The Year That Changed Everything: Why I Stepped Away and What I’m Bringing Back
Almost a year ago, I wrote about finding your niche in internet marketing. I was excited and confident, sharing strategies and insights like I had it all figured out.
The past year of silence taught me more about internet marketing than the previous few years of reading, researching, and theorizing combined. And honestly? I needed every messy, confusing, scary, frustrating, and enlightening moment of it.
My Biggest Failure: Inconsistency and Poor Time Management
I spent the past year working on my business, listening to webinars, learning about implementing different marketing strategies, building funnels and creating content among other ideas. Sounds productive, right?
The problem was, I was incredibly inconsistent. I started four different projects but never finished or launched one single one. I got caught up in what I’ll call “research and development mode” – always planning, always optimizing, never actually executing. I was suffering from the exact problem I was trying to help others solve!
The technical side became my biggest stumbling block. I was following a proven system from a coach I trust completely – all the essential tools were mapped out clearly. However, what should have taken 30 minutes, working consistently and focused, took me hours. I had a support desk at my beckon call but felt too embarrassed to reach out as often as I needed to.
On top of the tech struggles, life happened. Poor time management, procrastination, and if I’m being completely honest, FEAR crept in. Could I really be successful at this? Was I just fooling myself? The combination of all of this created the perfect storm of INACTION.
But here’s the thing – the system works. The tools are solid and proven. The guidance is there. The only missing piece was me showing up consistently and pushing through the tech hiccups that can trip up many of us starting out.
3 Fundamental Lessons That Changed My Internet Marketing Approach
This year of behind-the scenes work taught me three fundamental lessons that changed how I approach internet marketing entirely.
Lesson 1: Execution Over Experimentation: Why 80% Action Beats 100% Planning
I admit, I have checked out a lot of different avenues and aspects of Internet Marketing. Everything from multiple marketing funnels, various content strategies, email automation, and product concepts. I consumed courses, attended webinars, and filled notebooks with brilliant ideas. But here’s what I discovered: There’s a MASSIVE GAP between understanding something in theory and making it work in practice.
Barring unforeseen circumstances and emergencies, I have learned that life does not ‘get in the way’ unless you allow it.
I allowed it. I focused on what other tasks were in front of me, instead of PLANNING and SCHEDULING a specific time to COMMIT to my online business. Days would fly by, sometimes more than a week. I couldn’t wait to get back to learning and starting my business but because I was not CONSISTANT in my work, I lost my momentum and therefore what I had already learned became a fuzzy memory. I do take notes, but it doesn’t make up for dislocated inconsistency. Overwhelm then moves in, and brings it’s roommate -fear. Can I really do this? Am I just technically challenged? I’m so lost. My coaches are going to think I’m an idiot. My website is not the look I want. I’m not sure what to write.
I discovered that perfectionism and inconsistency are business killers. You can have the most sophisticated marketing funnel in the world, but if you don’t consistently drive traffic to it, it’s worthless. You can create the perfect product, but if you never actually launch it, it helps no one.
The hard truth? 80% execution beats 100% planning EVERY. SINGLE. TIME
Lesson 2: How to Beat Perfectionism: Why Small, Regular Actions Compound
Starting four projects and finishing zero was humbling. Each time I’d begin something new, I’d get excited, work intensively for a few weeks, then get distracted by the next shiny strategy or hit a roadblock and abandon it. Sound familiar?
This taught me about the compound effect of small, regular actions as opposed to sporadic big pushes.
I’ve become a huge baseball fan (NY Yankees!), and although we love to see those out-of-the-park home runs and grand slams, we know that getting on base is the bones of what wins the game. I was trying to hit home runs when I should have been focused on getting on base CONSISTENTLY. The projects I abandoned weren’t failures because the ideas were bad – they failed because I didn’t show up for them every day.
So, I’ve built systems to ensure I follow through. Simple things like time-blocking, accountability tracking, and most importantly, committing to smaller, achievable daily actions rather than overwhelming weekly sprints.
Lesson 3: Real Learning Happens in the Messy Middle
There’s a huge difference between consuming marketing content and actually doing the work. I was great at the consuming part. I could tell you about the marketing framework and cutting-edge strategies. But when it came to implementing them? That’s where the real education happened.
The mistakes I made, and the frustration I caused myself by not treating this as a business and not showing up to my job every day, contributed greatly to lack of momentum and therefore my inability to conceptualize the big picture.
These weren’t failures – they were expensive but invaluable lessons. Now, I am on my way to be able to share real, tested insights instead of regurgitated theory.
The Rebuild: My Plan for Daily Presence and Consistency
I’m back, but with a completely different approach. Instead of coming from a place of theoretical knowledge, I’m going to document my journey in real time. You’ll see the strategies I’m implementing, the results I’m getting (both good and bad), and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
I’m starting with BEING PRESENT DAILY.
I am a morning person. My favorite time of day is the quiet of the early morning, when there are no distractions, no noise, and no TV. I especially get excited in good weather when I can take my work outdoors. I wake around 4:45 am and after my morning routine, I am dressed and ready for work by 6 am.
Years ago, especially during Covid, telecommuting became a necessity. Additionally, home based business opportunities flourished. I remember a big “selling point” was that you can work from home in your PJ’s! NO. NO. NO.
I believe that to be successful, to take your business seriously, and to show up 100%, you must approach it 100% professionally and focused. No matter how comfy you may feel in your PJ’s and with your morning coffee – get dressed and get out of bed! I’m not suggesting that you dress for the office, unless you want to. My go to is jeans, a tee shirt and a cozy sweater. I’m dressed, I’m present, I’m at my desk or table, and I’m in work mode. Believe me, it makes a huge difference.
Take a moment and really look at your daily routine and when you feel the most productive and available timewise. You may be retired like me, or commuting to your job, or perhaps telecommute. Regardless, it’s essential you block out committed time to develop your online business. You may not be able to schedule the same time every day, that’s OK, if you have a schedule and stick to it.
I’m not promising overnight success stories or miracle transformations. What I am promising is radical honesty about what’s working, what isn’t and what I’m learning in the process.
Join Me for the Rebuild
If you’re someone who’s struggled with consistency in your own internet marketing efforts, if you’ve started projects that you never finished, or if you’re tired of theory without practical application, then this journey is for you.
I want to hear about your biggest current challenges. What projects are sitting half-finished on your computer? What strategies have you been meaning to implement but keep putting off?
Drop a comment below and let me know!
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