MOST people who try to start an online business fail – and they fail miserably.
There could be any number of reasons, but I truly believe it all starts in your head. And it comes down to one thing… FEAR.
The fear is usually a fear of failing and looking like an ass in front of their friends and family.
Now, for some reason, I just never had that gene that is scared of failing. It could be because I was brought up by two of the most incredible, supportive parents. I always knew even if I had a setback, I dust myself off, get back on my feet and try again.
And most of my successful friends are the same way. They are fearless when it comes to business. It doesn’t matter if they are entrepreneurs or hedge fund managers – they take chances.
But for the majority, it’s likely that “fear” is holding you back from the incredible life you deserve!
GETTING OVER FEAR AND MAKING BIG BUCKS
Now, I’m no therapist and this is certainly not a counseling session… however, I’ll give you on simple strategy to help you get over your fear and take inspired action.
Start with really small, attainable goals you know you’ll succeed with.
You are probably thinking “I know, I know – that’s such simple advice Ryan, is that all you got hot shot?”.
The answer is YES – that’s it.
After coaching thousands of people in the crazy world of information marketing, I noticed people are overwhelmed and are scared to fail.
So if I have a sense it’s fear holding them back – we’d set a very simple goal. Something I know they will achieve 100% success.
Here are some things you can do today to get a few successes under your belt as you tackle more every day.
- Buy a domain name
- Setup a Facebook fanpage
- Create a twitter account
- Write one blog post
- Write one article and submit it to one directory
- Record a 2 minute video and upload it to youtube
- Send one potential JV an email
- Submit a request to be a guest blogger for one blog
- Post 3 replies on discussion forums in your market
- Signup with a Clickbank account
- Hire someone on fiverr to install your blog for $5
- Post feedback for your product idea on your Facebook page
You see where I’m going with this.
By doing something easy (and succeeding!) – you gain more confidence. And you build on that momentum.
Today, you setup your Facebook fanpage. Tomorrow, you start marketing the page. The next day, you bring in more members. After that, you sell an affiliate product. Before you know it, your business is growing and you are a lean, mean marketing machine.
OR
You can ignore my advice and just “suck it up!”.
The choice is yours, my friend.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? AGREE? DISAGREE?
COMMENT BELOW.
P.S. If you want continued, ongoing support in the shark-infested waters of online marketing so you have the best chance of success – simply click here
Hi Ryan,
You are so right about taking small steps at a time. I did this when I was training for the Ironman Triathlon and built up with small steps over a 5 year period and was successful. When I wanted to be the go to guy in sports psychology I started a 2 year process and landed on the Today Show as well as a dozen others (you can see the proof as I uploaded it to my web site). Now, I am taking small steps with you through the IC and The Ryan Lee Method and am already way ahead of schedule (product will be ready on 12/12/11) thanks to your knowledge and passion. Keep up the great work-it is sincerely appreciated! Best to Janet and the kids.
Regards,
Cory
Thanks Cory,
It’s those small steps and successes that add up to BIG results.
Keep on rockin’, my friend!
Ryan
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time :-)
I love that quote. I use it on my kids when there doing a project for school all the time…..they now repeat it back to me! Ha! Love it!
Absolutely Charles!
Ryan
Have a post on my blog literally saying the same thing! Rock on Ryan! Great advice!
That’s very cool Bret – what is your blog address?
I guess great minds think alike.
Ryan
Hey Ryan, here it is. Just started the blog just recently. So I haven’t integrated it with one of my sites just yet. http://equipbuildsucceed.wordpress.com/
BTW the Inner Circle rocks! The video you did with Mark Victor Hansen, 5 out of 5 stars baby! :-)
And people love step by step Ryan. There is also the fear of success! That is something I have suffered from in the past. It’s that feeling that what would happen if it all started working and all those customers started turning up! But, don’t worry you can overcome that too with Ryan’s help.
You bring up a good point Quentin.
Fear of success is another one – I just found more people are scared of failing.
Step by step baby!!!
