Life Lessons Online Business Ideas

3 Deadly Mistakes to Avoid Online

It cost me $23,000 to learn what I am about to share with you.

And if you ever want to know how to avoid future mistakes I highly suggest you get my Online Purpose DVD. It sill save you a wealth of headache.

1. Trying to make money: If you focus on dollars you lose. Don’t get me wrong you must focus on the numbers to run your business. But if you built (or tried to build) a business online or off that was just focused on money. Then you are wasting your time. Combine your business plan online or off with your passion.

2. Trying to make yourself believe that money is the answer: Remember money is a bi product of your solution. You really want to do is have enough money to:

Do what you want
When you want
Go Where you want
For however long you want

Mistakenly think it is about the money and you will pass up the real value.

3. Trying NOT to use your talents: please stop trying to do things the hard way. If you learn about linkbuilding (SEO strategy) or Social Media. Then your greatest mistake would be to try to reteach it as a “expert”. Instead find what you love and then research that niche. Then use what you have learned in SEO and Social media to become an authority in the niche you love.

Don’t be a social media strategist. Be a murder novelist that helps other writers become adept in social media. Become a SEO authority for fishing bloggers. But ONLY DO THAT IF…..that is what you love and have talent at doing.

Remember your talent is something you do easier than anyone else. It is what strangers come up to you and say you are good at. I say strangers because they are unbiased.

There is nothing wrong with wanting money or fame. I am just saying that if you chase it with no sense of online purpose you lose.

Think about it….then act.

10 Jan

Quit This Internet Stuff and Get A REAL JOB?

(Insert family and or friends here) – “Why Wont You Quit This Internet Stuff and Get A REAL JOB?”

Sound familiar? I bet it does. We (yes me too) heard it many times.

You might want to bookmark this (smile).

This type of loving support (insert sarcasm here) usually comes from your family and close friends. And it brings you down and makes you sick right? That’s because somewhere in your mind and heart you KNOW you were not meant to work and live like 99% of the people on this planet. And strangely enough you see evidence of that everyday.

Your not lazy or crazy

It is just that somehow you don’t feel right doing what society is telling you to do. Any of this still sounding familiar? Very familiar? Most of us already know our online purpose. We just haven’t confirmed it.

The Millionaire Idiot Doesn’t Make it Any Better Does it?

And I bet what REALLY ticks you off is seeing someone make MILLIONS who is an admitted idiot. Come on lets be honest you know it does.

To some degree it is not them making money but the fact that you know God blessed you with talent. And in many ways more than the millionaire idiot. What makes it even worst is if the millionaire is a obnoxious, conceited, arrogant know it all. In other words he is Aggressively Sharing Stupidity (ASS). But of course we know that doesn’t exist in the online information entrepreneur world right? (joking of course)

So why don’t your friends and family understand and WHY does the millionaire triumph?

Here is why your friends and family don’t understand

Abraham Maslow, the great psychologist said that the story of the human race is the story of people selling themselves short. He said people have a tendency to settle for far less from life than they are truly capable of. Many people are spinning their wheels in careers where they should be moving rapidly onward and upward.

See it would be easy to say that your friends and family are negative. But ‘ really not the core of their issue. And remember its THEIR ISSUE NOT YOURS. The better you can understand WHY they are doing what they’re doing. The greater you overstand the power of their words. The less they will be able to influence you and your judgment.

The core issue is that many if not most of us were taught to accept less in our lives. By our parents, teachers, and the whole system. And that goes for the world. Whether you are in Indiana or India.

We were taught…

That knowledge is power: WRONG it is the ability to ACT on that knowledge in an organized fashion that is power.
That we should get high marks in school: WRONG it is not the and A in class that matters as much as getting “A understanding” of how to apply what you have learned in the real world.
Go to college and work: WRONG get an education about something your passionate about. Then leverage that education your passion into a ability to make money.
Slow steady growth was better than quantum leaps: WRONG hey it is not always about working long hours but working hard at working smart.

We were also taught that if anyone did anything differently than these teachings then they should be ostracized as an outsider or societal issue. I mean how DARE we not fill out our TPS reports on time or only wear 8 pieces of flair on our shirts (Office Space reference).

And the REASON we don’t follow this half ass thinking?

BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME DON’T “GET IT”

AND GUESS WHAT? THAT MORE THAN OK!

Irony to share with your friends and family (if you wish)

Isn’t it ironically amazing how your same friends and family respect and admire humanity’s greatest achievers? And in the same turn ask you to be the polar opposite of these people.

They never think that Thomas Edison before his success was hearing the same “go get a real job” comments when he was working on inventions. Or how Abraham Lincolns life consisted of failed relationships, business, politics, and even his mind broke down. And this was all BEFORE he became the 16th president of the United States. Even Think and Grow Rich author Napoleon Hill one of the grandfathers of personal development has been in and out of more jobs than anyone could count.In fact there are thousands of stories around the world like these.

These very people our friends and family admire have something in common.

They were passionate about what they were doing and refused to QUIT. All of these great people knew that failure was only a result. They understood that the more you kept going the better your results would be. They knew that if they took Knowledge >>Execution>>Assessment >> and repeated the proccess. That their consistency would blaze the trails of their legacy. This is what I commonly refer to as the KIEARC method.

So what is the Idiot Millionaire doing that You are Not?

