Is it over.?
LONG TIME AGO...
Many years ago I got into a job... It was very physically demanding and dangerous. Twelve hour shifts were standard and often times we worked for three to six weeks continuously. All work was done outside, regardless of the weather. We worked in temperatures reaching minus fifty degree Celsius and above plus thirty. The work was so tough that many got hurt, broke bones and sometimes even lost limbs. In the ten years that I worked there, four men died.
The pay however was amazing. I got into this line of work for a woman and I had to prove to her and myself that I could earn enough money to support us... I hated this job with everything I had but I wanted "us" to work...
One day I realized that I had essentially mastered my position. I got promoted. Six months later I got promoted again. After about two years, and with my lady friend long gone, I realized something interesting. I began to like the job. I learned more, took courses and soon I became very good at it. I understood technical aspects of what I did much better than anyone else and I trained and supervised new workers. My success bred interest in my work. Then one day, I spoke about what I did with someone else and I realized that I loved my job and I was proud to have made it as far as I did.
FAST FORWARD TO TODAY
I have had my business for five years and I have been with Wealthy Affiliate for almost two. I started my business because I loved it. I felt I could really contribute... make the world better by helping people become more aware of the world we live in and provide valuable experience and lessons that would help everyone live safer lives.
After about one year of decent profits my business turned into a bottomless money and time pit. The further I get in my WA training the less my articles get indexed, the fewer people visit my site... I have been kicked off Amazon affiliate program...for the second time now. Not enough sales. They sent me a check for the money I did make. $2.68...I didn't cash it, I framed it. Every time I look at it I think one of two things. a) It is possible... I made $2.68 I can make more... or b) $2.68...that's the worth of my contribution to the world...that's it.
Interesting problems get in the way...hospitalization, dental issues, bankruptcy and everything seems to have to take priority over what I want to do... I never did mind hard work. I get up at five, write articles and build my website and I have three days per week when I dedicate myself exclusively to my business for six hours a day. But the more I work the further away success seems to be....
Today I have much less interest in my business and in WA mainly due to the fact that I see no results. All it does is cost me time, energy and some money... This not to say that WA doesn't work. Clearly there are many people here who have made it and are reaping great rewards for joining WA.
Today however, I still get up at five...with full intention of working...but to get going is much harder than it was a year ago.
WORDS OF WISDOM?
I have some very affluent friends. A husband and wife team who have been very poor and through hard work and dedication they build a multi-million dollar business. They employ many people and contribute to their community in many ways.
They live in a three million dollar mansion, drive exotic cars and vacation out of the country five to seven times per year. Both of them have been great mentors to me for many years. I learned much about business and life from them, and have always been very grateful to have them in my life. They have always been there for me, always offering help.
Once, on a quiet evening, they told me one of the scariest things I ever heard. They said that sometimes, some people never make it. No matter what they do and how many times they try, some people just never become successful...
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
There are literally hundreds of ideas in my mind that would make lots of money. Hundreds of ideas to make my site amazing. Hundreds of ideas that I believe could change peoples lives...but have no idea how to make any of them work. My website today, is the result of compromises that I made so that I can come close to what I wanted the site to be... What ever is in my mind, always seems unworkable.
Do I have unrealistic expectations? Did I miss something in my training? Is my niche so undesirable? Am I not putting enough time into my work? Is it time to accept my losses and quit...?
I know that if I quit I will never succeed. That is guaranteed. But if I keep at this for another five years and produce nothing...?
...tomorrow is another day
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Hi Dennis, crossroads can be the hardest intersections to navigate.
you mentioned that you had 100's of ideas, the truth is all we need is one to get us going.
The thing is we need to manufacture the focus to stick to one thing and see it through.
Keep going, Dennis.
I would agree completely.
Sometimes I feel like one of the gold prospectors during the Alaska and Yukon gold rush days and getting to the point where one has exhausted all resources and all energy to work the gold claim and found nothing. At the same time everyone on neighboring claims seems to be pulling out gold by the tonne.
I think it was Einstein who said that repeating the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity...
But in the end, laser focus is what is going to save the day....
Thank you for your reply
Success could be just around the corner. It usually is when you get to this point. Keep your head high and keep moving forward. You can do this!
Thank you for the encouragement!
At this point it feels like I am mindlessly beating my head against a brick wall... On the other side of the coin I see no other direction to turn to so I suppose keep moving forward is the only real option
Hi Dennis,
If it's of any help, my experience of any business is like waves on the shore: they come sweeping but then retire back to the ocean before the next one comes sweeping in.
I joined WA a year ago because my primary business was in one of those times when the wave was receding back to the ocean. I'd lost 3 customers in a 6-month period through the middle and latter part of 2018, and absolutely no new business was coming in.
Fast forward to February this year and the next wave came crashing in. And, so far, this year has been great. So much so that I have not had time to fully focus on WA. I do know, though, that the wave will recede again before the next one comes in.
I don't know what niche you're focusing on, but one thing you said caught my eye:
"...My website today, is the result of compromises that I made..."
Without knowing anything about your business, or your website, I may be barking up the wrong tree but, in my experience, compromises in how you present yourself (or your website) to the world rarely work. Staking out a clear position will turn some people off, of course, but others will be turned on and be ready to do business with you.
For what it's worth, my suggestion would be to hang in there, but step back for a while and see if you need to refocus (or maybe change the focus) of your business.
Whatever you choose to do, best of luck!
Cheers,
Martin.
Martin
Thank you for your response...
I love your ocean wave analogy...hopefully my case is just that and not a hopeless attempt at something that is not workable.
As far as my compromises go, perhaps its time to go back to basics and begin reviewing my options on a new website...
Dennis
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Thank you everyone for your responses.
I just read a completely unrelated blog article from another member here at WA. One line caught my eye. It said: "If you cant make it here at WA, chances are you can't make it anywhere." Its almost as if I am being "guided" away from here...
Therefore...I think the best thing to do is to start another website, targeting a completely different niche. Go through the training again from start and see if I missed anything...
That sounds like a plan...
Again, thank you everyone for all your follows and comments!