Yearning for Inspiration? Quotes to Inspire the Disillusioned Affiliate Marketer

Are you experiencing trying times? Is your motivation, determination, and hope waning?

The Internet and affiliate marketing path can be very challenging, and there may be flickering moments (or those lasting for a longer duration) where you’re just ready to give up.

Remain calm, take a deep breath, and remind yourself of all your prior successes (perhaps in this field or certainly in others). Allow yourself to be aware of all the blessings you have in your life, entrenched in the belief that more will follow.

Understand that the outcome of your campaigns is not life or death … although it may feel as if it is. Even if you’re under a tremendous financial burden at the present time (and I know the feeling!), reassure yourself that you’ll manage and that your needs will be met.

Remain steadfast in your conviction that there is abundance in the universe and that you deserve to share in it. You have a right to financial prosperity and it will flow towards you in time.

Regardless of what transpires, be dogmatic in your approach: Continue to take MASSIVE ACTION and have a positive mindset while you do. With each setback, you’re getting closer to figuring out this rather complex marketing puzzle.

Continue your education, learn from trial and error, and embrace the genius within you.

Show compassion to yourself when failure arises, and love and generosity to all, especially those who may be struggling even more than you.

When success materializes, be thankful. Learn from the work you’ve performed (as you learn from your failures, too), and try to ‘rinse and repeat’ for even greater success.

Sure, there may be many who have already made it. But they, too, had to experience their own journeys which inevitably included trials and tribulations.

My grandfather used to tell me, “There is no one to envy.” I believe that entirely, and I’ll even assert that if you just try to manifest your ‘best self,’ you’ll never want to be anyone else but you.

I’m starting this section of the site because we all have to be reminded of the TRUTHS about ourselves, others, and life itself.

I will post a quote and a little synopsis of what it means to me as often as possible.

I hope these quotes can serve to uplift all and provide enriching food for thought.

Please take the time to read them and really reflect upon the message, and share the message, if you’re so inclined. Affiliate marketers … prepare to get your daily dose of inspiration!

I once asked a question to an affiliate marketer and he wrote back: “I’m not answering your question.  No one helped me so why should I help you.”  I almost felt sorry for him in spite of his apparent success as it appeared that he was emotionally damaged to such an extent that he could not offer a hand of support to anyone else.

But one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is: “I did it all myself.”  We forget about writers who have inspired us, journalists who have provided us with important data, family and friends who reminded us about our strengths, and mentors who either directly or indirectly guided our path.

Asking questions reflects passion, curiosity, our thirst for truth, and yes, strength.  We’re looking to expand awareness, understanding, and knowledge, and that shows strength of character.  We want to better ourselves which is the first step towards improving our world.

You should not be shy and reticent.  Ask for help, when necessary, and someone mature and compassionate enough will answer.

I know it’s tiring and tedious, and it may never seem like the right time to floss.  But you have to do it!

I know it’s tiring and tedious, and it may never seem like the right time to build a list.  But you have to do it!

There may be a million and one excuses you can think of to refrain from list building.  I should know as I have delayed this task for years.  My apprehension primarily revolved around my fear of encroaching on subscribers’ time and getting a negative response from some.

This year, I came to the realization that I have to work on my obsession of pleasing everyone, especially since my refusal to list build displeases me!  I know that I’m leaving so much money on the table by not collecting visitors’ contact information.  All I’m doing is expanding the subscriber list of product creators.

Without a subscriber’s list, affiliate commission is much more unpredictable and capped.  The stream of revenue generated by my online ventures will be so much bigger through my ability to market to folks over and over again.  This same principle applies to you.

You need not place so much pressure on yourself by thinking of a spectacular, new idea!  You can succeed in marketing by emulating a successful marketer, reverse engineering his/her strategies.

However, it’s so important to put your own indelible stamp on the process.  See the strengths of a given marketer’s methods, but adapt and modify what needs to change, in your estimation.  You must also fills in the gaps and add ingredients that will improve upon the modus operandi.

You can take away, expand, shift, and realign pieces until you’re satisfied with the end result.  By altering to your specifications, you make your creation unique to you.

An example of this tweaking and refitting is writing a well-researched, thoughtful article.  You may have learned about a topic by reading others’ articles, but you have assimilated that information, and expressed it in a novel way.