So now you know you aren’t crazy and that there is something wrong with THEM not US. But there is still a big issue sticking out like a sore thumb. The idiot millionaire. How is he pulling that stuff off? OK we know he didn’t quit. But what else is he doing? Afterall let us not forget he is an idiot (laughing). Also you are thinking ” this idiot looks like he is working HALF AS HARD as me.” And guess what? YOUR RIGHT.

At this point I should tell you that I am not referring to one of those scandalous lying thieving GURUs. I am talking about someone who is earning money online helping people / solving a problem. Not robbing them blind or taking advantage of their ignorance. It is just that geesh the guy is again…an ASS but not a crook.

See I can give you a million business ideas online and off. But none of them mean ANYTHING if you don’t grasp what I am about to tell you.

The millionaire idiot does the following:

Follows directions completely and repeatedly.
Never second guesses because that requires a intellect that is above his thinking capacity.
The MI (millionaire idiot) smiles at his or her family like a loon because they thought he or she was crazy when they were broke. But now they think the MI is a idiot savant like in the Rain Man movie. But the truth and the MI know it is that they are not.

See the MI makes money because they take massive action don’t question themselves . They also don’t allow others to question them. That doesn’t mean you have to be an ASS. That just means you have to take those positive qualities and make them work for you.

Wrapping things up

So now you know you are not crazy, your family and friends aren’t bad people they are just wrong ones. You also know how to address their concerns if you wish. Furthermore you have a window into why the “rich jerk” may actually be rich (who cares why they are a jerk).

It is time NOT TO CARE what others think.

I will end this article by quoting the late great Thomas Carlyle the Scottish writer “Do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance”. Stay focused and make something happen.

05 Jan

Game Up or Game Over

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I originally was going to post something else but the spirit hit me and I wanted to share some real facts with real entrepreneurs. In past years there has been a lot of whining bitching and moaning about what you “should get” out of the internet lifestyle experience.

So I wanted to share a few words that may make you think for a moment and then reposition yourself. In fact if your anywhere near a member of the Year in Advance Program prepare to hear this in a very frank manner.

Blame the GURU Syndrome

OK time to stop being mad at others and look at the reality of the situation. If you don’t focus on filtering the information and then applying it then you are in trouble. That is the foundation of information overload. So basically this means you have to determine the following.

Is this source credible?
Is their teaching style my learning style?
How quickly can I learn and apply?

Outsourcing doesn’t solve your problems

That’s been a recent catch phrase. And though you should absolutely outsource tasks. You should learn those tasks before you do so.

The BEST cost more while the perceived BEST cost most

This isn’t bash other professionals online but get the people who work right for you then make sure they are the best. I know 2 people that paid over $14,000 to learn about the internet and setup their online business. Now some of you might say that is a lot of money but it depends on “who” was teaching them. Listen to my audio above for more details.

I promise you that if you solve problems with a long term business model, focus on targeted traffic, and capture leads while increasing conversions you WIN.

01 Jan

5 of the Best Online Business Ideas for 2011

5. Develop your business model for long term solutions: don’t create short term solutions in the form of gimmicky social media products and services. Brick and mortar businesses as well as online ones have to start planning a year in advance. Stop thinking your local brick and mortar business should get on twitter and Facebook to handle your lead acquisition problems. Focus on the long term solutions for both your customers and your leads.

4. Solve problems for high quality clients that need immediate solutions: have you ever seen the movie “The Devil Wears Prada?” There is a scene that is very informative about the fashion industry. In fact the scene is genius because it broke down an important lesson within 120 seconds. High quality clients want solutions NOW. In the film industry you pay more to see the movie now versus on video or cable. Reposition yourself to get the higher end clients because it costs just as much time to market a $500 dollar product as a $10 one. This was one of my most profitable online business ideas and will be my leading one for 2011.

3. Focus on Targeted Traffic that does not involve Social Media: remember I have a massive following across social media roughly 800,000 across all of my sites and niches. But I only focus on a select amount of traffic. Which is the BEST type of traffic? The one that converts best PERIOD. How do you know which one converts best? Test, test, test. And here is a hint. What converts for you may not convert for others. So that said don’t expect your favorite GURU’s best sources for traffic to work the same way for you.

2. Capture Leads by being captivating: Say something or say nothing at all. I am more concerned about having something to say of substance than just having a signup to my email list form. The future is in diversifying your offer . For instance you can offer an item like a report with a 5 day training e course combined. The point here is to mix it up.

1. Convert leads to clients then repeat the process: remember your ABC’s Always Be Converting. That doesn’t mean you have to be overly aggressive. Only that you need to focus on the end reason for your website. Blog and generate traffic with the purpose of selling. You can do this passively and overtly without being too aggressive.

Online and off make something happen in 2011

13 Dec

39 Things I Learned Before Turning 40

As I write this I am less than 10 hours away from my 40th birthday.

Unlike many people I am not stressed about being 40. And actually I cant wait to cross over from the rough turmoil of my 30s.

At age 30 I lost my mother and grandmother all within 3 months of each other.
At age 32 the Universal offices closed and I was out of a job for a while.
At age 34 I nearly LOST MY LIFE due to Hurricane Katrina
And the “hits” just kept on coming!!

Sure there were great points like marrying my BEAUTIFUL wife Cara. And of course thanks to Katrina I was able to go full time with a business I have been running since what seems like forever part time

When you get advice (perspective) from me know that it is from trial and error. I am a guy who has been in the trenches. A tried and true DIY (do it yourself) entrepreneur. I am always willing to try new things. The powerful part is that I have gained an amazing amount of experience and knowledge.

