The Thing You Don’t Realize About Internet Marketers
They’re just people.
I see some crazy, unreal expectations related to some of my friends. The customers think they are gods and immune from the troubles that everybody is facing right now.
That simply isn’t the case.
I have one friend that faces some very major and intense health issues. He is uncomfortable sharing them and doesn’t want sympathy (which I respect), but most see him as a young and very successful marketer and have no idea about the frustrations he faces.
I know of three extremely successful marketers that suffer from insomnia. You wouldn’t know it if you didn’t know them personally, but it causes them a lot of frustration. They make plenty of money, yet they have trouble getting a few hours of sleep.
They aren’t comfortable revealing these things to everyone, so I won’t be the one to do it for them.
That wouldn’t be right.
However, I do have some things to share about myself.
I have made some business decisions over the past year that have cost me roughly $100,000.
I have lost double the average annual income due to bad decisions. And I’ve learned more than $100,000 worth of experience from those horrible decisions.
When my first business imploded it cost us over $25,000 in personal debt. A vendor stole about $5k from us and it spiraled into 5 times that amount due to my decisions. I personally spent weeks on the phone with customers to ensure they got their money returned to them and the debt landed solely on my shoulders. That time was due to my bad decisions and I was happy to part with it to ensure those poor people didn’t lose their money.
My first year online was full of amazing occurrences, I learned so much.
After that business blew up, my wife made me realize that I was capable of doing SEO service for other companies.
That sucked, too.
People are unreasonable and want results in seconds when it should take minutes, minutes when it takes hours, and days when it should take weeks.
I lasted 90 days before I closed that business.
Then, my wife suggested I write a book teaching others how to do what I did.
I had my first book done in less than a week.
In the next 2 years I built my current business to a level anyone would be proud of.
Yet, I still lost 6 figures.
Here are my pieces of advice to ensure you don’t make the mistakes I’ve made.
- Follow your gut. If something feels wrong, it is.
- Listen to those you love and trust. They only have your best interest at heart.
- If you make mistakes, face them head on. Don’t let fear stop you.
- Always apologize if you mess up. You’d be amazed what a heartfelt “I’m Sorry” will do.
- Transparency is key. Being an open book makes life very easy.
- Do the right thing and if you mess up, fix it.
The point of this is not to embarrass myself. I want you to understand that everyone is the same. We are all just people.
Most have not made the mistakes I’ve made, but at the same time, most have not seen the successes I have. It’s been a double edged sword with me.
I have always done my best to do the right thing.
If you can say that, you’ll always be OK.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, especially with all of the hurdles I’ve faced, both professionally and personally. Always keep in mind that anyone you deal with, anywhere, for any reason, is one thing.
A Person.
I always appreciate your thoughts.
Knowledge Can Never Die!
![[Ask]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/ask.png)
![[backflip]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/backflip.png)
![[BlogBookmark]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/blogbookmark.png)
![[BlogMarks]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/blogmarks.png)
![[Blogsvine]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/blogsvine.png)
![[BUMPzee!]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bumpzee.png)
![[Digg]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Mister Wong]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/misterwong.png)
![[MySpace]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[OnlyWire]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/onlywire.png)
![[PlugIM]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/plugim.png)
![[Propeller]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/propeller.png)
![[Sphinn]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/sphinn.png)
![[Squidoo]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/squidoo.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://immortalinternetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Ross-
your honesty and pull-no-punches integrity constantly amazes me… I think full disclosure is always a good policy. You deserve all your successes BECAUSE of how you work through your failures.
I/ve said it before-
you truly are on of the good guys!
Keith deBolt
Thanks for sharing dude! Your advise is golden! You rock!
Ross, we first met online almost 2 yrs ago now. From the first, your integrity was really apparent. You’ve built a well-deserved reputation, and you’re just getting more transparent as you go, which is kinda rare.
Great reminder that even the people we look up to as smart marketers have their own “stuff” going on. Your pieces of advice are right on.
As I heard someone say recently, “Remember as you’re climbing to reach out to give someone else a lift too.” You’re a good example of that. Thanks.
Becki Maxson
Thanks to all of you.
The one thing I’ve learned is that my failures are just as important as my successes.
Massive failure has led to me moving forward and learning.
Without them, I may still be stumbling.
The thing you MUST do is fail forward.
If you stand still, success won’t come.
Ross
Strewth!
That is all just a bit too familar for me – in some detail matey.
I’m well clear of the falling rubble these days, but plenty landed on me back then, all of my own making.
Helluva way to learn, but it’s certain that I’ll never forget.
My best as always
Jonathan
Hi Ross
People fail – that’s a fact of life – if you don’t fail, you’re not living, and you’re not learning!
I’ve had a few “learning experiences” in my lifetime which have had some pretty savage costs attached to them!
Which is why honesty and transparency is so important with anything I do now, and it’s something that you shouldn’t be worried about revealing.
Life’s too short, and at 53, I’m over the hump and heading in the wrong direction, so I have no time for any time wasters, shiesters, negative people and BS artists – in business or even in my personal life.
But even so, I anticipate I’ll still have a few more (little) failures before I head off – but I’m anticipating a lot more successes too in that time:)
Fingers crossed!
