The Big Lie To “Getting Started”…
Is there an invisible roadblock that’s hindering you from achieving success on the Internet?
Maybe, maybe not.
There is however, a major lie that has been perpetuated by the gurus which could have prevented you from finally ‘geting this’.
I have to admit, I am also not deliberately responsible to a large extent for the propagation of this lie.
So what is this big lie?
You’ve probably heard it before.
“Work on your business, not in your business”.
Before you go think…”Are you saying Michael Gerber is a liar?”, let me clarify.
I have the utmost respect for Michael Gerber and am totally convinced that working ‘on’ a business brings in big bucks.
However, I am also totally convinced that it is very hard to work on a business that you have not worked in before.
When the masses embrace the belief of not having to work ‘in’ a business, the falsity of this belief eventually transforms into an invisible roadblock in their MINDS.
I have often reiterated that I am not in anyway technically inclined, and it is truly not critically important when it comes to raking in mega bucks online.
I maintain that.
However, I neglect to mention sometimes that I am capable of doing certain basic things in my business, like registering a domain, setting up a simple mini site, creating a payment link, thank you page, setting up an autoresponder, and writing a blog post like this.
These are the ‘meat and potatoes’ of my business, and maybe the reason why I don’t mention this much, is because I’m already unconsciously competent at these activities and tend to take it’s mastery for granted.
Throughout the years, I have finally realized that it is the FAILURE to master these meat and potato skills that leads to the #1 biggest problem of people face - not being able to ‘get started’.
So, if anyone has difficulty getting ’started’, I would suggest deep immersion and complete MASTERY over the meat and potatoes skills of Internet Marketing.
This would do much more for you versus the fancy schmancy ’systems thinking’ usually propagated by gurus who suffer from excessive verbal diarrhoea and do nothing else but obfuscate you with big words
Information overload is nothing but an excuse for laziness
It’s all about getting your hands dirty, and getting it DONE.
Work in the business first, then think about working on it later. This will be a far more productive mindset for you if you’re starting out.
What do YOU think?
Did I strike a chord or did I hit a nerve? Do leave me your comments below.
Frederic said:
It is necessary to be capable of doing certain basic things in my business, like registering a domain, setting up a simple mini site, creating a payment link, thank you page, setting up an autoresponder, and writing a blog post like this. Thanks for the post.
Rhodes Kingsfield - Stage Hypnotist said:
Hi Jo Han,
You gave me the courage to openly admit something that’s close to my heart but have been keeping it silent.
Maybe due to the well presented insights and the mini-story within that unfold from the e-myth.
I’ve read and ponder long and hard on Michael Gerber’s book.
It offers me a different level of perspective on the aspect of business system, and doing my best to be impartial and open to the concept of working ‘on’ the business as oppose to ‘in’ it.
There are however some experience at the back of my entrepreneur mind that somehow felt there is some missing gaps, a slight transition or an “ability chasm” to cross from the former to the latter.
from my experience, I’ve witness many more instances of corporation and empire that grew from the very seed of their ability and the mastery of some basic, mundane but essential skills of their founder.
and it is these basic so call “meat and potato” that makes the growth of the business potent when the time comes to cross the chasm and make the transition.
without it, unless the chief is adapt at filling in the hollow with talent of relevant strength, the road to crossing the chasm with little but a straw bridge are indeed perilous.
Adam said:
Gday Jo Han!
All I can say is that I have achieved more in the last 2 months by actually “doing” & getting started in my business, than I did thinking about it & working on the systems that were going to magically make it happen for the previous 10 months.
From a former frozen, information overloaded, excuse ridden, working on my business noob…JUST GET STARTED IN YOUR BUSINESS TODAY PEOLPE!!!
This simple change in mindset for me now means I have my first website up and running which is a huge step in the right direction for me & one I am proud of achieving by myself!
Thanks for the truthful & inspiring post for us lil guys & gals!!
Abel said:
Jo
Your right….. as usual.
Wish I had heard this years ago, lol.
Deep down i think i alwayz knew tho.
Thanx bro
Gerard said:
Hi Jo Han! That was the first time I have heard someone say that “Information Overload” is another name for laziness! When you think about it though, it is totally true. To get things done, you need to immerse yourself in what you are doing and tune out everything else to some degree.
I find myself getting caught in that very rut. I start to work on something then all of a sudden a thought hits me and off to that task we go! The task I was working on to begin with never gets finished or takes too long to findih that it is now not worth completing it. AAADD!
Thanks for your always enlightening posts!
