My blog

A few weeks ago I was posting about being in the zone and how positive energy manifests good things. Well this week has not been good. You will have got a flavour from my posts about the “weasel”. Well things got worse by the end of the week.

This is imperative reading if you are thinking of working from home and it is something you need to get clear with your partner and family before you give up your day job!

GROUNDRULES

I need to take you back about 10 years to the first eruption!

Shortly after I first started working at home my wife, who commuted to London for her job, put some washing on the line outside before leaving for work. During the day, the heavens opened and down came the rain. Now being a focused individual I did not notice the rain, or at least it did not register that I was “expected” to bring in the washing. Upon return from work I was told in no uncertain terms how inconsiderate I’d been and it would only have taken 5 minutes etc etc.

Now had I still been working out of the house the washing would have got wet anyway and my stance was and still is – I am at work and anything to do with the household is not my concern (short of a fire perhaps!) I NEVER answer the home telephone during the working day – it is imperative to be totally disciplined or you end up with very blurred edges and you find yourself doing things that are not effective towards your goals.

So the family groundrules were put in place and there have been no issues until this Friday.

BROKEN GROUNDRULES

My youngest son was sick. My wife has a part time job that is important to her and on Friday she was the only one who would be in the office and she had to be there. I would “have” to look after the little boy – “I’ve checked your diary and you don’t have any appointments so it will be OK”.

Excuse me, but no meetings doesn’t equate to no important work!

I very reluctantly agreed in the full knowledge that the demands of an unwell 5 year old would stop me from achieving any of the tasks I had for the day.

I SAVE THE DAY!

At the risk of becoming something of a groupy I need to refer you to another post by Christine the Self Made Chick. Last week Christine took 7 hours to fully create a website she had been thinking about for some time.

Remembering her words I decided I would use what time I could during Friday to do something I’ve needed to do for the last 6 months but just haven’t got round to. Christine had effectively laid down a challenge, or rather I had to myself because of her action, and I decided I would create the website for my golf apartment.

I’d actually already decided I would use a Word Press blog rather than a website since my html is not good and I just find blogs so simple to construct. I really like the clean look of SelfMadeChick (that’s the site – I can’t comment further as I’ve not met Christine ) and followed the link to the designer of that WordPress Theme, Cory Miller. Several of his Themes are free but I decided to spend a few pounds, well $ really, to get his Real Estate template that I thought would work well.

In between requests for drinks, cuddles and wiping of nose, I found a few plugins I wanted for the site (have you tried finding a really simple to install and use photo gallery? Most I’ve come across before caused all sorts of problems and are really difficult to install) and set about adjusting some photographs for the header and writing some of the text.

Now, I should point out, my design skills are not good but working with Cory’s template I created what I think is a very pleasing site. No, I didn’t get it finished in 7 hours, I didn’t actually record the time, but I did have the core built on Friday and finished off on Saturday. There are still a few sections to add but this hasn’t stopped my going live.

LESSON LEARNT

I could have spent all Friday fuming about the situation and effectively wasting an opportunity to get something done that was actually a drain on my energy since it was nagging away in the back of my mind.

We discussed the “issue” on Friday evening and the status quo has been resumed!

My Golf Apartment site is up, my mind is clearer and I have a sense of having achieved two really important things on Friday. Being with my son, who really appreciated his Dad being there for him and creating something with my time that was possible rather than dealing with a complex report that would have demanded my full attention and would never have got completed.

The week actually ended on a high and I’m back on a very positive roll!

If you are interested you can see the site I created here Costa-de-la-Luz-GolfHoliday

 

 

The “weasel” as I have now come to think of him (see my Bad Debt Monster post last week) has sent further emails in which he wriggles and squirms, blames everyone else for the situation and tells me I will be paid as soon as I sign and send to him his revised agreement. When you enter a contract on one set of terms you do not accept a revised agreement (to your detriment) when the terms of the previous deal have been breached!

This sad situation got me thinking over the weekend how potentially dangerous it is when doing business online. Every vendor seems to have an affiliate program and the number of potential affiliates clamouring to sign up for a piece of the pie is staggering. Now we all know most affiliates don’t actually do anything so the problem I am about to identify will not apply to them BUT those who do take action potentially run some significant risks.

THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES:

Is the vendor genuine?

Do you know whether you’ve actually introduced visitors who have made a purchase?

How long will it be before they pay out commission due?

