behind, my “why” was building up to a single moment where there would be no turning back. But, I did not realize this until a year or so later because I was not in tune with my body and mind nearly enough to recognize the signs of what was occurring in my life experience. What’s your “why”?

I’m really not sure who coined this phrase – If your “why” doesn’t make you cry, perhaps it isn’t big enough, but I’ve now heard it multiple times over the years, across multiple different industries, and know it holds significant truth.

Answering the question “What’s your why?” leads you to statement of purpose that describes why you do the work you do and why you live the lifestyle you do. It is your calling. It is your conviction.

WHY did you choose the career you started your working life with? WHY did you get married, have children, and move into your first home? WHY did you make the conscious decision to leave your career at some point and start your business? WHY do you want to be an author or entrepreneur, or coach? WHY do you get up every single day and do the work required to become more successful on an ongoing basis?

Everyone must have a WHY and there are no right or wrong answers here. But if you find yourself unmotivated to work or if you find yourself procrastinating on projects, then it’s time to re-examine the main reason for your business.

Name Your Reason – or Your WHY – for Starting a Business

Focusing on your WHY can help motivate you, so write down your reason for starting a business on a regular basis. Did you want to fill your free time? Did you want to earn some play money or contribute to the family finances? Did you want to pay the medical bills of an aging parent or a sick child? Did you want to pay for your child’s higher education or private school tuition?

In my case, my answer to “what’s your why?” was always around having enough income to live life on my terms. Over time, I came to the realization that every choice I was making, and each time I could not do something that had meaning for me, was all related to me needing to earn a paycheck or a commission from the classroom teaching and real estate work I was involved with each day.

I missed just about every family event, vacation, and other activities because I was working 60 or more hours a week in order to cover my bills and other expenses. I wasn’t angry or resentful because I believed that I didn’t deserve to have a better life during those decades. This all changed in 2005 when I began reading books and attending events based on self improvement and personal development principles.

Writing these reasons down – no matter what they are because every person’s WHY will be different – should help motivate you to work hard. You should feel driven to make your business a success. You should be willing to tackle things outside your comfort zone because you know the end result will help your business.

If you’re not feeling motivated, then you need to dig deeper. I worked closely with a woman who was struggling to make her online business become profitable, and she continued to tell me that she had no problems or struggles in her life, currently or during her younger years. Then,

Welcome to Episode 102 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 102 of the “Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing” podcast! We’re celebrating completing over one hundred episodes of this podcast and looking forward to more! In this episode, I’m asking the question “Are You Implementing What You Learn?

You can double your productivity and be success with a business, or with anything you choose to accomplish in your life, if you are willing to implement what you learn and take decisive action on a consistent basis.

Many people come to me to learn how to successful and profitable as an online entrepreneur. But some of them end up saying “I already know that” and moving on to something else.

I know that I am able to do more than I ever thought would be possible in my life because I am willing to learn, implement, course correct, ask questions, take massive action and keep moving forward with consistency. Others may be smarter or more knowledgeable, but if they hesitate to take action they will not achieve the results they are hoping for in their business or with anything else.

As long as you are specific and intentional with what you want to achieve, you can do it all as an entrepreneur, just not all at once. And we must throw perfection out the window. I have a new saying… The more perfecter your goal, the less purfeckt your results.

“Everything we do in our lives is preparing us for something that will arise in the future, even though we don’t yet know what that will be.” ~ Connie Ragen Green

 

Our stories are the fabric of our life. A story sets you apart from everyone else, makes you unique and memorable, and is all you have when it’s all said and done. When I was a young child a neighbor girl, seven or eight years old at the time, interrupted my mother in the middle of a story she was telling to ask, “Why do you have so many stories?” My mother hardly skipped a beat, informing the girl that “You’ll have stories too, when you get older.”

On that evening a part of me became a storyteller in training. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before I was telling stories about everything from what I did in school that day to what happened in the neighborhood. I wore my storyteller’s hat with pride and now I see that this one aspect of my life was preparing me for what I now do in my business and derive great joy from every single day.

The word “praestabilis” means outstanding, excellent, and extraordinary and this is the goal for you as you make your way in the online world.

