Whatever you are, be a good one Abraham Lincoln [1809-1865] There's a thread that runs through successful people. If you look at it very closely, you'll see that it's knowledge, belief and determination braided together and wrapped tightly with emotion. In the late nineties, Pierre's girlfriend complained that she couldn't find Pez collectors online. So, he built a site where collectors could meet to buy and sell their goods. Today, the growth of Pierre's site, at ebay.com, is nothing short of incredible. In 1998, Ellen Cagnassola decided to put the little glycerin soaps that she and her daughter made online for sale. It allowed her to stay home and be a full time Mom instead of working outside of the house. Today, her products are sold through Marriott Hotels, Johnson and Johnson and are shipped worldwide. When Ruth got online, she realized that it was a lot of work trying to find ezine owners that accepted articles or advertising. She started making a list. Her Directory of Ezines grew into a huge business that she later sold for a very nice profit. And Rosalind Gardner, a single professional that hated the bar scene, discovered that online dating sites were confusing. The offerings changed from site to site, so she started writing reviews and overviews of each one. Each review was followed by her affiliate link. Today, she earns hundreds of thousands a year. And then there's Adam Katz, a dog trainer that wanted to help other dog owners teach their dogs to behave better. He felt the Internet would be a perfect place to reach people no matter where they lived. Today his site is a thriving business that has succeeded beyond most people's dreams. What these people sell is not the issue. There are people succeeding selling their own products... people succeeding reselling products and yet others selling or reselling services. And now here is my secret; a very simple secret; It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye Antoine de Saint Exupery [1900-1944] Would you like to see if you're on the right track? Take a piece of paper and divide it into three portions. In the first section, write "My Interests." Write down all the things that interest you. Some may be things that are part of your everyday life. Others may be interests that you don't have any experience in yet. Interest is the only criteria here. In the second section, write "My Skills, Hobbies & Talents." Write down everything you have experience doing, and your natural talents. This list will be huge. It includes everything you've ever done for a living, as part of your personal life, as a volunteer, as a hobby or that you have a natural talent for. Do you have a flair for making people laugh? Do you have a green thumb? Child care? Book keeping? Don't leave anything out. If you have done it, or can do it, write it down. Ability and experience are the keys here. In the third section, write "What I Sell" In this section, write down everything you are currently trying to sell, including affiliate programs you've signed up for. Now look at these choices. Are the things you're selling totally unrelated to the rest of the sheet? Compare section two and three. Are you trying to sell things that you have no knowledge or experience with? People buy based on emotion and justify with logic. Touch their heart, and the head will follow. How can you touch anyone's heart, and be the best you can be, when you lack the knowledge and skill needed, and your own heart and head isn't in what you sell? : ) Linda P.S. If you try this, and suspect that you're selling all the wrong things, post here and maybe I can help you find a simple solution to get you on the right track.

Thank you so very much, Linda! The last quarter of the year is the time for me to take stock of my yearly experience. I've always had a nagging feeling that there's a better way to chart my course, but it seems to escape me. Now, you put substance to those vague ideas that always seem to slip through my grasp. I copied this article and filed it away under my learning files. Thanks a bunch! Ricardo

A very very good article Linda. I went through this process about six - eight months ago. Needless to say I had to rethink a lot of things I was involved in and dropping almost all of them to focus on a couple of areas. Since then, things have changed drastically. I start each day with a new vigor that I never had before. A little focus goes a long way.

A very very good article Linda. Thanks Winston. : ) I went through this process about six - eight months ago. Needless to say I had to rethink a lot of things I was involved in and dropping almost all of them to focus on a couple of areas. Since then, things have changed drastically. I start each day with a new vigor that I never had before. A little focus goes a long way. You're right -- a little focus goes a long way. One of the biggest mistakes that people new to making any profit online make is that they want to sell what's "hot" -- namely internet marketing products and traffic and all the trappings of making money online. Trouble is, they have no experience in making money online, and they don't know good traffic from bad traffic -- so they lack the knowledge required to sell what they're trying to sell. People who are doing serious dollars online won't buy from them, because their inexperience shows - so they're left hawking to other people as new as themselves. What most of the people in that position don't realize is that it's MUCH easier to sell items not related to Internet marketing. Sometimes I think a lot of people forget that "Internet Marketing" does not mean "I sell internet marketing stuff." It means "I sell stuff ON the internet" There's a whole world of niche selling going on out there that they aren't aware of and haven't delved into... things that are probably more in line with the interests and hobbies and activities that they DO know more about. : ) Linda

Hi Linda, A good refresher for me. I have to do better in the focus part. Two of my sites are dealing with things I know about but I need to focus and really get them to where they need to be. There is another subject that I have knowledge in that I could do also but don't quite know where to go with it. There is so much to learn about getting around on the internet and marketing and I think you don't realize it when you start. It can get really frustrating if you aren't getting anywhere and then you want to move into something else and then you find that isn't going anywhere either. This is what has been happening with me. After reading your article I think I am on the right track. I just have to focus on what will come easier. Martha