When a campaign fails or I’m not able to secure assistance for a project, my friend always reminds me that “It’s a numbers game.”  It’s code to ramp up my efforts, make more concerted attempts to monetize offers and/or draw attention from as many people as possible.

I agree with his advice but only to some extent.  It’s easy to fold the cards after initial failure, and determine that a given venture is fraught with problems, making success a virtual impossibility. But quitting may be ill-advised as the power of numbers (i.e., intensifying actions) may help swing the pendulum in a more favorable direction.

However, increasing effort towards a task may not necessarily lead to an end result you want.  It’s so important to dissect what you’re doing, and tweak and modify strategies.

So expand your numbers (in terms of attempts and/or contacts), but make sure what you’re doing is sound and effective.

I would spend practically every weekend with my grandparents when I was younger.  I lost count of how many times my grandfather uttered the above quote each time I told him that I was unhappy with someone else’s actions.

He reinforced the idea that many people just do not realize the (the negative or positive) impact they make on the world.  He wanted me to understand that those people who slighted me were detached from their own feelings and thoughts, and did not know any better.

In his declaration, my grandfather was not speaking about how much someone actually knows – i.e., his/her base of knowledge.  He was referring to a person’s level of wisdom and kindness.

As such, I always aspired to be a person who knows, and I hope that you have that same aspiration for yourself.

Once again, I take a quote from One Tree Hill, but it’s well worth it.  Although the show’s primary demographic was comprised of kids in high school and college, there was a lot of wisdom shared on it.

I understand desperation, wanting success so much that you’re willing to bypass your conscience when you need to.  You may choose to provide faulty sales statistics, take advantage of your customers, scam product creators, and engage in other less than admirable activities.  You may gain in the financial department, but you’ll lose something much more important: your feelings of self-worth and self-esteem.

Success may come at a price but it’s too steep if you’re selling your soul.  I’m not a proponent of “All things are fair in love and war … and business.”  I believe that win-win solutions can always be found, and fair-mindedness,  honesty, and playing by the rules can still get you to your desired destination.

What is your integrity worth?

It doesn’t matter where you hear or learn about thought-provoking ideas.  Regardless of the venue, you just have to be receptive and open to them.

When I heard that quote, I immediately thought about how I’m basing my degree of happiness on the level of affiliate marketing success I attain.  If I’m having a tough stretch of time in business, I feel sad and frustrated.  If sales register, I feel relieved and content.

But until I REALLY make it, where I can provide steady and reliable income to my family, my happiness quotient seems to be compromised.

This is an inexcusable mindset for me … and for you if you possess a similar mindset.

Happiness depends on your thoughts which influence your emotions, and can be independent of external events.  (There’s no denying that there are tough circumstances to face that would jeopardize anyone’s happiness quotient.)

But don’t wait to accomplish a goal or get to a certain place until you’re happy.  Live in the now and choose to feel a mood that is uplifting and happy.

While I always urge others to just be their ‘best selves,’ without comparing themselves to others, I found this quote motivating.

If you feel you have all the answers, you’re not seeing yourself or the complex affiliate marketing realm with any clarity.  There’s always more to learn.  And if you need a belly in your fire to acquire this knowledge, understand that there are folks who possess even more expertise than you do.

And if you know that you don’t have all the answers, and somehow striving to be your best sounds more like a cliche than a means to propel you to raise the bar, reignite your passion for learning by knowing there are those who have already mastered the same lessons you need to learn.

It’s survival of the fittest out there, and you need to climb to the top of the pecking order.

Yes, we like to buy.  But as the expression underscores, “No one likes to be sold to.”  We often resist ‘hard sells’ and look for other places we can purchase the same or similar item without pressure.

But clever marketers use many devises, based on behavioral principles, to obscure any perception of a hard sell.  Just think about those brilliant copywriters that underscore a problem or frustration, mention a solution within reach that is available for only a certain of time, and one that can give you a problem-free life.

These copywriters use emotional trigger points and buzz words to get you into a receptive buying mode – without you even realizing it.

This is marketing at its finest, and while some may that it’s a little deceptive and devious, it works!

Too many marketers resist sharing, especially letting others know about their ‘golden nuggets.’  They rationalize that no one helped them (which many times is really not the case), so they figure others should figure it out on their own, too.