I have run campaigns for the US ARMY, Coca Cola, Universal, Forbes, American Express, The Simpsons, FOX TV, The Barack Obama 2008 campaign, Dreamworks, Clear Channel Radio, and a variety of hit movies and celebrities. According to a friend at the BBC I am only one of less than 200 people in the world who can claim that.

Well as the new year approaches I am glad that I finally have a new product line coming and even my first book launching. But this is only the beginning. I have a lot of things to share and help entrepreneurs.

I have 39 things to share that I learned BEFORE I turn 40:

39. It is OK to quote yourself after all it is rather dumb to let others do it and not do it for yourself.

38. Question the unquestionable

37. Remember failure is the thing that happens BEFORE you Win.

36. Stupidity is insanity with better branding.

35. Don’t be afraid to be transparent there are few secrets in the age of the internet.

34. Its is NOT social media but your ability to solve problems across it that makes the difference.

33. Simplicity in mastery is the best way to live and learn. Instead of doing 5000 things do 5 things 1000 times.

32. It is not about traffic online. It is about targeted traffic that converts the best. And social media isn’t always the answer.

31. Everyone has the ability to be wealthy online but most lack the courage of conviction to follow through.

30. FOCUS on being profitable online not popular. Only be popular (and personable) to your customers!

29. A Fool is the one who FAILS and walks away. A Fighter is one who FAILS to walk away.

28. Endorse what you Enforce have heart and stand up.

27. A Nice conversation with a business stranger will go far. I have done incredible business from being personable and not even knowing who the people were.

26. 100,000 followers doesn’t mean JACK to your pockets. I have seen people with this mega following and barely a blog to call their own. Worst they have no products or services.

25. Popularity is not best for weak minded people. One minute they love you the next they are cursing your name. That is why so many former stars end up killing themselves. To go from loved to hated is a major emotional roller coaster.

24. All GURUs are not assholes. Some are just frustrated that they can’t get through to you.

23. The odds are in the GURUs favor because of US. The lack of action as I show here.

22. ABC : Always be creating. No product no services no money online or off.

21. ABC Always be campaigning. No creative promotions no sale. OH you “THOUGHT” that just telling people you had a product was going to convert?! Good luck with that.

20. It is not about the “How” but the “Why” that matters. IF you are not focused on your online purpose. Then you are seriously going to lose money. That’s why for my first DVD I created something that spoke about you doing what you love and do best.

19. Selling is easy it is over delivering and support that most businesses online miss. Hey having 500 sales is really a lot of people sometimes and sometimes it isn’t. Example: in one niche I have a very active group of people who ask questions all the time. Versus the same number in another that barely wants to reply. Ironically both are buyers. The relationship between the two is that versus my competitors I over deliver on the back end.

18. It is “OK” to be wrong. Experts don’t know everything. Just tell people you were wrong. Strangely enough I can’t seem to EVER find a time I was wrong so I can’t seem (haha snicker snicker) to think one up. However I am sure if my wife Cara sees this she will “help me”. (laughing).

17. When buying online products it is all about KIEARC (Knowledge Instruction, Execution, Assessment, Repetition, Consistency). Always run this simple system by the KIEARC method so you don’t feel overwhelmed.

16. Shiny Thing Syndrome will destroy your online business before it starts. The brand new whatever isn’t your FOCUS.

15. GURUs are giving you advice based on their experiences without thinking about yours. For instance in the near future I am doing a review of “powerpay” this is a merchant service handled through Authorize.net. This is one of the largest merchants in the world. But if your a newbie or even a intermediate person you may get hit with a monthly charge if you are not making $1500 – $1200 USD with that account. Plus they are HORRIBLE with overseas monthly charges via my membership sites. I lost a LOT of money due to their charging issues with out of country credit cards. The GURUs told me that PayPal would shut me down if I made say $4 – 10k in a day. NOT TRUE I have had no problems and have had some pretty enormous days this quarter alone.

14. There is a secret society that make money online under the radar. This society works it’s butt off at research. I have been criticized for mentioning this group too much in the last year. I am a member and have talked about it in this area of my blog.

13. Don’t be afraid to say no and explain why. Some things MUST have a no. You can’t do everything and you must communicate that.

12. Be your customers BIGGEST FAN. Help them “just because” especially if they sincerely look like they want to be successful. The BEST sign of that is in their ACTION and ASSESSMENT then REPETITION.

11. Those who attack you secretly envy you because of their lack of confidence and talent. Don’t worry about the “haters” focus on what matters most.

10. There is no quick solution make money fast system. Only trial and error and consistent work. Sure you can make money faster than any other industry. But there is no guarantee and you must build your following.

9. It is OK to laugh at yourself even if others don’t “get it”.

8. The more I talk to people the wealthier I will become. Use your God given talents to prosper or DIE.

7. NEVER treat someone as a priority that treats you as an option. Les Brown said this to me in 2006.

6. There are three types of people in business, creators, innovators, and imitators. One creates, one builds, and one pretends to create and build.

5. Despite what enemies may say there is no credibility in criticism. The credibility is in the alternatives. When I have something to say that is negative about a product I say it from the heart to keep people from being robbed.