It took me until age 50 to step into the light and live an empowered life. I achieved this by leaving a job – classroom teaching – and a career as a real estate broker and appraiser to come online as an entrepreneur. I have no regrets about waiting so long, as everything unfolds once we are open to receiving it. There are three top strategies to help you move closer to an empowered life and they include…

* Writing – Every day, I want you to write! This includes blog posts, outlines, emails to your prospects, clients, and potential joint venture partners. Also, write short reports and white papers to show others who you are and what you know. Finally, write a book to solidify your expertise in your niche, and follow that up with additional books over time. Writing is crucial to our process of standing out from the crowd by sharing what we know and believe. Reach out to me if you’re interested in coming aboard for my “10 Week Author” program. Recent posts on my three blogs are at:

“Broken Compass Stories We Tell Ourselves” –

Welcome to Episode 101 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 101 of the podcast! We’re celebrating completing over one hundred episodes of this podcast and looking forward to more! In this episode, I’m talking about being specific and intentional in your business as an entrepreneur.

As a young adult, I got my real estate license and began selling and listing real property. I so wanted to do it all – single-family homes, condos, commercial property, and even industrial properties. I dreamed of working all over Los Angeles, an area of at least five million people back in the 1990s. I would serve new home buyers, people more experienced in real estate, and people who wanted to invest. I thought I would also learn about loans on property and something called an AITD – an all-inclusive trust deed.

Eventually, I did all of these things and even became a real estate investor in my own right. But I didn’t do it all right away, as I needed to learn about and gain some experience with anything I wished to do as a professional. I even became a certified residential appraiser, and enjoyed that aspect of the business immensely. I am no longer an appraiser, but I am still an active real estate broker in California.

In 1986, I decided to become a classroom teacher. This has been a dream of mine for some time, and I borrowed the money to return to college to earn my teaching credential. Once again, I had lofty dreams and goals around being a classroom teacher.

I wanted to teach children of all ages, so I went for the Kindergarten through high school – K-12 – credential. My dream included teaching all subjects, so I earned supplemental credentials in the areas of science, mathematics, and computer science. I wanted to work with diverse student populations at different schools throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Yes, I did it all, but not all at once. Over a twenty year span I achieved all of my teaching goals, and I still hold a current K-12 teaching credential in California.

When I decided to resign from teaching at the end of the school year in 2006, and to give away my best real estate clients in order to come online as an entrepreneur, you might imagine that I wanted to do it all, and quickly.

No, I had finally learned my lesson and instead I began with eBooks, affiliate marketing and blogging. Within a few months I added local business marketing. By the end of my first year I had begun creating information products. Over the next decade I added writing and publishing physical books and books for Kindle. I’ve also created membership sites, online courses, and niche websites. Public speaking soon became a part of my business, along with mentoring and consulting.

Yes, I’ve done it all and continue to learn more, such as with artificial intelligence (AI) and how entrepreneurs and copywriters can use this technology to their advantage.

As long as you are specific and intentional with what you want to achieve, you can do it all as an entrepreneur, just not all at once. And we must throw perfection out the window. I have a new saying… The more perfecter your goal, the less purfeckt your results.

“Everything we do in our lives is preparing us for something that will arise in the future, even though we don’t yet know what that will be.” ~ Connie Ragen Green

 

Our stories are the fabric of our life. A story sets you apart from everyone else, makes you unique and memorable, and is all you have when it’s all said and done. When I was a young child a neighbor girl, seven or eight years old at the time, interrupted my mother in the middle of a story she was telling to ask, “Why do you have so many stories?” My mother hardly skipped a beat,

Welcome to Episode 100 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 100 of the podcast! We’re celebrating one hundred episodes of this podcast and today I’m discussing the benefits of email marketing for your business.

When I got started online as an entrepreneur in 2006, people were already talking about email being outdated and no longer relevant or effective. Some even went so far as to say that “email was dead!” … yet they were sharing this message via email!

The truth is that email is the most effective way to build and maintain a relationship with your target audience. Your prospects, customers, and clients want to hear from you on a regular basis.