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Great article. I sometimes get overwhelmed like that, more often than I like to admit. But I’ve been working at breaking my day to day online activities into smaller steps. Its easier to stay encouraged when I’m successful no matter how seemingly trivial the task is.
Thank you for taking the time to list some of those steps as an example. As a visual learner it helps to see what your talking about.
John
Thomaston, ct
Hey John,
You are certainly welcome and I’m glad you enjoyed the list.
Keep making progress – one step at a time.
Ryan
Rigth on target Ryan! Sometimes we are so focused on the big picture that we forgot the little steps we have to give to reach our destination… that’s when we get stucked watching the horizon and wondering how its feel to get there an why we aren’t there yet.
Thanks Cristain!
I’m all about the little steps.
Ryan
Always great advice Ryan! I took your advice again and am blogging like a mofo!
Here’s a quote that is right in line with what you are saying here,
“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long
range risks of comfortable inaction.”
John F. Kennedy
Thanks brother!
Glad to see you blogging like an animal.
Keep rockin’
Ryan
Its easy to get overwhelmed to the point of being frozen. I like to write the whole plan down as a brain dump and then start at the beginning to take things step by step (even writing out a road map.)
It helps me to make progress…
Thanks for sharing Annie!
Ryan
Thanks for this, Ryan. Even if it sometimes seems like stating the obvious, it’s good to have a simple checklist like this.
It prompted me specifically to take a look at fiverr.com – I thought it was just USA based, and didn’t think it would be any help to me in the UK, but it looks like it could be a good place to go to find help.
I’ve even spotted people who will sort out a hacked website, which is a problem I’ve just had, and it’s been a nightmare trying to find someone to sort it out!
Hey Julia,
Fiverr is a really cool resource – and there’s lots you can get done with it.
Ryan
Creat actionable checklist
Great IC session yesterday and Beau Blackwell gave great content
I’m glad you enjoyed the IC training Chris!
Ryan
You know what Ryan? I started each of my online ventures….(they are
all still small but growing), using 95% of your ideas above.
They work…dammit they work!
Everyone should read this blog 5 times…then again each week.
–Fazzer
Hey Fazzer,
That’s great to see you using those ideas – and taking action.
Rock ‘on
Ryan
Great tip. I definitely need to start setting more realistic short term goals to keep from getting overwhelmed. Thanks Ryan
I’m glad you enjoyed it Brian.
Set those short term goals and keep us all posted on your progress!
Ryan
Hey Ryan!
Sorry it’s been a while since I dropped by. You’ll be happy to know that I’m deep into product creation right now and not a lot of time for other things. Thanks for your encouragement!
I grew up in just the opposite type of environment you talked about. I was surrounded by abuse and failure every where I looked. I was told over and over again that I was worthless. I can honestly tell people who struggle with this there is no easy cure. I have to spend a few minutes each day working on my inner game. I also spend a lot of time on Sundays praying about it in church.
Looking back now, I have been very blessed to have so many great friends and influences in my life to support me. My changes came just as you describe-by taking small consistent steps each day. Confidence is the cure to all fear I think.
I still have fears of failure on a regular basis but now I don’t let them stop me from going after what I want. Sometimes it takes me a while longer to get there but I always take action!
Again many thanks for all your support!
Ted Peterson
http://bit.ly/FreeTrainingCall
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for sharing this great blog post.
I agree with you totally that if we continuously do the small things well, we will start to see big results. A great reminder to consistently take simple actions that will propel us to the right directions.
Zack
Yes…baby steps. And then KEEP GOING!!! After a while it all starts to make sense. I would add that you need support. Someone (like Ryan) to be there to help you along. You’ll need motivation…get that wherever you can. Be inspired. Do something good. Knowing that you’re doing something good…for yourself, for your family, for someone in need, is what keeps me going. And keep learning. There’s always something new to learn in this business.
Sorry for rambling, but my passion took over!