4. Don’t be afraid to tell the truth online. You may catch hell for it but at least you did.

3. EVERYTHING takes work and has challenges to it! So you might as well do what you love and are talented at.

2. Your family is not supposed to believe in your dream. They are at best supposed to love you. PERIOD. Don’t stop or deter because a loved one says or thinks you can’t make it. THEY DON’T MATTER! What matters is what you think.

1. When it all ends God doesn’t ask you what you did in your career, how much money you made or what your sales conversions were. All he wants to know is did you live your life with purpose, help others, and remain true to yourself.

http://www.darrenmonroe.com/wordpress/category/niche-ideas/

27 Sep

How to Uncover Your Billion Dollar Talent

OK roll up your sleeves sit down because good ole Darren is about to take you to school! I have taught this for almost 20 years! You see I have for the most part always known my purpose and calling. People in high school can tell you that I was always interested in becoming an entrepreneur. Also people at my school, past workplaces and even complete strangers have shared with me what they thought were my talents.

Now back to you. You should be having flashback memories about those times when strangers, people at school and work said the same thing to you. See I titled this article uncovering your billion dollar talent because you already KNOW what your talent. You just need some confirmation.

The first way your going to confirm your talent is…

Asking yourself what is it you do easier than anyone else? In other words what is difficult to others but easy to execute for you? Here is my own example. Many people seem to have a hard time building their social media networks where I could do this in my sleep from the ground up. In college I was vice president of a campus organization. I built up that organization to its highest membership levels in history. While at Universal which is the largest music group in the world I created the largest college networks for music in the Midwest.

In each case I had no major education or previous experience in doing those things. Only a natural talent for getting it done. In fact I have done it so well that I have trained thousands of others how to do the same. Which brings out another talent of mine. Teaching is a talent and a skill all its own. Millionaire Bob Proctor says that many can do but only few can teach. See it is one thing to have a talent at something but another to know how that talent works and how to teach others to develop their talents.

Uncovered your talents introduces an important question

Do you like HOW you are applying the talents you just uncovered? This is a MAJOR question to ask yourself and here why. If you don’t like what your doing but enjoy your talent at doing it then reapply your talents elsewhere.

Example I HATED real estate years ago. Didn’t like it but I have a natural talent for working with people. So I reapplied it to the web years before social media. Many of you are doing things you hate with the talents you love.

Write down your talents the things strangers say you excel in.
Write down what you easily do that others find difficult
Then start applying your talent to things that you love. Remember my example I have a great talent for working with people yet I hated real estate but loved computers and the Internet. So what did I do? You guessed it started creating websites.

What is it that you LOVE to do that you have a talent in?

Answer that question uncover your talent and get started NOW!

Because your money is waiting on you

20 Sep

Online Business Ideas for Paradigm Shifts

Recently I was at a conference that made me do a tremendous paradigm shift in my online and offline business. A paradigm is defined as a collection of habits.

And BOOM my habits just changed. In the next few days and weeks I am going to grow my income -10 times based on what i observed in the last week.

Have you ever just STOPPED. And thought about what your doing?

I am launching a site for learning how to create better paradigm shifts. It is after the method I have coined called KIEARC.

This is one of the most powerful methods for developing excellent online business ideas that really work. That because they have been through the washer. Well tested because they were quickly acted upon.

One of the most simple online business ideas for reshaping your paradigm

STOP blogging then ask yourself the following
How much is my blogging paying me?
How many people are being converted?
Am I serving my greatest purpose?
How can I repeat the proccess of serving my greatest purpose?
Am I doing what I naturally do BEST?

I have had to check myself really quick. Though I am not revealing all of my answers here are a few.

I am serving one of my greatest purposes on this site. But my greatest purpose will be found in my slight repositioning (paradigm shift).
I need to expand my personal brand even further than I already have.
The plus to being a member of a secret online business societies is that you get inside information. But the minus is that I forgot the importance of reapplication to others.
I need to do what I do BEST.

Take a quick assessment of your skills and ask yourself are you doing all that you should as well as could have?

02 Jul

The Gilded Golden Secret of an Online Business

Well unless you been on the moon (or just not on this site laughing) you know that Niche Profit Classroom has launched.

I know your thinking “whoppdy doo Darren so what does that have to do with your title?” Simple answer is that in my life I have learned that some of the most powerful and helpful people present themselves in a small and humble manner. They don’t show flash in fact they really avoid it.

Remember I have worked in a flash industry for 15+ years (entertainment music, movies. radio). The people who are real movers and shakers in these industries are the ones who don’t flash. What I am saying here is that “part” of the Gilded Golden Secret is that

“Being Profitable in your online business is more important than being Popular”

Some of you are killing yourselves online. Many are blogging yourselves to death. And the truth is right under your nose. Here it is. Readers are great but customers are greater (duh Darren I knew that). But lets get into those details.

IF you know this or not then why do most of us (yes I was guilty as well) FOCUS on new business over current customers? We think that you have to repeatedly find new business and leave the current business hanging. NOT TRUE. This is a important key because a customer is not a one time purchaser but a longtime purchaser.

“Profitable online business stay in business by becoming Popular to Purchasers”

In other words when your your priority focus is on the people you do business with then your profits soar. And that does NOT require you to be “popular” to the general public. Especially online. You have to become known to the specific public (targeted traffic) online.