JOHN said:
I HAVE BEEN BUSINESS OF BUILDING CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE FOR THE LAST 47 YEARS AND I WANT TO RETIRE. I HAVE 50,000 PARTS TO SELL AND NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MARKET THEM ON THE INTERNET, THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS……….MY CUSTOMERS ARE GOING BROKE AND CANNOT AFFORD KEEP SPENDING MONEY AND THIS CHRISTMAS WILL PROVE MY POINT THAT………….WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE BROKE, ……..THE STORES WILL CLOSE. THE INTERNET MAY BE MY LAST CHANCE OF RETIRING WITHOUT SEEING THE SCRAP DEALER WITH THOUSANDS OF HARLEY PARTS. ANY IDEAS HOW TO MARKET THEM? THANKS JOHN NITROMAN@TCQ.NET
JOHN said:
i need to find out where the money is so i can sell my 50,000 harley parts before i have to retire and let the scarp dealer get all the engine cases, frames, wheels, transmission, heads, cylinders, carbs, racing parts, pipes, chrome goodies , handlebars etc. how do i put these on the web. i put some of ebay and the counterfitters send bad checks and ebay captialises on them and charges me for the ads and runs my bill up and i have to reslist them……..50,000 ads would take me a lifetime………i have been in business for 47 years and want to retire ………WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE BROKE…….THE STORES WILL CLOSE.. MY CUSTMERS ARE GOING BROKE……….OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT NEED TO INTERNET THEM. HARLEY PARTS AND TRIUMPH PARTS BY THE THOUSANDS. EMAIL NITROMAN@TCQ.NET MPLS, MINN
Robert said:
Hi,
Right ON! You have hit the nail square on the head again.
I look forward to more of your blogs.
Ken. said:
Jo Han,
All the top Guru’s love people who suffer from information overload, as they are the people who buy every product going.
For 2 long years I did exactly this, and only now have I started to use all this information to start building a home based business that will hopefully get me away from the 9 till 5.
I no longer buy every product going as now I know, that most are rehashes of the hundreds of products I already have on my hard drive.
Thanks for some great info,
Ken.
Adams said:
I think it is better after you bought a course, you study it first. Then, try to figure out how much the cost to apply it (run the business) . Save money & Wait until you have enough money to operate a site at least for 6 month. It means, the money you save is enough to run your business (website) for 6 months.
How do u like it Jo Han?
If you not agree or have better opinion, hope you can contact me at adamsah3129@yahoo.com and come up with better opinion.
Microsoft and Sun Strike Deal, MySpace Upgrades Its Profile Editor, Google Ad Planner, Start-up Advice From Jo Han Mok, Spot.Us - Free Line 11/12/08 said:
[…] other news, blogger Jo Han Mok has written a fascinating piece about what it takes to succeed in business. According to Mok, the tried-and-true adage of “work […]
Jo Han said:
Great idea Adams!
The only caveat, is that because we human beings are emotional creatures, it’s very easy to lose momentum during the ’saving up’ process.
It’s always prudent o save anyways, so it might be better to just implement whatever you can afford from the course, and let your new business pay for itself.
6 months is WAY too long to go without profits in an Internet business, if….you know what you’re doing.
Yew Heng said:
Hi Jo Han,
Here’s my one cent worth of opinion.
It’s doesn’t matter… as long as we get the desired result that we want.
Whether we work in the business and then later on the business or on the business first….or anything, as long as we get the profit result that we want, then who care?
I can talk about this strategy and that strategy or buy this ebook or that ebook… but at the end of the day, it is the result that i want.
Some strategies may be suitable for me but not suitable for others, depending on the value of the person that use the strategy. As long as we test and tweak and get the ‘right’ strategy to work for us to achieve the result we want, and that the strategy is not harmful to others, then we have ‘RIGHT’ strategy.
Yew Heng
www.embraceinternetwealth.com
Fred said:
Jo Han–
Spot on the money man! I’ve coached sales people for years and have learned that the lessons of selling apply to just about any entrepreneurial activity–if it ain’t workin’….do something else….but most importantly, just DO something.
Reminds me of the definition of Insanity, Einstein I think said Insanity is caused by doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!
Funny how we jump from program to killer app to new biz plan…..never really working in them (essentially doing the same thing) and becoming confused. We change the landscape of our endeavors and still don’t get results…..
Obviously, the hard answer is…..drum roll…..Our selves.
Bravo to your article!
Fred
Adams said:
Yup Jo Han,
I can lose my momentum if I wait too long.
6 month is too long? Actually I plan to do blogging. That’s why it takes a little bit more time. People said blogging is a long term profit. $100 a month will cover all my monthly cost. I already do the math.
What you guys thinking? Should it be 6 months for blog to make breakeven profit or should it be less?
I don’t know. I still newbies. I dont even have any link on this comment means that I dont have a website yet.
Gerald Low said:
Well said to those who are still pondering to go into the internet business.
I think most people, who are technically inclined, know how to put together
the basic “meat and potatoes”, but when it comes to the “salad and dressing”
to make this whole “palate” a success takes more than just grit and dedication in
the whole process. So, you see, the “meat and potatoes” is just not enough if
you can’t get the correct “dressing” to go along. So I say “getting started” is not at
all too difficult. Now, what about after that….? Is that going to be plain sailing?