Lisa
Ryan,
I had nano continuity already and didn’t do anything with the information because I was in fear of failure. I was also scared of success because I had a business for 14 years and did very well until some life setbacks. I then decided to try internet marketing and i was taken for every penny I had from promises of making money with so many different programs. So I gave up when I was never a quiter. I then read your innercircle copy where you said people sell things to you and are not really using what they preach about. That really was an eye opener. because it had me chasing every tom,dick and harry that was selling something and all I was getting was infomation and product overload.
I just joined your inner circle last night and I hope that that and nano continuity I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. Taking it step by step. If you have a chance I like to meet you some day in the future. I’m only a couple of hours away. Maybe at your staruck office:)
George
After marketing online for many years and making many mistakes along the way, I couldn’t agree more! I would say lack of focus and lack of consistently doing the little things keeps most people from achieving the success the are capable of!
Ryan. These are all great ideas and I have implemented all of them. I’m an affiliate for a really well known fitness guru. I don’t have an email list. Not sure how to do that but I have all of the other things you stated above. I’ve been using Facebook relentlessly to promote products on all the other bodybuilding fan pages with only 1 sale in six months. I’m all for trying some other marketing method. What else can I do? Thanks in advance Ryan.
Just reading your post on my phone in a coffee shop as I was wondering how the h.. am I going get my backlinking done by my outsources, oh ya I have to get the outsourcing course first. Just one more course with another pile of videos and PDFs etc. hey it will be the one that makes the difference, really? Maybe outsourcing really is the way to go. Spread the tasks out, get something done when I am doing nothing.
Enjoying your posts
Well said, Ryan….as always!
Thanks Ryan! Lot of people including me need to be reminded about this, and it sounds smarter when it comes from you.
FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) is the biggest obstacle ever. Fear is good when it prevents you from jumping down from airplanes without a parachute, but irrational fear is meaningless.
I think the best ways for people to remove fear is to either
1. Best and fastest way:
Go do the thing that’s scary! Start in the small and progress from there. If the situation is too far from the comfort zone, it’s possible become traumatized, but this is very rare.
2. Good way:
Change your perception/beliefs about the situation that you fear.
Examples from my life:
- I once walked with underware outside of my pants and a “World’s biggest idiot” sign on my stomach in the capital of Norway. I’m not afraid of looking stupid anymore.
- Taking your advice and do interviews scared me a bit, but just from taking the small step and post a querie on helpareporter.com, I got douzins of requests. I have interviewed 9 people the past 3 weeks.
Among them the co-author of Rich Dad and the father in-law of Ricki Lake (lol, that’s another story, he’s a business man).
I’m not afraid of any of the online business obstacles anymore which is a major advantage.
Thanks Ryan. I’m an IC member and taking your RL method classes.
So true. FEAR is THE major cause of failure with anything. I’ve personally had to overcome a gigantic amount of insecurities, fears and doubts. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that MUCH of what we’re wanting – can/is ‘perceived’ by our subconscious minds to be threatening in some way.
The ‘Fear of Success’ is a VERY real thing. i.e. added responsibility, vulnerability, pressure, lack of know-how, already being overwhelmed, etc…. and these are just the obvious things that we can be aware of from the surface with just a little self inquiry.
However…. what if your subconscious mind has equated ‘performing’ to punishment? Or relates ‘standing out’ to be mocked, criticized and shunned? Or being ‘successful’ to greed, meanness and shallowness?
Much of our lack of action and subsequent lack of success is actually caused by the subconscious ‘false perceptions’ (or stories) that we formed early in childhood – and we don’t even know it.
These are formed when a positive experience/idea collides with a negative experience. The subconscious then equates the positive to the negative. In other words, the thing we want is seen as threatening because the subconscious believes that it will lead to pain of some sort… based on its own experience from childhood.
I’ve been coaching business owners and sales people for 5 years and the ONE thing that makes the biggest difference in the results they get is – finding and transforming our ‘unconscious’ false perceptions, and fear-based stories… until we do so, we are proned to being unconsciously undermined, sabotaged, held back and stuck by our own UNCONSCIOUS (hidden) ‘ill-conceived perceptions’ that we’ve had for many many years.
