The Internet e-Myth

This last couple of weeks we've witnessed an interesting spectacle. Big-name gurus have been lavish in their endorsement of a variety of products - some of them in direct opposition to the principles of another they're promoting.

For instance, Rich Shefren's promotion for his coaching program. The opening diagram in his Manifesto resonated with me - the sheer volume and diversity of the things we as Internet marketers attempt is insane. And such a diagram clearly demonstrates that fact! It's the old 'focus, focus, focus' that's required, but he does throw in a variety of big-picture considerations some of us never knew, and others quite simply forgot.

His answer is systemization - the same principle popularized by Michael Gerber in The E-Myth 20 years ago. There's no doubt the system works.

But Shefren went on to point out a defining distinction - the difference between opportunists and entrepreneurs. That factor is much more in evidence on the Internet, where entry barriers to business are so much lower than they are offline. His definition was that opportunists buy the flood of new tools that seem to appear daily; entrepreneurs buy only what they need to fulfil their long-term plan.

What I found fascinating to watch was who promoted the Shefren package, and who promoted the flurry of tools that came onto the market in the following few weeks.

A majority were the same marketers. Did they not read? Did they not listen? Did they not believe?

How To Build An Internet Business

Ever thought that setting up a web site or an Internet business was a bit like assembling your own space shuttle? And you had to go through the 1000-page catalogs to find the bits yourself?

Oh boy, do I know how you feel! Unfortunately, I've spent much of the past 5 years tracking along that path... hunting, learning, buying, fiddling... and basically getting nowhere.

It's particularly galling because fairly early on I started using a system that eliminated all that technical junk. Somehow I got sucked into the technical side rather than concentrating on the marketing any online business depends on. And it's cost me heaps.

One thing I've learned is that there are many ways to make a dollar on the Internet. Many. The one thing you cannot succeed at is ... all of them at once.

So if you're still struggling, and your major stumbling blocks are either technical, or a clear simple roadmap, revisit this site. You've probably already seen it, so this time look at it with new eyes.

Here's the drill:

1. Do a Quick Tour

2. Check its profitability

3. Do your due diligence - ie go find anyone with a better track record.

- search wherever you like

- buy this month's WIRED magazine and take a look at 1&1.com's 14-page ad - and note that there's not a word about success. The whole thing amounts to "quick-cheap-easy."

- go to smallbusiness.yahoo.com (or any other web hosting platform you may be considering) and look for any mention of the results their customers are getting

- then check this proof.

Now, what could you do with a platform that produces results like that? Check these case studies - one or more just might turn on your lightbulb!

The bottom line?

Take the tour. Do your due diligence. And save a year or more of your life.