A journey from Internet marketing stasis to business mastery and financial freedom (I hope)

If you’re anything like me then you’ve probably started projects and struggled to finish them or thought about projects but never managed to get started.

What’s stopping you?

Is it fear of failure? Lack of skills or knowledge? Or are you just making excuses for yourself?

On a simplistic level, here’s what I believe is key to a successful project:

1. A strong, positive motivation to complete the project. Given the choice, try to find a project that you’re passionate about for whatever reason. If you’re struggling with an ongoing project then find some kind of reward for completing it. If you can’t find any positive motivation then think of the negative consequences of not completing the project (but remember that positive motivation is far, far better).

2. A fixed deadline. This is essential. If the project has no fixed end date then it will most likely drag on forever. Deadlines sharpen the mind and make us work harder and more effectively to get the job done.

3. Chunk it down. Break the project down into more manageable chunks so that you’re not overwhelmed by the whole. Each chunk should have its own deadline if possible.

4. Find a way to make it fun. Maybe you have a fun project to begin with but even those are in danger of losing their appeal when the going gets tough. Celebrate every achievement within the project and reward yourself with a treat whenever you complete something difficult or something that’s been bogging you down. Treats can be anything but keep them proportional – a choccy biscuit, a night out on the town, a movie, a holiday, half an hour playing a game, anything to give you an incentive to finish the task.

Always be truthful in business. Never, ever try to decieve your customers, prospects, partners or anyone else you have dealings with. It will only come back to bite you.

No matter how much trust you’ve built up over how many years, it can all be wiped away in an instant with one dishonest act. As soon as any seed of doubt enters a persons mind, you’re going to struggle to regain their trust.

Of course you can spin the truth with good copywriting skills but be careful. If you stretch too far from reality then the elastic can snap.

It’s a question of perception. While you might honestly be able to claim that you haven’t lied about anything, if your prospect or customer has just a whiff of something that doesn’t feel quite right then you’ve lost them.

As a general guide, always ask yourself how you’d feel if the tables were turned and you were on the receiving end of what you’ve produced.

Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean that there are any cosmic forces at play here. It’s just human nature.

If you give your time and know-how generously then people will feel compelled to do the same for you and be more likely to do business with you in the future. You’ll develop a good relationship with them that can only benefit everyone in the long term.

But it has to be genuine. It shouldn’t be a planned response. Don’t think that if you give away ABC today that you can claim back XYZ next week. You need to give for its own sake and then let nature take its course.