Others marketers believe that any strategy they outline should only be available after someone has paid for it.  Yes, experts can command top dollar but it’s my assertion that by sharing along the way, their financial coffers would expand even more.

Think of what can happen if/when you share invaluable information for free?  Trust develops, gratitude ensues, compliments are issued, and your reputation gets enhanced.  The Law of Reciprocity becomes applicable and others want to help you in some small way, such as becoming a frequent visitor to your blog, a subscriber, and/or a paid customer.

Good karma also means something, doesn’t it?

When I told a friend that I was pursuing affiliate marketing, she asked, “Is there any money in that?”  Well, as you can see, there is an almost unending stream of it, and the key is to encourage it to flow your way.

Of course, advertisers  and product creators benefit greatly from the industry as affiliate marketers draw visitor interest with their available cash.  And as sales are made from referrals, commission starts to  add up for the affiliate.

While overnight success is a rarity, you can become ‘someone’ over time as you make a name for yourself.  You begin to brand yourself, build a list, establish meaningful connections, and you’ll start getting name and even face recognition.

Rise above the crowd to collect your millions.

As you can see, I’m a big proponent on mindset and mental attitude.  Here is another take on the importance of enthusiasm.

Failure may mean (temporary) defeat but it does not have to lead to a defeatist attitude.  All successful people who are honest will admit their bountiful mistakes and failures.  However, their success proves that they did not allow any blunders to obliterate their dreams.  No doubt, they cultivated the drive and enthusiasm to continue the fight.

Let your enthusiasm sweeten your victories and sustain you in your losses.

I don’t mean to sound like a cheerleader, but positive results are so much more likely to ensue when you possess passion and enthusiasm.  You’ll keep your nose to the grindstone because of your interest and excitement addressing the task at hand.

Enthusiasm encourages action where lack of enthusiasm encourages inaction.  And if you’re looking to achieve success, action is a prerequisite … and even more easily sustained with enthusiasm.

Times may get touch and your level of zeal may decrease.  But it’s during those times where you need to re-energize and re-dedicate yourself to entrepreneurial pursuits.

You cannot afford to be overly consumed by what others think.  People will judge you and interpret your actions with their own biased lenses.

By focusing on their judgments, you may be inclined to change your course of action away from what you deem appropriate.  Now this may work  in your favor if you receive constructive criticism, and such viewpoints help you to defeat a problem or become a stronger person.

But too often, what others think may influence your decisions in a negative way, and ultimately, as an entrepreneur you want/need to follow your own path.

You may not gain approval, but you’ll gain autonomy and the self-confidence to know that you can stand on your own two feet, and not waste time being outer-directed.

Here is another reminder that your dreams are within your reach.  It may feel improbable, or even impossible, to make headway right now but that does not mean success will remain elusive forever.

Notice that you may think it is impossible for you to succeed, yet you believe that others are capable of attaining this success.  Believe in your capabilities and have faith that your hard work will result in a favorable outcome.

Try to recall times when you have accomplished something you thought would remain beyond your grasp.  Let this serve as a confidence booster that your marketing endeavors will work out in the end.

Although I like to think of myself as a good athlete, I never thought that I would learn to juggle.  But after a month or two, I was quite adept at it.  (I’m still working on juggling 4 balls.)

Now I have to have faith that I can juggle a hectic schedule and still become a great marketer.

Similarly, see your success as an inevitability – much more than a mere possibility.

When I embarked on my affiliate marketing venture, I wanted to remain anonymous.  Apprehensive about appearing front and center, I was content to remain in the background, earning commission with little, if any, interaction.

I finally realized that to increase the chances of doing well in the field, I had to build a brand and construct meaningful relationships.  People are more apt to purchase when they like and trust a person who is offering products, as opposed to some amorphous entity.

Try to build a customer-oriented/subscriber-first business rather than an impersonal, detached one.

Yesterday quote centered on the ‘no excuses’ theme, making progress despite challenges.  Now, you can strive to be great by tackling and overcoming these challenges,  and by then manifesting ultimate commitment and sacrifice.

Your goal should not be just to eek out a living in the marketing field; it should be to dominate it.  You want to rise above the crowd and rise as high as possible in your chosen path.

This may require incessant study, taking massive action, and/or putting in countless hours figuring out why certain strategies are working and why others are not.

