How Long Will It Take Me To Be Successful?
It always amazes me when people ask me that question or the variations listed below:
- How long did it take you to be successful?
- When did you earn your first sale?
- How many hours do you spend and how much do you make?
- If I put in x hours per day, how much can I make or when can I expect to be successful?
Depending on where you are in your business, you've either asked these same questions or have heard variations of them.
Time for some tough love.
Here's the thing, none of these questions really matter or apply to your situation! Yeah I said it! But hear me out before you start rolling your eyes and getting offended.
Often times these questions are really just symptoms of one or more of the following:
- Insecurities
- Inaction
- Impatience
- Doubt
- Desperation
What does it really matter how long it took myself or any other successful online business owner to succeed? None of us are clones of each other. There are always variations on how we process what we learn and more importantly how we apply it. So even if I told you it took me a week to become successful, it doesn't mean you will. Oh, but I want to have an idea or range to strive for?
Let's Reminisce...
Prior to Wealthy Affiliate most of us were destined and accepted that we would work for "THE MAN" for damn near the rest of our lives or until we can retire. If we were lucky, we would have a nice little nest egg. Then if we were still healthy enough or had the finances, we would spend the remainder of our lives trying to do things we really wanted to do while we were busting our ass for the man.
So that was probably 20-30 years of your life that you would have readily given up for someone else that really doesn't care about your success. But now, you have the opportunity to dictate how much money you deserve to make and what you could do with your time. And yet you have the audacity to be worried about how long it's going to take you succeed?
Does that really make sense? Isn't that disrespectful to yourself, your dreams or family? It shouldn't matter how long it will take you to succeed if you're really about that life of freedom & prosperity!
Exceptions To The Rule.
So I don't sound like a total tool, I want recognize that some people are asking the questions listed in this post because they need income right away because of dire financial situations. This article isn't directed at those folks. My advice for people in that situation is to focus on quicker temporary solutions like getting a work at home job until you can get your business to where it can totally support you. For everyone else that falls into what I described previously, I have the solution for you below.
The Answer!
Your business is exactly like the quote above. It's about getting to the finish line. When you get there doesn't make a difference. You just need to reach whatever that finish line is for you, your family or whatever is motivating you.
So do yourself and your dreams a favor, don't limit them to time frames. Stop comparing yourself to others or imaginary time frames.
Instead, get out there and bust your ass for yourself as you would have done for "The Man" for the next 20-30 years. Scratch that! Work harder and longer because now you're working for the company called "Me, Myself & I!"
What do you guys think? Am I off base here? Chime in below. I would love to hear your feedback. I'll be the first to admit I've been guilty of some of the actions listed above so I'm speaking from experience.
Please free to share this article here on WA or outside of WA to anyone that may find it useful.
Thanks for reading my little rant.
Eddy
P.S. My bad if I've offended anyone but sometimes we all need real talk. LOL =)
Recent Comments
1.7K
Thank you Eddy, these are very wise and realistic words, that most people should grasp and apply to their minds before thinking of the rewards. I always say "set the bar low, but shoot for gold with all the energy you can spare"...work never killed anyone, but stress about things you cant control, like being subject to "The Man" most certainly will !!
This was great for me to read as a new member and complete newbie because it means I won't lose hope and be disillusioned by unrealistic expectations!
Thanks for this, it was a great reality check and I am happy to accept that it takes as long as it takes :)
You're welcome Jade. I just want people to understand the commitment this takes so they aren't misguided.
You're not off base at all. You're on point. Couldn't say it better. Im tired of working for "The Man". I need to live my life to the best of my ability. I I refuse to go back to what it was like before. It's hard work starting your own thing but I am ready to take on. Nothing is more rewarding. The time has come... for Me, Myself, and I. I am a little worried, but determined. I know I'm on the right path. Step by step.
Hi Eddy ... I've been a follower of you on facebook for weeks and something I like from your comments is that sense of humor and trueness you always display.. and this article is not the exeption haha.. totally agree with you man.. now as I am just a newbie I realize that there is a huge amount of work between me and success but now I trully feel I am on the right path to get there.
Looking into working on the internet, I did, unfortunately sign up with a SCAM home wealth site. After talking to several people and wasting allot of time with them(very informative videos) the last conversation I had with there people,ended with the very first guy I spoke with. Bottom line was they wanted $10,000 to $15,000 to actually get the hands on assistants they advertised. $178 shorter, but, did learn allot from that experience and found WA!!! Don't expect instant results, starting today,plan to work very hard at it and make it happen.
I think you nailed it...
I have worked the MAN for 30 years, worked hard, and almost got fired a couple of times because my performance may not have been up to company standards in quality or production.
I am learning a lot about this new way of operating a business. I am learning a lot of information and receiving good training. I am excited about getting my business up and running.
I am the kind of person that I practice what I learn. So just like my current employer has me learning and working, I will do the same here. I am not looking to get rich quick...I am looking to work towards financial success.
Eddy - you really laid it out there and I am in complete agreement with your philosophy on take a long term approach. For one this I want this to grow for years! But I also am very goal oriented - I like to take big goals - like a target monthly income after 6 months of working this program and then break those larger goals down into to smaller more manageable steps so progress can be measure bit my bit. Interested in your thoughts on this methodology. Thank you for you terrific blog.
Glad you liked it Amyas. You can have goals. But some people just give up too soon. If you miss your initial goals but still push forward until you reach them then that's fine. It all depends on the individual.
I agree completely Eddy - its great to meet people like you who are of like minds. In my experience nothing worthwhile comes easy and successful people have 'Grit'. They know that they are going to get knocked down on occasion, miss an important goal but they are Realistic Optimists.
Qoutes on grit - please bear with me....
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."
"It's not important that you fall - it is important that your rise."
"I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end."
Have a great night Eddy - I look forward to getting to know you better.
~LeCarre
Great quote Amyas.
Be sure to read my other blogs. I think you'll enjoy them:
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/eddysalomon/blog
Wow that really spoke to me. I have so far worked at 3 minimum wage jobs since I was 16 and I am only 18 now. I worked for 3 different companies, all with promises to promote and yet all they are is empty promises. I quit my last job to focus on school and finding an actual career that can benefit me in the future. Call it fate or God or whatever it is you believe in I do not think it was an accident that I ended up here! I trust that if I truly do put in the effort say over 8 hours a day like I was doing for those bs companies (who never cared about me to begin with), then I am investing in myself, my career, and most importantly my happiness! I don't care if I make millions, I'll be fine if I'm making enough just to support myself. But the fact that I will be able to do that, and I'm not just going to be stuck doing something I hate for hardly enough pay, well to me its worth the world. Thank you for this article! very eye opening I loved every point you made.
I'm glad this spoke to you. Trust me, in time this business can support you as it has for many of us. Just don't give up until it does.
Your story is exactly why we need stop being a slave to a jobs. This program is our way out. Go get'um. Johnny
Anything worthwhile will not likely happen overnight but over many nights, months and maybe a few years but just some results might happen after not to much time but this kind of thing takes time and will grow like a tree, it depends how much you water and feed it. It will take a fair amount to quite a bit of hard hours invested into a working moving business.
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Hi, Eddy.
Thank you for the real talk. On a personal perspective, I needed it. You made me realise how much I am willing to sacrifice my time in working for "The Man" more than dedicating it to building a business for my future. We don't complain spending a third of our days working for "The Man," yet it kills to dedicate few hours per day in building our businesses. Great talk you gave up there.
Shep.
You're welcome Shep. I'm glad you see the perspective I laid out because many people are guilty of this when they start this business.