Then as time passes you earn the status of popular with your clients and customers. The Gilded Golden Secret of an Online Business is that you focus on profits and be a know star with your targeted traffic readers. And be a ROCK STAR with your clients and customers.

01 Jul

What McDonalds Teaches Us About Making Money Online

A short story on what every blogger and website owner can learn about making money online. McDonalds is a perfect example to many online business from their upsell methods to their franchising. Today I am going to talk in the video below about franchising. NO I am not trying to sell you a franchise (laughing).

I just want you to rethink exponentially your possibilities.

_____________________________________________________

Darren Sign Me Up

25 Jun

Online Business Ideas for Avoiding 5 Figure Mistakes

Notice how everyone in the world tries to tell you how “smart” they are when it comes to marketing online? Well only the REAL people are going to reveal how smart they are NOT. So enters good ole Darren (laughing). I am glad I can honestly laugh about this now. Many of you may have heard my long version of this story. The truth everyone is that successful people learn more from their mistakes than anyone else.

That’s simply because we FAIL the most. See successful people don’t succeed the most. They FAIL the most. And despite that failure they just kept going. Think about it like this. Babe Ruth failed the MOST. YES he hit over 700 home runs but also stuck out almost twice as much.

The idea is that in order to be successful you must discover what doesn’t work quickly and then move on. It is called Fail Fast Forward. You take massive action and then massive detailed assessment of your results. And if it didn’t work you move forward. But you NEVER give up!

OK I avoided my mistake long enough (laughing).

Short version is I built popular sites that showed little returns. Some of my sites had hundreds of thousands of visitors every month. Yet little sale conversions. So a few years back I started a little site and discovered by accident what I was doing wrong. As I say in my profits vs popularity article “the profitable stay small and don’t worry about being popular.”

Do’h

The little site was making more money with way less traffic. Why? because people wanted the items I was selling of course but it is much deeper than that.

Another problem I had was I couldn’t figure out exactly “how” to repeat my little sites success. I more than understand that online it isn’t about doing 5000 things one time but doing 5 things 1000 times. In fact I coined that phrase. But I wasn’t sure exactly “what” to repeat 1000 times.

Oh and quick note as I explain in Why Niche Markets NEVER Show Their Sites I wont tell you what the little site was because it would increase added competition. I am still making money with from that site.

So one day a business partner and another blogger introduced me to Niche Profit Classroom. What Adam the creator at NPC confirmed for me was how to develop a method to repeat my first little sites accidental success.

So hear is what I learned from all of the money I lost in previous years. Not to mention the time and work.

Online Business Ideas for Avoiding 5 Figure Mistakes

To Hell with popular bring on the profits: Your readers are nice and great people. But in order to be in business you need customers.
KNOW if you you are going to make money BEFORE you set the site up: 98% of my sites make money and through research I knew they would. In niche marketing 70-80% involves research.
Shut up and Sell: as I say in 7 Reasons to Shut up and Sell you didn’t come this far to get your butt kicked did you? Don’t worry about those non buying readers who say they “love” you for sharing FREE info for their benefit yet have the audacity to criticize you for offering premium things to sell. FOCUS on your customers.
Solve to Sell: I said it best ion another article. Solve a problem and I almost guarantee you it will lead to a customer.
FOCUS on people who “desperately” need problems solved: That makes the difference between a customer today and a customer a month from now or never.
Small is the NEW Big online (BELIEVE IT): STOP trying to kill yourself over traffic when it is not a question of traffic it is a question of targeted soon to be converted visitors.
Get a good foundational program: I already told you earlier what worked for me (NPC). that was a way for me to establish a base of thinking that changed the way my company did business.

WHY would I tell you about this if I am doing so well?

Simple: instead of giving you the cliche “I care about helping people” comment I thought I get RAW and REAL with you. Don’t get it wrong I do care about helping people but here are some equally real answers:

First of course is that all of the links to Niche Profit Classroom are affiliate links. Who better to offer it than me? after all I actually DO This.

But I am sure your wondering WHY I would promote NPC. Well I kept it to myself for 6-7 months actually LOL until I realized the following…

600,000 niches and sub niches is more than enough for everyone.
Unfortunately even if I tell you and you follow through the odds are on my side. See many of you will signup to programs like NPC and a) do nothing or b) not followup with your initial actions. I explain this truth in detail in “How GURUs make money online. Very sad but true.
In the next 2 years there will still be less than 10,000 out of millions that understand how to do this. Also even fewer will grasp what this article really means and how to turn it into money. So the door is wide open for all who “get it”.

So there you have it real answers and online business ideas from a more than real person. I have a saying: “There are those who get it and those who don’t be the one that gets it and work with the ones that do.”

21 Jun

Incredible Real Story about Eminem and Online Credibility

Incredible Story about Eminem and Online Credibility

Many of you may know I used to work for the Universal Music Group in the past. One of their labels of course is Interscope which helped launch rap superstar Eminem. Shortly after his first album The Slim Shady LP hit the streets Eminem went from being a highly underestimated rapper to a household name.

And then in 2000 came the next album Marshall Matters LP which was right before a mega tour. The University of Chicago was lucky enough to schedule him to a sold out performance for their annual spring event. This was actually a really rare and unique show because there were (3) acts. Eminem was the headliner but then there was rock band Goldfinger, and Hip Hop legendary band The Roots. The cool part was all 3 were under the Universal Music Groupumbrella just different record labels. So I got a chance to work all three.