Assuming the sale sticks (ie no refund requested) will the vendor honour the agreement and pay the commission?

What if the vendor has financial difficulties and needs the money for their own use?

What if the vendor goes bust?

How can you enforce an agreement particularly if you are based in different countries?

Is it worth the legal expenses?

To me many of these problems, if they arose, are insurmountable and would be time consuming to resolve and quite likely financially prohibitive.

The answer, is to avoid getting caught in this situation in the first place!

AFFILIATE MARKETING 

If affiliate-marketing is your chosen business model (as it is mine with my first 6M Profit Method business) then I think it is vital you think very carefully about who you are partnering and select very carefully the affiliate program and thus the business partners you will promote. Rather than run the risk of the vendor not paying further down the line, wherever possible you should choose a program where you are paid by a third party, such as ClickBank – read about CBMall here, or where you get paid your split immediately, via PayPal for example.

That way you are not at the whim of the vendor but a very large and hopefully financially sound and ethical organisation.

However, there is another extremely important element to this. DO NOT BE LAZY. Under no circumstances should you do what most affiliates do & simply promote the affiliate link. You must get into the right business mindset and go about setting this up the right way.

You must have a web page that does two things for you:

COLLECT NAMES and EMAIL ADDRESSES

1. Collects the name and email address of your visitors before they view the affiliate product sales page. Why, so you can follow up with those individuals and provide them with more information and develop a relationship with them. If theygo straight to the sales page you will never be able to contact them again (I know, I’ve commited the cardinal sin with the ClickBank Mall link above – but I want you to see more about a ClickBank business model rather than some peopke not reading it because they don’t want to provide contact details)

TRACK YOUR VISITORS

2. By having all visitors channelled via your own web page you can track numbers and get a much better idea of your own ratios and with the reporting function of ClickBank, for example, you will know who has purchased. If you insist on becoming an affiliate for a vendor who will (hopefully) pay you direct then tracking all of your leads will give you a better idea of how successful that program is for you.

Before someone tells me, I know ClickBank doesn’t pay immediately but my point is they do pay at certain thresholds and agreed payment dates whereas with a vendor direct you are totally reliant on them fulfilling the promises on their sales pages.

Back to the “weasel”. I’ve met this guy on numerous occasions, I have years of experience of assessing someone’s trustworthiness and yet I still got caught. Why because he was a crook? No, simply his situation took a turn for the worse and rather than honouring his commitment to me – and no doubt others – he used what is rightfully mine to pay his other debts. If that can happen with someone you’ve met personally, think how easy it can happen in respect of a web page and the person behind that who is the other side of the world.

It probably wouldn’t be the original aim but many human beings are self-centered and have the business ethics of a “weasel”. Be careful out there.

It’s late Friday evening but I just have to share this post by Christine O’Kelly with you. If you don’t get some inspiration from this then you should stay tied to your 9-5 desk forever

How I Made $100,000 By Spending 25 Minutes and $0 On Marketing

It’s not some get rich quick scheme BUT an epic post about overcoming non-existent but perceived obstacles. I was captivated when I read it. A lesson for us all.

Have a great weekend. Mark

After yesterday’s post about one of the drawbacks of working at home I thought today we’d have a little fun about why you need to get out of the office. I mentioned interruptions but on reflection I think the biggest problem is the distraction caused by the antics of colleagues!

I apologise in advance for the ending of this short video and if the text is offensive in any way – sorry – I don’t know because I can’t understand the language!

[display_podcast]

It’s always important I feel to be sure you are using your time wisely and being effective by working towards your objectives!

This post doesn’t really belong here but I need to release some internal pressure!

As you know I work at home. I created a separate office at home many years ago and have to say that working alone is generally really good for me. I find I am more productive without people hovering around my desk or interrupting and asking questions every 5 minutes.

Because my offline business is service related I get my human interaction when I travel out of my home office to meet my clients. BUT…

…every so often a situation arises where I’d normally get a close colleague to act as a sounding board or to let of team by telling them what has just happened. I don’t have that luxury working alone. So you my loyal reader get it in the ear (read eye )

Nearly one year ago I introduced some business to a guy who promised me 50% of whatever fees he generated. A formal introducer agreement was signed by both of us. The business was concluded and just before Christmas he paid approximately 30% of the amount that was due with some bizarre explanation that he wanted to see me alright before Christmas and he’s make good early in the New Year. The balance of that payment is still outstanding and in the interim he has told me that it will be paid as soon as another case I introduced completed.