You always strive to attain your personal best, and realizing potential comes about with sacrifice.  Just ask the Olympic ice skater who gets up at 3 AM in the morning to practice, the A student who studies at least 40 hours a week, or that top notch marketer who works around the clock to figure it all out.

A common sentiment to the above quote is you can make money or excuses but not both.  There are so many distractions that get in the way – real and imagined.  Our lives are so busy, there are always personal and professional challenges to wade through and overcome, and there never seems to be enough time.

We may get immobilized because of ____________ (fill in the blank) and you may be able to cite numerous reasons why your business is getting so off track.

Yes, tend to other areas of your life that warrant your attention but don’t allow them to consume you and prevent you from pursuing your dream.

It may be fine to lament and engage in some self-pity along the way, but remain steadfast in your determination to make progress despite obstacles.  Refuse to allow these obstacles to serve as excuses, keeping you in an unfavorable status quo position.

This insightful quote tackles two issues: multitasking and risk-taking.

Your workload will be heavy at times, and you may find yourself, overloaded with responsibilities.  Still, you may have to add on yet another task despite juggling a myriad of them at the same time.  As a result, you may have no idea how you ‘re going to address yet another issue, or perhaps you don’t know how to solve a specific problem.

Take a deep breath and realize you’ll eventually figure it all out … and be better for it.

You may also be an outside-the-box thinker, ready to take a risk.  Although it may feel like the equivalent of breathing under water, you’ll rise to the surface as you’re virtually forced to find a way out of harm’s way.

We intellectually and emotionally grow as marketers when we extend ourselves, realizing that our capacity to accomplish tasks is greater than we thought.

What is your approach to the marketing field?  Do you merely show a passive interest in it, or are you committed to learning as many facets about it as possible.

Are you only interested in earning a living as a marketer?  Alternatively,  are you dedicated to your chosen path, and are you willing to do everything possible to ensure you’re a success?

You can’t engage in this type of enterprise, and expect to see results if you lack passion and a burning desire to unravel marketing’s mysteries.  Moreover, you can’t afford to get distracted by daily life challenges and let obstacles upend your effort.  Consistent commitment is required, damn whatever torpedoes you face.

Never lose sight of what your customer really wants and needs.  Long-term stability is much more likely to occur when you completely meet (better, surpass) your customers’ expectations.

This is why great companies and entrepreneurs ask customers for feedback.  Customer insight may prove instrumental in helping you develop an effective business plan.

By catering to customers, you’re fortifying your brand and their loyalty to your brand.

This is such a difficult concept for me to grasp.  I want to expand my customer base exponentially and PLEASE everyone but attaining this kind of perfection can never occur.

Folks have their own mindset, set of biases, past emotionally-laden experiences, predilections, and fixed viewpoints so how can anyone appeal to everyone?

But here’s the truth, you really wouldn’t want to, anyway?  It’s much better not to have certain customers, such as those who nitpick at any information you provide or those who look to take advantage of you, such as serial returners.

Both you and your customers have to see a dynamic that presents a win-win outcome where there is mutual respect and trust.  You’ll find your tribe but there will be people who will not and should not be part of it.

When you write with the idea of making sales, remember to always tell a story.  It can’t be just any run-of-the-mill story but one that attracts and keeps interest.

This is what the great copywriters tell us.  It’s crucial to use verbiage and ‘power words’ that lend themselves to creating images.  Weaving an anecdote that readers can relate to should foster greater conversions.

Similarly, when creating videos, always keep the viewer in mind, communicating those messages that are important to him/her, in a way that enlightens and entertains.

The clearer the message (one that resonates with visitors), the better the sales count.

I’ve been brainwashed to believe that online, ‘content is king.’  I thought that if I could just write intriguing, compelling verbiage, the search engines would reward my brilliance and hundreds, if not thousands, would flock to my masterpiece.

Let me testify that this is hardly the case.  I have a host of well-written and thoughtful posts that have not attracted any type of Google favor nor have summoned visitors telepathically.

Yes, it is imperative to give the search engines what they want (a ‘sticky’ piece that is read in its entirety, natural links to underscore your work’s importance, etc.), but it’s so important to market your content as well.  This may mean reaching out to other webmasters about it, announcing your content on social networks, creating videos highlighting it, and so forth.