So while Goldfinger is playing I went to Eminems dressing room and met him for the first time. He was a very mild mannered humble guy no major ego at all. We talked about the funny stories from the last album and the things he was doing for this one. We also discussed his new lifestyle and how the sudden success of heis debut album changed the way he lived.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED……

It was time for Eminem to hit the stage. So me and roughly 2 people with him walked out of his dressing room. Side note: the real rappers don’t have “entourage” they just have 1-3 people that usually consist of a road manager, hype guy (guy who pumps up the crowd before and while he is onstage) , and an assistant. This was before he was recieving death threats thus less personal security. Well as soon as we walked out of the dressing room the stage manger introduces Eminem to someone…….

There is a important lesson in what your about to hear. GURU’s, Social Media experts, SEO experts, and internet marketers listen up.

Listen to THIS

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11 May

Inspiring Online Business Ideas for Middle Aged Entrepreneurs

OK it is wake up time middle aged people. I have been talking to people about my Future NOW Project for a while. Two issues I am hearing repeatedly involve age and or heavy competition. So there are a couple of things I want to share with the middle aged online entrepreneur.

You Have an Advantage

Experience is on your side in many ways. What the 20 something crowd lacks you make up for in experience. There is an old saying that goes “Little things are of great concern and great things are of little concern.” With age comes an increased attention to detail. The art of the followup before and after the sale is on your side. Stability and history is also on your side. These are foundational online business ideas that you have developed offline.

You Don’t have to Compete only Create

Listen to this classic by the late great Earl Nightingale. This was on a 33 inch vinyl record and was the first spoken word record to go Gold and Platinum (thought they didn’t have the platinum plaque it sold over a million copies). There is a part in here where it says you don’t have to compete only create. Your ability to develop quality even recognize it is 10 times stronger than your younger counterparts.

The Power isn’t in the Pricing but in the Positioning

The fact is that with competition there will always be lower prices. But have you noticed something interesting no matter how much competition? Millions of cars sold yet a Bentley, Mercedes, Ferrari are always selling for a higher price correct?

Though other cars sell at a lower price it is the positioning of these brands above that demand a premium price. These cars nor services are not for everyone.

You have to make sure that your prospects get that it isn’t about the price but the return. Now I also have to get a little real with you by saying this: If you do not have a unique selling proposition you deserve to be competitively beaten. I have written about this repeatedly.

If your prospects and competition don’t “get” meaning understand exactly what your unique selling proposition is then you don’t have one.

I outlined this in both Online Business Ideas for Identifying Your Unique Selling Proposition and Online Business Ideas for Creating Your Unique Selling Proposition.

Have you noticed that I have yet to talk about technology?

When you stop learning your dead. Remember the online business world is a “mind” game. Not a physical one. This isn’t Soccer, Basketball or Football. You have a wiser mind, more contacts a tremendous head start.

The ball is not only in your court but so is the audience. Ask President Obama who raised over half a billion dollars from everyone. Whether you like him or not understand that it was the youth that was the power behind his movement. And er ah how old is Obama?! The man hadn’t even been on Twitter. But he was smart enough to find who was and wise enough to learn.

The playing field is a lot more even than you think and after reading this hopefully you begin to lock down your USP position yourself and make something happen.

08 Mar

Why I Share Online Business Ideas

If I knew what I knew then about creating wealth or at least just creating products. I would indeed be a wealthier man. What seems like EONS ago I used to work for corporate America. I would sit in these meetings surrounded by people who thought they were important (they really weren’t). I would watch them think, speak, and educate. I would assimilate their knowledge and begin to form my own ideas.

Lets take a trip down memory lane

In the early years I began to share some of my earliest ideas across the country via conference calls. I remember MCA records executives eyes widening when I told them how to remarket their audience. Especially when I said on a LIVE national conference that the leadership was doing a piss poor job.

I remember the VP of Universal telling me that digital downloads were a fad and was going to be a thing of the past (ha!). I remember sharing an idea with Interscope records that caused them to sell 800,000 copies in one day. I remember when Universal Distributions president Jim Urie said on a national conference call to me that “maybe it isn’t the right time to create an online community” 3 years before the birth of Facebook and Myspace. Now don’t get me wrong I am not saying I had online business ideas about creating those two giants. I am simply saying that my thinking was in alignment with the times. How aligned is your thinking with the times we are in?

Radio was the same way. I thought up online business ideas for salespeople to make more money. Many of which couldn’t think their way out a hole in the ground. Radio was intense where the time frame to think on your feet was short. But that combination made me a stronger idea generator and developer. What experience made you a better person and sharpened your talents?

My Online Business Ideas are my USP

Whats your unique selling proposition? Mine is my ability to think up interesting campaigns and business ideas for very famous and powerful people. Whether it was Pepsi, or Eminiem or a legend like Gladys Knight. One thing remains true I am an idea person. Sometimes by pleasure and other times by FORCE (laughing). That and my ability to be resourceful are what make me who I am and give me an edge. What gives you an edge?

**Do you know the WHY in what your blogging about?**

I remember a old teacher of mine saying that whatever you wanted in your life ask yourself WHY. What is the essence of your purpose? Let me give you an example as it relates to online business ideas. I love entrepreneurship but that is a general love. But there is a reason I love it especially online. I love it because of the innovative ideas and massive resources. Yes money but even greater than that is the idea that generated that income and revenue source.

What talent can you stare down a Billionaire with?

