Add All Ingredients Except Octopus!

by Stew Shaw

in Featured, Internet marketing

Post image for Add All Ingredients Except Octopus!

Intriguing headline? Well, I thought so on my commuter train a couple of days ago when I spotted it on a lecture pad being read by a student from an Asian country who had apparently enrolled in a Brisbane cooking school. Nice.

Here’s what’s nice: that line from an actual recipe is perfect advice for an internet marketer trying to make money online. To me the creepiest thing about an octopus is its flailing arms (sometimes mistakenly called tentacles), and, thanks to classics like Moby Dick, it doesn’t take much imagination to envisage the terror associated with a giant squid’s feeding tentacles either. Description of an IM guru, anyone?

Those of us still in the early stages of our online businesses have a lot of work to do in establishing our websites. Gaining the skills and knowledge required to become an internet marketer involves a steep learning curve and it has been my experience that it takes longer than first realized to make it all happen. During this startup phase, one of the challenges is first to assemble the tools and educational programs that are right for us, and another is to take appropriate and timely action.

Often overlooked by people selling internet marketing tools and coaching programs is that each of us is unique. We have different personality makeups, outlooks on life, attitudes, goals and so on. Therefore there never can be a one-size-fits-all program/product to single-handedly bring about our online success. What works for you may not work for me; there’s nothing new in this concept.

I want us all to stay sharp and do sufficient due diligence on whatever comes across our radar in the internet marketing space. And don’t a lot of things clamor for our attention! But just because 10 or more JV partners (whose lists we are on!) develop a feeding frenzy around a new product doesn’t mean we should jump in and buy. In fact it’s been my experience lately that oftentimes the real treasures may be found in some much quieter corner of cyberspace.

What ingredients have you added to your recipe for online success? What have you excluded?

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucias_clay/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

  • kelliefrazier
    Hi Stew,

    I can recall my mentor and friend, Alex Mandossian, saying, "I'll make you an over night success in three years." I laughed at first, but he knew from experience what it takes to rewire the brain and create the credibility you need to get that engine up hill. I wish more people would help others to understand it. Nothing worth keeping comes easy, or overnight, in my opinion.

    I put this page up after being consistently asked what I used to find success so now I just say take a look at... http://www.kelliefrazierusesit.com - it's much easier, and adds a little income benefit at the same time. Good post Stew.

    Kellie Frazier
    dot com
  • debbiestevens
    Hi Stew,

    I really appreciate what you had to say here. I have discovered that things really click and move along when I am working from my passion and strengths. Since everyone is unique in that a one-size-fits-all program obviously isn't such a great fit after all!
    I have come to respect your opinion in this arena and find your reviews a great place to start when looking for help. So keep bringing it!
  • Debbie - Thank you. I'm truly humbled by your opinion of my opinion! And from what I've read of your online stuff, you've got a pretty good take on life too.
  • Stew,
    We love how you made this very unusual combination of words to works so well for the idea you wanted to convey. Great writing/communication skills!
    Yes, you are right about the fact that not everything offered as tools for our online businesses are the best for each of us. We need to take our time to know what we need and time to investigate the tools offered. The limited time offers and sales deadlines are not conducive to making a good decision; though I must say we did jump on a limited time offer and did receive great benefit and value. We did though have a lot of experience with the internet marketer who taught the social media classes.
    Anyway, thanks for bringing to light an important issue that we all need to think about! I'll remember the octopus!
  • Thanks Dave & Dawn.
    I agree totally - what is it with limited time offers? Let me be so bold as to suggest they characterize a Cut and Run internet marketer AKA guru. Why don't they simply exit the industry and go work for a fashion house where nothing is meant to last, and next Fall's's stock must be sold TODAY, at the beginning of Spring!
    On my birthday last year, only a couple of months into my online venture, I put on record elsewhere 5 things I won't do when I become a guru. I'm going to add this ridiculous and contrived scarcity tactic as a 6th.
    I'm glad those social media classes you signed up to worked out well for you.
  • Hi Stew,

    I totally agree that internet marketing can be overwhelming, so much infomation and not knowing where to start. I too thought I would reach my goals much quicker than I anticipated.

    But to be honest, I am quite grateful that I have the rest of my life to learn all I need to learn. Over the last few weeks I have started only concentrating on 3 things a day, everything else can just wait.

    Yours in Success,
    Beth :-P
  • Wow Beth - you find time for 3 things/day! I'm lucky to get my teeth in to 1.
  • beverlymonical
    Patience is important and learning all you can.Pick one or two people to learn from after researching and getting recommendations. If you don't it can be overwhelming
    and expensive.Thanks for this post.
    Beverly
  • Good advice Beverly. Narrowing down the number of programs seems to be key. That allows you to watch the weekly webinar (or whatever) then go off and take the action steps.
  • Stew, you know me! This is great information. Early on I listened to everything, purchased quite a few things and was totally overwhelmed. I have slowed down, found someone who understands how I learn and I am slowly getting there. I think it is a good reminder for everyone that we don't have to get caught up in the latest frenzy. Thanks!
  • Thanks Cathy. Same for me. Ha, I've since found the perfect method to avoid being caught in the latest frenzy - a maxed credit card. Ouch.
  • brucebackman
    Stew…I have found in my own personal experience that our success ends up being a mixture of various ingredients. It is kind of like trying to become a chef. You can follow a recipe book and serve decent food (sometimes even very good food) but most people would never consider you a chef until something starts to happen from the inside out…that something typically being an understanding of who you are and a love for what you are doing and who you are serving. I believe that gives you the best opportunity to create a meal for someone. Every chef I have known (not that all chefs are like this) treats his/her food as a love offering to someone else. I have learned (not always following my own advice) that what I have to offer someone else is best served with this heart and attitude. I can't always please everyone…and I am not trying to…but I try to keep this in mind when I am serving up a dish for people. Learning about who I am and what I can serve up with love has been quite a journey. I am still learning but am grateful for the process…

    Thanks!
  • A very nice expansion of the "ingredients" theme Bruce, and a great insight into the mind of a chef. You've laser focused on a winning recipe for sharing knowledge/skills with others, and I want to use that model as I accumulate IM skills.
  • juliannabrower
    I agree. We all have an interesting special recipe that makes us up. There isnt a simple recipe top follow to learn internet marketing. What works for one may not another and vice versa!
  • There's many tentacles out there just waiting to grab us or better yet suck us into there method or million dollar product. Slow and steady, staying the course, digging deep and learning from the real key people are what I'm after. Thanks Stew.
  • Karen
    I love your imagery of an octopus! I can relate to this so well. It is amazing how we can get wrapped up in the arms of a huge force.

    The ability to step back and not get swept into the frenzy is key and often not easy in making the appropriate choices for ourselves. I agree, we are unique, so our approaches, learning styles and execution will vary -- the ingredients in my "recipe" for online success may not be the appropriate ingredients for someone else. Thank you for the insight!
  • Sorry Stew! I meant Stew...not "Steve" on my last Comment. :)
  • Great advice Steve! We do need to be patient as we learn the skills to market online and we also need to make sure as we're studying material, we take the time to implement what we're learning!

    Eddie
  • Stew! Oh! I can SO relate! I'm new to all of this and opportunities are all around! It's quite overwhelming. But I take "The Slight Edge" approach to it all. I try to learn one little slice of it per day...every day! It's with persistence that we'll succeed! Thanks for the great post!
  • Judy there's no substitute for persistence. Oh and I wish you wouldn't trigger me to go googling a phrase in quotes! Was worthwhile time spent though. Thanks.
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