Good news is that they are just ‘stories’. And stories can be changed. Once we remove the irrational fears of success, abundance, high position, winning, being loved, etc. THEN all this wonderful training, strategies, models, tools, etc that we learn from people like you becomes EASY.
Pretty cool.
I talk more about all this on my blog and in my free ebook at http://naturallyconfident.com/blog
Thanks again Ryan. I’m enjoying the IC content and following the RL method. Thanks for making things simple and reliable.
So well put. Simple – but very effective. Thanks.
The 12 items you suggested to do can ALL be outsourced using microjob websites like fiverr and http://www.gigtask.com. Surprisingly this could all be done for as little as $60. Cheers Joe
Great Reminder to accomplish little tasks and gain momentum!
bottom line is just take action everyday, not mattering how small how big, it all makes a difference!
btw Ryan the RL Method Kick Ass! :)
Luis Carrillo
Your advice is wholesome and square, and yet I’ve bought a domain name
Setup a Facebook fanpage,
Created a Twitter account
Written dozens of blog posts
Written dozens of articles and submitted them to many directories
Recorded a 2 minute video and uploaded it to youtube; rinse/repeat 10 times;
and haven’t broken into earnings yet, so I’ll consider
Sending one-4 potential JVs an email
Submitting a request to be a guest blogger for one blog
Post 3 replies on discussion forums in your market, because I’ve already
Signed up with a Clickbank account; already
Installed my blogs and WP sites for only the cost of my time; and now I should
Post feedback for your product idea on your Facebook page, eh?
Ryan, I am a new RL circle member. Thanks for the checklist (above) you email me. Now, I am confused in where I should start on your membership page. It would be nice to have a checklist somewhere in the Dashboard so newbies, like me, could follow the order. Thanks.
RG
It is helpful to listen to the opening video where Ryan introduces the different sections of the site. I started on the Bonus sections and am working my way around the site bit by bit.
Trish Elledge,
Rebirth to Greatness
Dear Ryan, these “hints”/ 12 different things what people can do, does it mean they have to
use all of them or just some of them?
I guess is the second one, just some of them? I couldn’t do all of it, because I’m beginner
and many of these things I don’t even know how to do! Like “twitter”or how to record 2 minutes
video and post it on “Youtube”..
What is “JV”? Send one potential “JV” an email.
When you say “write one blog post” – it means where? Where you write the “blog”?
Thank you Yarmila Bruyevicz
“Shark infested waters” That explains a lot. Now I have been struggling a lot for arround 4.5 yrs and made some money but internet business as I understood it now is even more tough than the physical world business. That is really nice info. Many people including me waste lots of time searching for that golden opportunity instead of following simple plan that works.
The below is my personal message to you. You may delete it after reading. Your affiliate program earned me some hundreds and you have been paying me on time as I ask for it. Am really thankful for that. Recently I saw 197.60 usd in my account and wrote you which notified me to contact support. I wrote support about the case and they have not responded till now 5 days I think. Can you please check things out? Name Awlachew Aberu PP email abshife@yahoo.com. I think the commission is for subscription of presentation domination. Thanks Ryan.
A lot of little things put together make up a big thing :)
Often we feel overwhelmed about things, because when we think about them,
we think about the big chunk of stuff we need to do. Instead, break it into smaller chunks, organize them in a way that when you think about them you thin “yes, I can do this!” :)
Hello! I am starting a business and following your guidance. I bought http://www.myname.com to use as a memebership site with my coaching, products, etc. on it. Can I blog on that domain too or is it best to set up a separate domain?
I know you’ve said to start with a ‘blog’ which is going to link to all your products, but your website ryanlee.com seems to be set up differently than what you explain.
I mean, isn’t a blog essentially just updated articles….which you’d want on the membership site? Some free, some not…
My head is spinning and I’m ready to get started but really stumped here! Every article online says something different and I’ve Googled this to death but can’t find something from you on this. Can you help? I’d love to hear your quick thoughts and also see you write a post on this as I am sure there are others out there confused like me :)
Thanks Ryan!