Ask yourself this question. What talent do you have that you feel you can stand on an even playing field with a billionaires? If you can’t answer then you should think before starting a business online. I am sure some of you are thinking “darn Darren I just wanted to make money online.” Not a problem. But there are people who make money online and people who are online entrepreneurs. Know the difference. One group emulates (and imitates) the difference. While the second group becomes the difference.

The day you feel you can stand toe to toe with a business giant. That is the day you begin to grow.

The reason I share online business ideas and online business opportunities is that I believe I am doing what is coded into my DNA. And that it will bring me abundance for that generosity. Also that I will help those who need an honest idea from a more than brutally honest guy.

Why be Darren Rowse, Sonia Simone, Seth Godin, Steve Pavilina, or Terry Dean? They are good at what they do. But I am great at what I am coded to do. Millions will follow them trying to blog like them to become good bloggers. As if imitating a masterpiece would bring you closer to their results.

“But why major in good when you can master in greatness?”

On of the best online business ideas I ever had so far was to be myself.

23 Feb

What Einstein Teaches us about Marketing Online

What Einstein teaches us about marketing online. Though he has been dead for over 50 years there is a lot the genius can teach us today.

Despite the many online business ideas I have shared I seem to always come across someone looking at the forest before the trees. There is a misconception that marketing online means pursuing a formal education. Yet the most successful people seem to lack that very education. Don’t get me wrong I am in favor of education.

For years Einstein wanted to be a teacher and yet ended up in the patent office. Even there he shared some great idea’s for patents. He published a ton of brilliant written works from the patent office. Why didn’t he just do his job? Why didn’t he just focus on becoming a teacher? A bird doesn’t ask permission to become bird it just flies away. Einstein and the bird didn’t need permission to become what they believed themselves to actually be. Gary Vaynerchuk didn’t let the fact he didn’t really write or that he had little formal education on or offline prevent him from blogging.

My point here is marketing online is like Einstein and the bird. You should do what comes naturally. Not everyone is a social media person. Not everyone is a email marketing person (though it would help to be one). Though it ‘s important to gain an education about those area’s. Focusing on the next new fad may not be the way to go.

I have been building niche websites for years and I used to focus only on a few niches hoping to gain success in making money online. However until recent years I found myself doing more consulting work. All that time I focused on one route and mastered and maxed it out until I could go no further. I used to think you had to be “established” to consult for people big degrees and all. And when I tried to open the door to that it continued to close shut. Yet I noticed that people just kept coming to me for online business ideas. I did it unofficially for 10 years and here I am actually doing it now. No titles bells or whistles just real words, ideas and follow through.

Lesson 1: marketing online involves doing more than a title (GURU anyone?). You should do what your naturally do not what you have permission or title to do. A teacher is a teach because they teach not because they have the title.

Lesson 2: whatever your doing you better be GOOD at it (talent)

Lesson 3: Unlike the genius make sure you have a revenue stream tied to your endeavors. Searching for what your audience is looking for via Google is one of the best ideas created. Because it helps you build (or rebuild) the correct following.

30 Jan

Raw Truth from a Millionaire

If your dull your dead. DARE to be different. Here is the question you have to ask yourself. WHY do you want to be an online entrepreneur? First you better recognize that it isn’t about the money, talent or love. The truth is it is about all three. The one thing you should get out of this long interview that Gary V is really onto is that once you find what is in your DNA and accept it. And be unapologetic about who you are and thats when you will dominate anything you do.

30 Sep

Salepage video for Ms VA

23 Sep

5 Things You Should Consider Before You Quit

dont-quit Consider the following before you close your business.

I know some of you are dealing with rough times and decisions. And if you are seriously considering closing here are 5 key reasons not to quit just yet.

Also consider these two stories

Prayer Price and Positioning for Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs Prayer

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5 Things You Should Consider Before You Quit

5. You have already invested in your start up costs now all you have to do is maintain your expenses and growth and see what other avenues are available.

4. This is a low as costs will ever be for a long time. Prices will go up as they always do no matter what stage the economy is in.

3. Re-figure your plan and your strategy/ tactics. If you quit you may be doing that too early. In other words exhaust your resources try and retry before you quit.

2. Restructure your partnerships. Do what works and erase what doesn’t.

1. You already have inroads to taking your business to the next stage.

Though I respect Seth Godin theory about quiting (he says it may be a good thing to quit while you are ahead) Yet so many people go out of business when they were so close to initial success. Look at your initial investment, the current environment for costs, partnerships, strategies, and overall progress. Little do you know you may be closer to the winners edge of the table than you think!

19 Sep

Every Online Entrepreneur Should See This (Video)

The Circus leader is the Expert (GURU?)

The other performers at the Butterfly Circus are his students.

The main character (Nick Vujicic) is a allegorical version of many trying to get their business running online. Like Nick you are more powerful than you or society believe you are.

Click the image or the link below

http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/The Butterfly Circus/

31 Aug

Gods, Angels, and Thunderbird's: The Secret Life of People that Matter

I started writing a eBook called People that Don’t Matter after a popular article that had a similar title. The ideas resonated with a lot of people. So in my quest to write a eBook I started thinking heavily. Hmmm I want people to actually DO what I am suggesting in this eBook. So I decided to make it into a much bigger program. But of course it isn’t just about People that Don’t matter it is definitely about FOCUSING on what matters most.

