Internet marketing, originally, was intended to be a relatively simple and profitable experience for would be online marketers.  However, for most newcomers to Internet marketing, their first online experience is of some self appointed “guru” shouting at them: “Just plugin to our turn-key system and we’ll show you how to become a ‘Gazillionaire’  in the next 90 days!”

Unfortunately for the newcomer, however, they are unaware that the person shouting this nonsense doesn’t have a clue as to what they’re doing and are simply repeating what someone else told them.  Many times, without any knowledge themselves as to whether or not what they’re being told really works!

And due to especially tough economic times at the moment, more people than ever are making their way online seeking their fortune and freedom. And many of them also will waste countless hours, not to mention money, listening to someone who may not necessarily know what they are doing.

However bleak a picture I may seem to be painting for you, I do want you to understand this, Internet marketing is here to stay for a long time to come.   It is not some fad that’s going to go away any time soon, if ever.  However, Internet marketing will evolve and change over time.

With this in mind, I see one change in particular that is currently paving the way for a much brighter future ahead!

Because the world is becoming more connected through the myriad of social media outlets (Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Linkedin, etc) word is getting around of whom to do business with on the Internet, and whom not to!  We all are becoming a very “cliquish” bunch, readily identifying with those with whom we want to “friend” and those with whom we do not.  This is neither right or wrong, it just is.  People have a natural tendency to form groups, and to associate with others of like minds.

And because of the Internet’s natural progression towards connectivity, social media outlets in particular, we are actually “seeing” each other as we really are.  The very nature of social media, is to progress towards being connected and to create long-term relationships.  While those who may have ulterior motives, or less than ethical personal & business practices, can not sustain such long-term relationships due to their shallowness and short-term nature.

Individuals of this sort will eventually fade away into obscurity, having exposed themselves for who they really are.  After all, how many of us have been ripped off with a less than desirable product or service that did not live up to its hype, and then told everyone we knew about it?  With Social Media, that’s the power of “word of mouth” times 10,000!

Social media, as Internet marketing, is not going to go away any time soon. In fact, if you are not already a member of at least one social media outlet, than you will be soon (Provided you wish to be a part of the Internet of the future, that is).  From Twitter to Facebook, MySpace to Digg, as well as a myriad of others too numerous to list here, there is a social media outlet waiting for you to find them.  And when you do, simply plugin and be a part of the Internet that is to come.

And if you truly want to succeed at Internet marketing, now and in the future, than simply find your group (niche) be true to yourself, and offer something of great value to your friends.  And your friends will gladly do business with you and you with they! This is the nature of social media, this is the nature of the Internet to come.   And as for me, I’m looking forward to the day when we all can live and prosper, together.

(And as for those who choose not to do business this way, well, we’ll just let them take care of themselves…)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to check back often for more updates. As always, we appreciate your feedback, comments and questions.

Until next time,

Godspeed

James
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At some point in each of our lives, everyone has dreamed of being somebody special, or something more than they may currently be. After all, who among us hasn’t fantasized about being the one who hits the game winning homer? Or being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being wealthy, successful and happy in our relationships?

Most all of us dream big dreams and have great aspirations to achieve great things. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations of “making it big!” end up as just a stagnant memory, collecting dust in the attics of our mind.

These self-defeating dream cycles, if not interrupted, can become a pattern of failure for our life. Thus, instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self-actualization and realization of our dreams and goals; we get caught up in the patterns of living from day-to-day, surviving versus thriving.

Life could be so very much better, so much more… if only we would aim higher!

The most common problem to living life as a dream is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can’t do this. It’s too hard. It’s too impossible. No one can do this! However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Consider the story of the common bumblebee…

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly due to its wing to body size ratios. Fortunately for the bumblebee, however, no one has told it so. So fly it does!

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, tattered aspirations and fractured lives. Remember, a dream without action is just wishful thinking!

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream. As the saying goes: Faith without works is dead!

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and create three columns down the length of the page. Now, get ready to write down some goals in your life; goals you may have put on the back shelf of your mind for awhile. Really think about each and every one of them, and ask yourself this question as you think: “What if it were possible?”

Now, under one header list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the headers, strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header- the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can now move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’ As you continue through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible, begin to seem possible after all!

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination but to free it. It is to aim higher, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic. Those who dream dreams without working towards them end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to land on the moon, they would laugh you to scorn. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they’d say you lost your mind. But through sheer desire and perseverance, these once impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison is quoted as saying, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be hard work and discipline. But take note that 1% has to be a “think-big” dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is certainly true here as well!

So dream on friend! Don’t get caught up in your own perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will find that the impossible has just become possible!

And as you continue to dream more, believe more, you’ll soon discover you’ve created an entirely new reality for yourself.  You’ve created the new and improved you!

Imagine that, will you, please?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, be sure to check back often for more updates. As always, we appreciate your feedback, comments and questions.

Until next time,

Godspeed

James
~+~