That second case completed a month ago and he was paid mid August (I just found out) despite him telling me early September that he expected everything to be finalised very soon.

Clearly this guy is a liar and a cheat. I won’t mention the sums involved but suffice to say it would make a difference!

Bad debts are unfortunately a fact of business life BUT what is totally unacceptable is the deceit and lies. What makes a situation like this worse ( a bit like having a car crash) it’s the wronged party (me) that now has the costly and time consuming task of trying to rectify the position.

As much as this hurts me right now I have committed to not letting it get me down BUT to do whatever I can to get the money due to me and make the liars life as uncomfortable as possible. If I can prevent him from trading and save anyone else from this same fate in the process then I will.

Rant ends.

Although this issue isn’t restricted to a work at home business it does highlight one of the drawbacks of working alone – namely the fact that is can be a little lonely when things don’t go to plan.

Let me know what you think

What is success?

The 6M ProfitMethod – Business Success blog is focused on success albeit mainly business and financial success (I guess the title is a bit of a give away!) but I paused for thought today when reading one of DavidBDale’s 299 Word Novels.

SIDENOTE – I came across David’s work via MyBlogLog some while back and have become a great fan of his work. It is varied, thought provoking and always brilliantly executed. I look forward to each new novel posted at his blog and always get great enjoyment from them. You ought to know that each novel is EXACTLY 299 words – an amazing feat in itself!

You will be aware from Who is Wizzer that my favourite quote (attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson) is all about the definition of success BUT interestingly there is simply no reference to materialistic success!

So this morning as I read David’s latest short novel I was touched by his words which made me think what a successful human being the object of his story has been.

David kindly gave me permission to reprint his story here – please repay him by becoming a regular reader of his work – which I know you will also enjoy.

IMPRESS ONLY ME Something so good and pure at the core of a man like my husband hardens to a bullet in the forge of an inhuman world. He might laugh at me for saying so. He doesn’t need me to sing his praise. Those who don’t know him will never admit his humility. They don’t know how strife can temper a man, or that his failings can be strength. They’ve never heard him laugh or cry. (I know he wouldn’t want me saying this.) I’ve seen tears in his eyes at the mention of a baby in distress, but compassion propels him, even as he debriefs the other men with details of the sacrificed, past the whining flesh to the crowning beyond. That’s when his jokes are at their wicked best. That’s when they know he is their leader. Nobody is innocent, I hear him say, but action can purify. At night he has to impress only me. I contemplate the back of his head on the pillow. Nicks in his hair are all that remain of the violence of things that went wrong in the field, unless he’s dreaming of those troubles now. I breathe the endless night. This is the consummation of my life, to lie with his snoring champion’s body, and have it to myself. How many other women would trade with me! I lift the sheet and follow the line of his backbone as far as I dare and keep my motions small. I touch a place that makes me think of him, and gently a place on him that feels like a man, and remember times when we had no mission but one another and all the time in the world. I bite my lip to keep from crying out with the splendor of it all. Copyright © September 12, 2007 David Hodges

 

No matter how hard we strive for business and thus financial success we must never lose sight of the real measure of success – how we are seen by others. Be wary, however, of a one simple word – “perception”. It is said that perception is reality. Online, for example, is it possible to establish who is truly successful and worthy of their often self-proclaimed guru status?

The reality may be very different from the face seen by the world – is that success?

Thank you David for this timely reminder

I’m listening to “Up the Junction” by Squeeze as I write this post – chosen because the story it tells is that far too many people find themselves living. I’m just so thankful I’ve found the way out of the trap.

Squeeze – Up the Junction (TOTP)

[via FoxyTunes / Squeeze]

Yesterday morning I left home for a 1 hour drive to the office of the organisation that does some of the administration for my IFA (Financial Advice) business.

The sun was shining and the blue sky was cloudless. I was listening to one of the 6MProfitMethod CDs and was feeling on top of the world.

The reason for feeling so good was that I was on my way to making a a big dent in the volume of regular work I have to undertake. I was about to offload about 25% of my client load to a colleague who has more time available. This suits him as he is looking to build his business, it suits me as I need to find sometime for my online business and it will suit the clients because they will receive more attention. A total win-win-win situation.