So that brings me to this post.

Gods, Angels, and Thunderbird’s: The Secret Life of People that Matter

The people of Power (Gods) FOCUS on their most valuable resource TIME.

The people of Goodness (Angels) do not concern themselves with foolishness

The People of Greatness (Thunderbird’s) listen to the Gods respect the laws of the Angels and gather resources to create value.

11 Aug

Thank You Gift My Vol 1 Resources Edition

Thank you

Thank you to those that signed up to Niche Profit Classroom
Thank you for joining my GetaBlog program
Thank you for your retweets just because
Thank you for subscribing to my email and RSS
Thank you for the positive words and encouragement
Thank you for the smiles
Thank you for the added resources
Thank you for your most valuable commodity which you are sending right now (your time).

(right click and choose save link or target as) And here is a little gift just to say thanks

05 Aug

A Decision with Seth Godin

There is a couple of obvious reasons why I posted this.

The first is that it is directly related to one of my favorite words VALUE. Also it is one of those videos every entrepreneur needs to view!

Seth speaks of innovation in the same breath of failure and creating value (the sale of an item in exchange for value).

01 Aug

Prayer Price and Positioning for Entrepreneurs

How often has history reevaluated the underestimated?

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30 Jul

Go Green with Your Biz Cards and Get Twice the Exposure

Guest Author: Rebecca Hubbard is a 30 year entrepreneur and CEO / Founder of Digital-Women.com, “Women with their modems running…”, celebrating 11 years as an international online networking community for women in business.

Passing out business cards is part of every smart entrepreneur’s marketing strategy. With all that paper being distributed how do you go green? We have one idea that might help in several ways. Double teaming with a related business. One card – two promotions. There are a myriad of businesses that could team up to have “one” two-sided business card that they “both” distribute.

By printing both sides of the card you not only promote both businesses but also eliminate some of the business card disposal. People are less likely to throw a card away if it has valuable information they might need later or promotes another business they might need in the future. Some examples of businesses that could team up with one two-sided card might be:

Flowers / Candy
Electrician / Plumber
Landscaper / Nursery
Bakery / Event Planner
Shoes / Accessories
Auto Sales / Car Wash

This list could get very long but you get the idea. Businesses that compliment each other could easily save dollars and eliminate paper waste. Entreprenuers on a tight advertising budget will find this idea advantageous. Partnering up with a complimenting business also gives you twice the exposure for only half the cost. You’re presenting yourself to new clients or customers that might not have known about you except through your card partner.

Partnering up with more than one other complimenting business is also smart. An “event planner” could choose several business card partners like a bakery, balloons, gift baskets, candles, flowers, and more. An electrician could card partner with a plumber, a painter, a flooring company, you can think of many more I’m sure. Whatever business you have, I am sure there is a complimenting business to go with your own. Just put your thinking cap on and find them, then approach them with your idea.

More Business Team Ideas:

Web Designer / Web Host
Graphic Artist / Web Developer
SEO / Offline Marketing
Shoes / Hosery
Books / Movies
Instruments / Music Lessons
Artist / Gallery
Golf Equipment / Golf Tourneys
Fishing Supplies / Fishing Guide
Flooring / Drapes
Drapes / Lighting

One reason you are an entrepreneur is to make more money. Make more money by letting yourself be seen twice as much for only half the cost. Go for it. Find yourself a business card partner and “go green” at the same time.

It cost me $23,000 to learn what I am about to share with you.

(Insert family and or friends here) – “Why Wont You Quit This Internet Stuff and Get A REAL JOB?”

The Millionaire Idiot Doesn’t Make it Any Better Does it?

Here is why your friends and family don’t understand

Irony to share with your friends and family (if you wish)

So what is the Idiot Millionaire doing that You are Not?

The millionaire idiot does the following:

Wrapping things up

Game Up or Game Over

Blame the GURU Syndrome

Outsourcing doesn’t solve your problems

The BEST cost more while the perceived BEST cost most

5 of the Best Online Business Ideas for 2011

I have 39 things to share that I learned BEFORE I turn 40:

How to Uncover Your Billion Dollar Talent

The first way your going to confirm your talent is…

Uncovered your talents introduces an important question

The Gilded Golden Secret of an Online Business

“Being Profitable in your online business is more important than being Popular”

“Profitable online business stay in business by becoming Popular to Purchasers”

How Tweeting Got Me a FREE 200 Dollar Watch

Online Business Ideas for Avoiding 5 Figure Mistakes

Online Business Ideas for Avoiding 5 Figure Mistakes

WHY would I tell you about this if I am doing so well?

But I am sure your wondering WHY I would promote NPC. Well I kept it to myself for 6-7 months actually LOL until I realized the following…

Incredible Story about Eminem and Online Credibility

You Have an Advantage

You Don’t have to Compete only Create

The Power isn’t in the Pricing but in the Positioning

Have you noticed that I have yet to talk about technology?

Why I Share Online Business Ideas

Lets take a trip down memory lane

My Online Business Ideas are my USP

Do you know the WHY in what your blogging about?

What talent can you stare down a Billionaire with?

———————————————————————————————

5 Things You Should Consider Before You Quit

Guest Author: Rebecca Hubbard is a 30 year entrepreneur and CEO / Founder of Digital-Women.com, “Women with their modems running…”, celebrating 11 years as an international online networking community for women in business.

**Do you know the WHY in what your blogging about?**