Toot your horn and don’t be shy about assuming center stage so your content can get noticed.

People often idealize and glamorize working at home, and for oneself.  Many autonomous affiliate marketers are under the impression that self-employment will be an easy, convenient avenue to replace and surpass the income from a ‘typical job.’

But while it should not be too difficult to make sales here and there, after perhaps a lengthy trial and error experience, it’s much more challenging to sustain income at a desirable level.

Indeed, it takes a lot of hard work, and constant tinkering before you find what works.  While many leave the responsibilities entailed in a standard job at the office, affiliate marketers often ruminate about work-related issues long after 5 PM, and on weekends and Holidays, too.

Treat your marketing as your business where you’re the owner with everything at stake, rather than as an employee who can take or leave a job.

All successful entrepreneurs, especially copywriters, will tell you about the importance of using emotional triggers and behavioral psychological tricks to get people to buy.  Indeed, persuasion is a very effective tactic in increasing your bottom line.

But perhaps even more crucial than employing the art/science of persuasion, is to simply provide compelling clarity to an offer.  Once you simply tell folks about a given product and easily demonstrate how a product benefits them, you’ve already make inroads in facilitating a sale.

A straightforward, easy-to-understand  overview educates and enlightens, and breaks down sales resistance.

I know there are multiple ways of making money online but there may be no better way to ensure consistent monetization than through creating and developing your own blog.  With this type of real estate, you can find and refine your voice, brand yourself, and make a lasting impression.

You can also demonstrate your expertise in a given topic and serve others.  When you provide clarity on a subject, add value to discussion, or reveal important facets on a product or niche, your readers will feel indebted to you, and they’ll be more inclined to reward you with a sale.

In one guest post, I asked manifestation experts why folks have such difficulty manifesting their dreams.  One expert wrote back …”People people give up too easily, sometimes just before their dreams manifest.”

When you encounter a challenge, or worse, failure, you may think that you’re so far away from where you want/need to be.  Realize that you may be much closer to your desired destination than you think.

Haven’t you ever felt lost, and then all of a sudden, you find yourself in familiar surroundings?  This can happen as you travel along your affiliate marketing path, too.  Utter confusion and directionless puttering may transform into confident, purposeful strides.

Failure is not in the opposite direction of success; it may just be parallel to it.

This quote is dedicated to product creators – current and future.  I have read many marketers assert that there is no reason you can’t release a product within 2 weeks.

And while it is very possible to launch a product in that time frame, it’s much more difficult to introduce a QUALITY product to the marketplace in that short time span.

I’m working on a free e-book now (perhaps I’ll charge a $1 for it, I’m not certain) that has taken me months to write and finalize.  I know that I have to rid myself of this perfectionistic bent, but if I had released that e-book as soon as possible, the end result would have been very amateurish.

Offering value can be a time-consuming endeavor, yet well worth it.  Too many product creators should even be embarrassed by the last version of their product!

Too many affiliate marketers have a short-term perspective.  They want to make money NOW and many are willing to do so without a semblance of conscience.

However, if you really hope to draw upon consistent, sustainable income for years to come, you have to have a long-term perspective.  And that means doing everything possible to please your customers.

For example, if you create a product, ensure that you OVER-deliver, offering a lot more valuable information than the price tag would indicate.  Follow up inquiries in a timely manner which only solidifies your brand as professional, competent, and trustworthy.

A bevy of satisfied customers will help you expand your business, and make certain of its profitability, than any other way.

I’m a proponent of manifestation, imagining that a desirable outcome takes place, and seeing it happen in my mind’s eye.  But wishing for an end result – even conceiving it so clearly transpiring – is rather an inane exercise if that is all you’re doing.

Each day, set a reasonable goal in mind and do everything possible to make it happen.  You may have limited time on a given day, so set the ‘goal post’ a little lower that day.

Yesterday, I had to watch my youngest child so I could not focus on my work.  But I vowed that I was going to learn how to implement the E-junkie shopping cart.  I had a few moments and familiarized myself with their system.

So keep on wishing, but start doing things to make your wishes come true!

Many marketers (including me) are only ready to take action when we’re convinced that we fully know what we’re doing.  But sometimes, we can only become really knowledgeable on a given topic when we take action and make mistakes.