For about 5 years I have known this is what I should do, all that time I have been talking about it but frankly was afraid to do it because my income would undoubtedly suffer – something I couldn’t afford back then.

So what’s different?

 

The 6MProfitMethod has taught me that I need to focus totally on what I want – not what I don’t want

I totally believe that the time freed up will enable other more remunerative things to flow into my life as I make more effective use of my time – thus my income will not suffer

Tim Ferriss’s book – referred to in my “how to find the time you need” post, has inspired me to take action on this long standing challenge

I am now totally committed to making my online business work**

What’s the worst that can happen?***

 

**It is no so much the business itself that I am focused on but the lifestyle it will give me. No, I don’t just mean the money – I mean the freedom do do as I choose, when I choose. Although I’ve run my own businesses for the past 13 years I didn’t think about the end result before I started. The consequence – I have a job that I created for myself. If I’m not here nothing gets done, the income stops and there’s a mountain of work when I return!

***Thanks again to Tim Ferriss for this thought. What indeed is the worst that can happen? My income drops a bit for a while BUT I have a big chunk of extra time (this group of clients took up a disproportionate amount of time – see 80/20 rule) that I can use to better effect with my remaining clients if absolutely necessary. Oh life is so simple with some clarity!

 

So today, I feel really good. The doubt and worry has gone (that’s always the case after making a decision – good lesson to learn) and I’m moving forward with more time on my hands. Now for the next 50% of clients!

Let me know what inspires you and makes you feel good about yourself.

 

 

The 4-Hour Workweek is so important to absolutely anyone looking to improve their life this post will run into a number of parts!

You’ll know from previous posts that Wizzer (yes, that’s me) was fortunate to be the Weekly Winner at Create Business Growth a few weeks ago and I chose “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss as my prize. (Sadly I’d not heard of this best seller at the time but thought the title sounded interesting). At that time I was posting about being in the “zone” and how things you need manifest themselves at the right time. I also said that I’d undoubtedly find something in the book that was appropriate to my needs.

Wow – what an understatement!

This book is essential reading for ANYONE

looking to make improvements in their lifestyle

 

For years I’ve been making excuses to myself for not doing things due to a lack of time, you know “I’ve got too many important things to do – that will have to wait” – steady, I think I saw you nodding in agreement Well not anymore!

Although I am very familiar with a few of the concepts Tim writes about; Pareto Principle (or the 80/20 rule); Parkinson’s Law (activities expand to fill the time available) and for years I have not read a newspaper either, I have never considered taking such a radical approach.

Following Tim’s suggestion I have drawn up a list of my best clients (in my day business) and have made a decision to concentrate on only them. The time this will save me will be incredible – time I can devote to being effective in moving my life forward.

I’ve also set up a system for minimising the time spent on idle chit-chat at the start of any phone conversations and to prevent email interruptions during the day. I’m taking a leap of faith with this but have every confidence it will work out.

I’ll be posting more about my progress and with reference to this essential book over the coming weeks.

Christine – I can’t thank you enough for this.

I’m back!!

Two weeks away and the mountain of emails, post and telephone messages is unbelievable!

I’ve got so much good stuff to post over the next few weeks but before I forget I must give you a recommendation.

I’ve been using this product for a few years and it is absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t survive without it! I mean it, my life would come to a standstill without it.

What reminded me to write about Roboform was that I also use the PenDrive version which enables me to take details of all of the websites I visit together with the user name and login details with me wherever I go. So, during my two weeks away in Spain all I needed to take along was my pen drive and I had access to every site I ever visit – without having to take paper records of passwords etc. which could easily be lost.

RoboForm is totally indispensable. You simply download the free version – you will need the pro version very soon if you visit loads of sites like me (in fact if you are serious about any form of online business I recommend you get it immediately) – set up your own password that will be needed to access all of the other passwords and you are ready to go.

Every time you visit a site that requires a user name and login you are prompted by the program to see if you wish to save the information. You create a folder hierarchy – just like any Windows folder structure – and then every time you visit that site you are automatically logged in. Cool.

In addition you can just save favourite sites that don’t have login details so you can take them with you when you are on the move. If you use a pen drive you simply plug it into a USB drive of another machine, enter your RoboForm password and have access to all your sites – just like on your own machine. When you’re done RoboForm cleans up after you and there is no trace of the information on the machine you’ve just used.

Of all tools I use this is without doubt my favourite. You can get the Free Download here.