When it comes to list building, know that you already have a list of people you know. These could be friends, family members, colleagues, co-workers, and people you know from one or more groups or organizations you’re already a part of in your life.

Think about this… Your thoughts turn into feelings, then on to beliefs, and then to the actions you take and the results you achieve. If there is an issue in any one of these areas, you are unable to achieve your goals and dreams.

Be willing to tune in to your intuition and emotions for best results in your life experience. The definition of insanity is doing the same exact things over and over, yet expecting different results.

“If you can’t feel it, you can’t heal it!”

I’m a Rotarian and our motto is “Service Above Self.” This is an international service organization and where I learned that to be successful with a business, you must set the goal of serving your target market.

Years ago I gave a Keynote speech on this topic of doing what it takes and it became a signature speech and topic for me going forward. I’ve even written a bestselling book on this topic… “Doing What It Takes: The Online Entrepreneur’s Playbook” and this could be extremely helpful for you. See all of my titles HERE.

As an entrepreneur, you don’t have an employer directing your every move. Instead, you are in charge of your destiny… and the activities you will engage in to grow your income. You must be willing to do what it takes in order to succeed. I started with affiliate marketing, and then added marketing for local business in order to get to a steady six figures a year. I have a book on this topic… “Local Business Marketing: Making the Phone Ring for Businesses Everywhere.”

Passive income has been referred to as the “8th wonder of the world” and for good reason; having the ability to create something once and then be paid regularly for many years to come is a wonderful experience and lifestyle.

The true name for what I’m describing here is “residual income” because you must take action first in order to set up the passive income stream. When someone is in a television show or films a commercial, they are paid first for the work they do, and then on an ongoing basis every time the show or the commercial airs again.

For online entrepreneurs, we can create passive income streams over and over again in a variety of ways…

* Create your own course or product that can be sold as a stand alone item, meaning that you will not be required to do any additional work.

* Recommend someone else’s product or course or service through your affiliate link. I do this regularly when I tell others about AWeber, the autoresponder service I’ve been using for over a decad...

Welcome to Episode 99 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 99 of the podcast! Today I’m discussing mindset, and how it relates to your success as an online entrepreneur.

Think about this… Your thoughts turn into feelings, then on to beliefs, and then to the actions you take and the results you achieve. If there is an issue in any one of these areas, you are unable to achieve your goals and dreams.

Be willing to tune in to your intuition and emotions for best results in your life experience. The definition of insanity is doing the same exact things over and over, yet expecting different results.

“If you can’t feel it, you can’t heal it!”

I’m a Rotarian and our motto is “Service Above Self.” This is an international service organization and where I learned that to be successful with a business, you must set the goal of serving your target market.

Years ago I gave a Keynote speech on this topic of doing what it takes and it became a signature speech and topic for me going forward. I’ve even written a bestselling book on this topic… “Doing What It Takes: The Online Entrepreneur’s Playbook” and this could be extremely helpful for you. See all of my titles HERE.

As an entrepreneur, you don’t have an employer directing your every move. Instead, you are in charge of your destiny… and the activities you will engage in to grow your income. You must be willing to do what it takes in order to succeed. I started with affiliate marketing, and then added marketing for local business in order to get to a steady six figures a year. I have a book on this topic… “Local Business Marketing: Making the Phone Ring for Businesses Everywhere.”

Passive income has been referred to as the “8th wonder of the world” and for good reason; having the ability to create something once and then be paid regularly for many years to come is a wonderful experience and lifestyle.

The true name for what I’m describing here is “residual income” because you must take action first in order to set up the passive income stream. When someone is in a television show or films a commercial, they are paid first for the work they do, and then on an ongoing basis every time the show or the commercial airs again.

For online entrepreneurs, we can create passive income streams over and over again in a variety of ways…

* Create your own course or product that can be sold as a stand alone item, meaning that you will not be required to do any additional work.

* Recommend someone else’s product or course or service through your affiliate link. I do this regularly when I tell others about AWeber, the autoresponder service I’ve been using for over a decade.

