How to Succeed With an Online Business - Check Your PPF

byDavidKay

128 followers

Updated 10 years ago

With more and more people opting to start an online business, what are the odds that you will succeed? I'm going to share with you something disarmingly simple - almost too simple. But don't dismiss it, because if you get this established deep within your psyche you will confidently pursue what you want whilst never having to worry about failure.

And the great thing is, this is applicable to ALL of your goals in life, not just your online business.

So, what do I mean by PPF? Well is stands for possible, plausible and fair, and represents the three questions you should always ask yourself when considering whether a goal is worth striving for.

It is simply not true to say "If you can dream it you can be it"!! There are situations in which you will only waste your time and end up disappointed.

So let's look at these questions now:

Is it possible? You essentially ask yourself if it is possible for ANY human being to achieve it. Has it been done? Can anyone, anywhere be successful with this? You will probably agree that in terms of running an online business, the answer is obviously 'yes'.

Is it plausible? Now this is where it gets tricky because we are essentially asking, is it possible for YOU? It may be possible to compete in an Olympic running event, but it's not a sensible idea if you are 70 years old with arthritis. In terms of an online business, you have to have certain things in place. Without a computer or Internet access, for example, it's obviously a non-starter.

But there are other factors that you need to consider, which I have learned during my time with Wealthy Affiliate. The most important in my opinion is that you must have access to an excellent source of information and training. If you don't have the know-how, it is simply not plausible. In today's competitive world I don't believe it is enough just to read about it; you actually need a step-by-step structured training course with on board support. This, for me, is where Wealthy Affiliate came in.

Is it fair? Assuming you've answered 'yes' to the first two questions, we just need to check that what you plan to do is fair to other people in your life, as well as your customers.

If you intend to be run a bona-fida business and be honest in your dealings, you generally won't have a problem here. I would never advise anyone to pursue a goal that is dishonest or that significantly hurts someone else. Although there are plenty of examples of ruthlessly gained financial success, I believe there is a far greater cost to the soul of a person who acts in this way.

Okay, so what else does it depend on?

Now this is the point: If you can genuinely answer 'yes' to all three - you've passed the PPF - then it ALL depends on you. Specifically it all depends on whether you can maintain a positive mindset.

The majority of people who fail, do not fail because their goals were impossible, implausible or unfair. Neither has it got anything to do with luck or competition or market trends. They simply talk themselves out of it. They start to tell themselves 'it's not going to work', 'it's too difficult to learn', 'there's too much competition', and so on. On a deeper level there can be a subconscious resistance to change - even if that change is for the better. Anxiety builds and there is a feeling of 'it's all too much, I may as well quit'.

Any genuine business takes time and effort to build. You need patience, persistence and confidence. You need to accept some uncertainty and be willing to act - do something every day towards your goal. You cannot allow negativity to set in if you want to succeed.

How do you stay positive? I can only tell you how it works for me. I remind myself that it is possible, plausible and fair, and I just get on with it. I don't dwell on negative thoughts, don't allow them to take root.

I also maintain in my mind that it doesn't matter whether I make $1 or $1 million. I tell myself I'm doing it primarily because I enjoy my subject, I enjoy creating a website and providing a service. This takes the pressure off and helps me to just get on with it without brooding about whether or not I'll make any money.

All of this is a choice! Anyone with normal mental health can learn to choose their thoughts in this way. It's how cognitive and solution focused therapy work for people with clinical anxiety or depression. You can choose which thought you allow to take hold of you.

Therefore, with any goal you have in mind apply the PPF test to decide whether it is possible, plausible and fair. If you can't answer 'yes' to these, then don't go ahead - it is realistic to assume that it may not work. If you answer 'yes' to all three, then recognize that it really does depend on you - whether YOU choose to maintain a positive mind.

I hope you have found this post useful. If you would like to comment, share, or ask me any questions, please feel free!