Coming from the person who publicly acknowledged that he lives in a mobile home that should have been condemned years ago, I can tell you that you are an inspiration for all of us who know you.
One of the things I have admired about you is your jump right in attitude, even though that has caused a lot of your troubles, it has also caused a lot of your successes.
As one who has always found myself on the outside looking in, my timidity has slowed my growth way too often, and I found myself wishing I had said something to that person when they were within 2 feet of me instead of thinking that they wouldn’t be interested in anything I had to offer.
So you may have made some mistakes, but your successes have far outweighed anything you could have messed up.
2008 has found me at my lowest point in my life even when my income has been at the highest it has ever been. Mistakes happen in all aspects and mine has been in allowing BoA to take over $5000 in fees since January of this year, but it has served as a resolve setting cornerstone in my rise from mediocrity to the force to be reckoned with that you will see by year’s end.
The people you surround yourself with will always help determine your success in life, and in the past 9 months, I have chosen some of the best people to associate myself with and this time I genuinely made the effort to get to know them.
Without your friendship, many of the people I have come to call some of my best friends on this earth would still be only names I have heard of.
Pressure is the only thing that separates the chunk of carbon from a diamond and without getting cut along the way, even a diamond has no value! I pray that everyone who reads your post sees that bad decisions are only actions that need to be redirected for maximum effect.
People who are doing something are more likely to make mistakes, so make as many mistakes as possible as long as 1) you learn from those mistakes and 2) you keep on taking action!
I love you, bro, and you know that anytime you need anything, I am only a couple of hours drive away!
Have an amazing day! And keep on taking massive action!
Micheal Savoie
http://twitter.com/michealsavoie
PS – You make massive impact in the lives of everyone who follow you. If you have time let others know about the Impact contest that I am putting on for Suicide Prevention Week (today is World Suicide Prevention Day) and everyone who wants to help get the word out can go to http://speakupsavelives.org/impact and sign up for the contest where they can win prizes donated by some very caring people!
Ross,
The thing about you is you’re genuine and pretty transparent. You’re REAL and people know that. You’re not too concerned about image or the persona of a “Superstar”. But in doing what you do, you ARE a Superstar.
I think in the beginning, Internet Marketer “Gurus” try to make themselves seem bigger and fluffier than they really are. Not you! You’ve always been REAL and true, not to us, but to yourself. And that shows through.
You’re not afraid to say you made a mistake and yell it to the world. Why? Because you’re a REAL person. Some people have a hard time admitting they have made a mistake. Many people have a hard time saying “sorry” when they’ve done something wrong.
I was going to launch Internet Marketer Magazine, but had some serious health issues and had to quash the whole thing. I had many JV’s on board, but it all came crashing to a hault. It’s still something I’m going to do in the future, when I’m in a better place. It was the hardest thing to tell all these people that believed in me, I had to stop production of the magazine. But when you’re real, you’re real, and you feel so much better.
So I applaud you for being so open and honest and blunt about YOU. It makes a great person. A truly great person and that’s what you are man.. A REAL genuine guy. It was a pleasure to meet you in Chicago and am sure it was the first of many meetings. – For reals!
– Michael S. Copeland
Fly High – Live Large – Dream BIG!
http://twitter.com/mscopeland
Boy, don’t I know that, Ross.
I spent the first three years of my Internet marketing life doing everything wrong. You aren’t alone.
But doing it wrong at least means you did it. You learned from your mistakes and moved forward. It’s sometimes a good thing to fail.
And don’t I know about that SEO stuff? I still have people hating me because Google changed an algorithm.
That was MY fault. People just don’t get that.
Glad we’re both standing on the right foot now.
–Pat
Ross,
Thanks for sharing that.
I’ve always find it extremely instructive and inspirational when successful people have the courage to talk about when things have gone bad. It’s hard to relate to someone who never admits to having made mistakes and having suffered through bad time, when we all certainly have, each in our own way.
Craig
Ross -
Thanks for the reminder that the “gurus” are all too human. We, ourselves, often put them on a pedestal and seem amazed when they display human foibles.
Thanks for all you do!
regards,
Bill
Don’t get me wrong here guys, I’ve still done much better than my losses. I’m not broke here
It’s amazing how much I’ve lost, but when I look at what I’ve gained, it’s amazing.
My Mom just moved in and I flipped the bill to get her here from Florida. There was a period of time when I thought we would be living in her basement. It feels great to be able to help those I love.
I have the power to create income. How cool is that? When we need something, I make the money miraculously appear.
I love my life and wouldn’t change a thing.
Ross
Ross,
You have given me far more than I will ever be able to pay you. You tell it like it is; you find the best resources; and you are a great human being.
I wish you success in all that you do! Thanks for being you!
Brother Paul
Ross, you light up a room, you speak the words only you can speak and with honesty and conviction. You have been an inspiration to me and even though I keep making mistakes, I keep getting closer to where I want to be. I know I’m making mistakes but time is not on my side. I wish I knew where to find the energy to work the hours required to be able to work and support my family and get this other business going. But I will make it….and you will be one of the people at the top of my list for inspiring me!