* Publish a book – I now have over twenty-five books to my name, and each of these brings me passive income for years. Every month I receive a direct deposit into my bank account for the book royalties I have earned. The more books you write and publish, the more you are likely to increase your passive income exponentially.

Take a look at what type of passive or residual income you already have coming in, perhaps from real estate or stock investments. Then, decide how you will add to that with your online business, in a way that allows you to work once and then be paid regularly in an ongoing manner.

I’ve been a part of a formal goal setting and achieving program since 2005. I know that I would not have had the courage and the mentor...

Welcome to Episode 98 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 98 of the podcast! This is the second podcast episode for 2023 and the topic of what I’m sharing is “Are You Willing to Do What It Takes to Be Successful As an Entrepreneur?”

Years ago I gave a Keynote speech on this topic of doing what it takes and it became a signature speech and topic for me going forward. I’ve even written a bestselling book on this topic… “Doing What It Takes: The Online Entrepreneur’s Playbook” and this could be extremely helpful for you. See all of my titles HERE.

As an entrepreneur, you don’t have an employer directing your every move. Instead, you are in charge of your destiny… and the activities you will engage in to grow your income. You must be willing to do what it takes in order to succeed. I started with affiliate marketing, and then added marketing for local business in order to get to a steady six figures a year. I have a book on this topic… “Local Business Marketing: Making the Phone Ring for Businesses Everywhere.”

Passive income has been referred to as the “8th wonder of the world” and for good reason; having the ability to create something once and then be paid regularly for many years to come is a wonderful experience and lifestyle.

The true name for what I’m describing here is “residual income” because you must take action first in order to set up the passive income stream. When someone is in a television show or films a commercial, they are paid first for the work they do, and then on an ongoing basis every time the show or the commercial airs again.

For online entrepreneurs, we can create passive income streams over and over again in a variety of ways…

* Create your own course or product that can be sold as a stand alone item, meaning that you will not be required to do any additional work.

* Recommend someone else’s product or course or service through your affiliate link. I do this regularly when I tell others about AWeber, the autoresponder service I’ve been using for over a decade.

* Publish a book – I now have over twenty-five books to my name, and each of these brings me passive income for years. Every month I receive a direct deposit into my bank account for the book royalties I have earned. The more books you write and publish, the more you are likely to increase your passive income exponentially.

Take a look at what type of passive or residual income you already have coming in, perhaps from real estate or stock investments. Then, decide how you will add to that with your online business, in a way that allows you to work once and then be paid regularly in an ongoing manner.

I’ve been a part of a formal goal setting and achieving program since 2005. I know that I would not have had the courage and the mentoring to leave  my teaching job and real estate a year later if it hadn’t been for this program. During this episode I share a little of what I do regularly to make sure I’m on track with my mindset and my goals.

One thing I began doing just recently as a new marketing strategy is to record myself reading through my always too long email messages, and then providing a link to the most recent recording at the top of the email. This allows me to connect more deeply with my audience and to expound upon what I have written, interjecting more details when necessary and appropriate.

Welcome to Episode 97 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 97 of the podcast! This is the first podcast episode for 2023 and I’m sharing “how to create passive income streams.”

Passive income has been referred to as the “8th wonder of the world” and for good reason; having the ability to create something once and then be paid regularly for many years to come is a wonderful experience and lifestyle.

The true name for what I’m describing here is “residual income” because you must take action first in order to set up the passive income stream. When someone is in a television show or films a commercial, they are paid first for the work they do, and then on an ongoing basis every time the show or the commercial airs again.

For online entrepreneurs, we can create passive income streams over and over again in a variety of ways…

* Create your own course or product that can be sold as a stand alone item, meaning that you will not be required to do any additional work.

* Recommend someone else’s product or course or service through your affiliate link. I do this regularly when I tell others about AWeber, the autoresponder service I’ve been using for over a decade.

* Publish a book – I now have over twenty-five books to my name, and each of these brings me passive income for years. Every month I receive a direct deposit into my bank account for the book royalties I have earned. The more books you write and publish, the more you are likely to increase your passive income exponentially.

Take a look at what type of passive or residual income you already have coming in, perhaps from real estate or stock investments. Then, decide how you will add to that with your online business, in a way that allows you to work once and then be paid regularly in an ongoing manner.