Blunders and mishaps are part of the education, and perhaps an indispensable part.  The next time you try to accomplish a given task, you’ll know not to go down the same path, and figure out one that makes more sense.

Yes, it may be a lot less frustrating to get it right the first time.  But you may retain a particular lesson a lot longer if you don’t.

I admit it.  I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about others’ success, and wishing and wondering why I haven’t attained that same level of achievement.  At times, I would lament that I deserve to realize victory, rationalizing, after all, that I was a ‘good person.’  Surely, I contribute to humanity even more than those successful marketers.

But this is simply faulty thinking, a waste of  energy, and a useless time expenditure of counterproductive outer-directedness.

It all comes back to you and your focus.  When you’re thinking about how unfair it is that other folks have made it, and you’re stuck in the proverbial mud, you’re not fully concentrating on the task at hand.  The only time you should dwell on someone else’s career is if you’re trying to reverse engineer it, figuring out similar methods to apply.

And once you attain success, you’ll become even more clear-headed and introspective, and you will be less prone to comparing yourself with others.

We’ve all heard the expression, ‘Work smart, not hard.”  But in the affiliate marketing realm, it really is crucial to work diligently (and smart!).

It may seem as though that the hard work is not yet paying off.  But you’re learning as you go (even if it’s discovering what not to do), and your range of skills and experience are expanding.

My reminder for today: Take MASSIVE action.  It’s not just a matter of throwing things against the wall to see what sticks.  It’s all about making a conscientious effort to implement systems to help you transcend the wall.

I’ve spoken to many affiliate marketers who tell me they’re not as productive as they want to be.  “I’m not focused,” one exasperated marketer told me.

But the issue does not only center on lack of attention to detail or feeling distracted.  It’s core may revolve around enveloping fear and it’s affect on the mind.  When you’re worried, you’re concentrating on a toxic emotion, and all your energies are often placed on worse case scenarios and the resultant feelings of devastation.  You may be trying to think of options, but how creative can you be when you’re overwhelmed with negative ‘What ifs?’

When you’re met with a problem or crisis, you have to be solution-focused.  In order to plan effective responses, fear must go by the wayside, replaced with the positive energy that comes with calm, confident, and purposeful action.

It may seem like the answers to this affiliate marketing puzzle are so elusive right now, but BELIEVE that you’re getting closer to unraveling its mysteries and figuring it all out.  You are gifted more than you know, and you’re blessed with the attributes to do well.

It’s just a matter of finding the right strategies for yourself where your talents can be best utilized.  It’s a process … but you have to have faith that the process (and your cumulative learning) will lead exactly where you want it to lead you.

And if by chance you’re unable to reach that destination (assuming you’ve done everything possible on your end and that you’ve not given up too early), there is often an open window beyond that closed door.

Here’s another Einstein quote.  He may have been an affiliate marketing guru if the field existed at the time. 🙂

Many affiliate marketers erroneously believe they have conquered a certain marketing component.  But upon reflection, they may not be clear in the details, or they’re unable to see connections between related sources of information.

If you ever want to test whether you know a topic, create a video and see if you can explain it simply and clearly to others.  If you ramble on, miss key points, bring up irrelevant facts, and jump from one point to another, it’s best to review the topic.  You may not know it as well as you think you do.

And even if you have expertise in a given subject, you reinforce what you’ve retained when you go over it again.

While this is not my favorite quote in this section of the website, it has relevancy and I thought that I would share it.

No doubt, there will be folks who try to extinguish your dreams, telling you that your goals are impossible to achieve.

Instead of wasting anger on them, forgive these naysayers, and let their comments unleash a new torrent of motivation.  If proving someone wrong is important to you, let it have applicability here, and figure out a way to do so.

Many successful marketers report that the satisfaction derived in surpassing others’ expectations is almost as comforting as the money earned.

This quote has particular significance in the IM and affiliate marketing industry.  When you serve others and offer VALUE, the Law of Reciprocity will manifest.

People want to help those who have helped them.  Instead of the singular focus on success, learn a skill or develop expertise on a topic so that you can support others’ efforts.

This is not just altruistic; the aid you provide others will boomerang and create real, lasting success for you.

Disappointments and failure can take the wind out of anyone’s sails/sales.  It can serve as an immobilizing agent where you just can’t press on, figuring ‘What’s the use?”