I’ve been a part of a formal goal setting and achieving program since 2005. I know that I would not have had the courage and the mentoring to leave  my teaching job and real estate a year later if it hadn’t been for this program. During this episode I share a little of what I do regularly to make sure I’m on track with my mindset and my goals.

One thing I began doing just recently as a new marketing strategy is to record myself reading through my always too long email messages, and then providing a link to the most recent recording at the top of the email. This allows me to connect more deeply with my audience and to expound upon what I have written, interjecting more details when necessary and appropriate.

I’ve begun writing for television and film this year. When I begin a new writing project, whether it’s for a television pilot, a screenplay for film, or even one of my non-fiction books, I begin with a series of steps that allow me to outline my idea in great detail before I start the writing process. These steps include:

* The BIG IDEA:  What’s the story about? In this case, my big idea in 2005 was to resign my classroom teaching position, give away my best real estate clients, and to come online.

* The THEME was that I wanted out of the work force and to work for myself from home.

* The SETUP was to examine closely the life I had created for myself to date, and to take full responsibility for everything I had created over time.

* The CATALYST was a series of events, actions, and conversations over a period of about three years that led me to the conclusion that I had to change my life in a major way.

* The DEBATE was around how I would do this. I had no desire to once again return to school to learn new skills or to begin a new career. Instead,

Welcome to Episode 96 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 96 of the podcast! This is my final podcast episode for 2022 and I’m sharing “how to achieve your goals in 2023 and beyond.”

Everything old is new again, and you must choose wisely in order to build a business and lifestyle that suits your goals and intentions.

As we near the end of 2022, it’s a time for planning and reflection. What worked during this year, a tumultuous one after coming out of the pandemic and entering a new phase of our global life experience, may not work well as we go forward.

What did you start or take on during 2022? What did you let go of this year? Remaining focused and action-oriented will always be important to success in both a personal and professional way.

When you’re in a job, there is built-in structure and focus. You must be able to stay on task and keep your priorities straight if you are to achieve your dreams and goals in a timely manner.

I’ve been a part of a formal goal setting and achieving program since 2005. I know that I would not have had the courage and the mentoring to leave  my teaching job and real estate a year later if it hadn’t been for this program. During this episode I share a little of what I do regularly to make sure I’m on track with my mindset and my goals.

One thing I began doing just recently as a new marketing strategy is to record myself reading through my always too long email messages, and then providing a link to the most recent recording at the top of the email. This allows me to connect more deeply with my audience and to expound upon what I have written, interjecting more details when necessary and appropriate.

I’ve begun writing for television and film this year. When I begin a new writing project, whether it’s for a television pilot, a screenplay for film, or even one of my non-fiction books, I begin with a series of steps that allow me to outline my idea in great detail before I start the writing process. These steps include:

* The BIG IDEA:  What’s the story about? In this case, my big idea in 2005 was to resign my classroom teaching position, give away my best real estate clients, and to come online.

* The THEME was that I wanted out of the work force and to work for myself from home.

* The SETUP was to examine closely the life I had created for myself to date, and to take full responsibility for everything I had created over time.

* The CATALYST was a series of events, actions, and conversations over a period of about three years that led me to the conclusion that I had to change my life in a major way.

* The DEBATE was around how I would do this. I had no desire to once again return to school to learn new skills or to begin a new career. Instead, I wanted to start my own business that I could run from home, or from wherever in the world I happened to be, with only a laptop computer and an internet connection.

* The “B” Story brought a mentor into the picture. While this person did not work out for me, he led me directly to the people who would become my friends, colleagues, and mentors going forward.

* The FUN and GAMES began when I actually started my business and learned what I needed to do each day in order to earn income and keep my business on track to grow and expand over time.

* The BAD GUYS CLOSE IN occurred when I realized I was not earning enough money to cover my expenses, and that my savings and other assets would not last more than one year.

* The ALL is LOST feeling was that I had to quickly decide what I needed to change immediately in order to achieve the success I wanted as an online entrepreneur.

This is the point where many people give up.