But is it possible to look at failure as a way to learn what does not work?  Use it to guide yourself towards a better direction, but don’t let it have any affect on your psyche.

Your determination must be steadfast and your morale must remain high come what may.  Maintaining enthusiasm, regardless of results, will ensure optimal action and better results.

I know all about others’ expectations and pleasing family and friends … and even strangers. But in this life, we must ultimately please ourselves and pursue the dreams that we create for ourselves.

If we live by others’ dictates, our creativity gets stifled, and we may become bitter and miserable because we’re really disconnecting from ourselves.

Take the reins of your own life and steer in the direction that brings you the greatest degree of happiness

One advantage in pursuing an affiliate marketing career is that you’re your own boss. On the other hand, the inherent challenge in that autonomy is that you have to decide the tasks that need to be completed.

You’re setting your own direction without anyone telling you what you have to do. Freedom demands responsibility, and you have to take purposeful, deliberate action each day.

Your potential earnings are limitless because know one is setting any cap to your income, and demanding your time in the way they deem best.

You’re now committed to pursuing affiliate marketing.  You may have already taken action but have not yet yielded the results you had hoped for.

Doubts begin to surface, and you may even feel hurt and disillusioned when loved ones begin to criticize your plan or question your dream.

Realize that they may only be echoing the thoughts of your negative subconscious.  Push aside outside interference, and continue to strive towards achieving your goals.

You must BELIEVE in what you’re doing, and that starts by first believing in yourself.

Others may or may not then believe in your plan … but then it almost becomes irrelevant.

Before success materializes, there are going to be plenty of defeats.  And even when you’ve reached the pinnacle of success, setbacks are bound to happen.

But what do you do when it rains, especially if it pours.  You must have contingency plans in place – and go to that next best option.  Understand that you may have to improvise but that is a lot better than standing in the rain, exclaiming ‘Woe is me.’

Persevere, battle the storms, and the sun will come out again.

While perfection is not attainable, the quest for perfection can still be a pursuit … as long as you don’t lambaste yourself along the way because of imperfections.

Good companies become great because they’re always looking at their products and services from a user’s perspective.  The need to improve is insatiable, and the fervent to desire to provide value and quality never wanes.

You have to look at your own stock, and take stock in the fact that you’re making it the best it can be – a work in progress.

Keep those creative juices flowing.  Unleash that relentless imagination and strategic brilliance, and figure out ideas which can move your business onward and upward.

But don’t think of those clever ideas and keep them in dormant status.  Implement them, refine them, and tailor them to fit your needs.  You’ll mold and shape these ideas until the marketplace is ready to accept them without reservation.

i value the sanctity of intellectual property. I wish everyone felt the same way.

My work has been copied without permission, a disconcerting discovery, particularly when Google allows the plagiarist’s pilfered material to get top ranking,

But the silver lining is that others recognize that I’m providing compelling content, worthy of stealing. This does not mean that I have no recourse to rectify the problem but at least it reminds me that my work has value.

Copyright violations are rampant online (and offline) – a cost of doing business. But if/when this happens to you, en route to bringing the plagiarist to justice, remember the ‘Best form of flattery is limitation.’

Cause and effect are inextricably connected. There may also be a correlation between short term gain and long term loss.

By circumventing responsibilities, it may appear that your day just got easier with less taxing issues to resolve and tasks to perform. But ultimately, by not tackling your ‘to do’ list, your setting yourself up for overwhelming days in the future with underwhelming results.

Face the challenges that surface now, take action with deliberate focus, and then take satisfaction in knowing that you’re doing your best. Once you do, you can then take that well-deserved respite or vacation.

The cave that Joseph Campbell refers to is home to our fear.  We may be afraid to form relationships.  We may be scared to embark on new experiences.  We may be hesitant to attempt a task that we feel we will fail.

But getting past the fear, going beyond our comfort zone, is where we will attain our highest degree of contentment and most likely find emotional and financial freedom.

Take a leap of faith, remind yourself that you’re SAFE, and press forward even though the cave’s darkness seems enveloping.

A light will turn on, your inner brilliance will shine through, and you’ll see that the cave is not as imposing as you thought.  Look around and you may very well find that seemingly elusive treasure.