Thinking
Big - The Art of Internet Success by
Alex Boyd of Earn
Money with a Website
Thinking big
means different things to different people. In my circle, thinking
big means focusing on progression, on growth, on the achievement
of goals that appear, initially, beyond ourselves.
To others it
refers to a sandwich. You know the one - special sauce, sesame seed
bun. But shall we stay focused here?
There are many
guiding principles when targeting success in both our daily lives,
and in our businesses. One that I tend to dwell on from time to time
goes something like this:
'Times change.
Adapt or fade away. You choose.'
It's a rule
with application to virtually every aspect of our lives, from familial
relations, and friendships, to the planning of a successful community,
the management of metropolitan governance, and in political relations
across the globe. It can certainly apply to the world of business,
and clearly, to you and I.
An unwillingness
to accept change as an integral part of our lives, relationships,
and business orientations, is one way to ensure their abrupt end.
On a personal front, this can translate into an entirely unexpected
visit to the divorce lawyer. On the business front, say hello to
an ongoing array of not so friendly calls from your creditors, and
yet another form of legal representation, the bankruptcy folks.
Thinking big
is not just planning large things for ourselves, and our companies.
Thinking big requires maintenance, a willingness to change, and an
ability to see the value in the adaptation of a plan, or relationship,
to the ever-changing circumstances that surround us. Each of these
focal points should be viewed as living, breathing creatures, always
growing, shifting in perspective, and with needs that adjust from
time to time.
Thinking big
takes guts, a willingness to make mistakes, and a passion for forward
movement. Are you ready?
Thinking
Big On the Internet
As is true of
every relationship, each of our business ventures, as well as our
ultimate goals within them, differ. Each is an original work of art,
or at their worst, an original, and innovative bad idea.
The challenge
inherent in defining a means of implementing 'big thinking' into
your organization is clear - your company is far different from my
own, with different products, different clients, and certainly, different
organizational and relationship issues.
You may sell
ebooks, vitamins, advertising, design functions, or god help us all,
the 'incredible product that adds up to 3 inches to your member',
in which case my only advice to you is that you stop sending me emails
- you're hurting my confidence.
To the remainder
of our internet based business readership, with your varied focuses,
perspectives, and goal sets, let me say a few things that may help
twig some new ideas, and shifts in direction. Here's a first step
to 'thinking big' that you may like:
'Never give
up'
I realize I'm
likely not the inventor of the phrase, and that each of you have
probably heard it said at one time or another before I chose to dredge
it up - but it holds a truth that applies to all long term investments.
'Never give up' means retaining focus, fighting fear, adapting as
need be, while consistently keeping your eye on the end goals - goals
that may themselves shift from time to time.
No one ever
said it would be easy folks - and for the most part, it ain't. Don't
expect miracles, only long hours, little initial reward, and the
potential financial and personal satisfaction that comes from an
approach built on consistency of purpose, relative to a high quality
product or service, over an extensive period of time.
'Believe
in your product'
In any relationship
of length, one of the most often reported factors in its success
is the strength of its core. Without a base that is solid, there
is little room to build, nor the will to survive inevitable moments
of turmoil.
The same holds
true of any business. At its core are many things, but most importantly,
is its product. This one element is relative to everything the business
is, and if you don't want to find yourself perpetually justifying
its existence, you must ensure that you are working with something
that is ultimately of value to its users. The key is that this is
something YOU must believe in first. Without that belief comes a
business without passion, and from that lacking grows indecision,
indistinct direction, and ultimately an experience of as little long
term value as a quick cup of coffee. All jolt, then evacuated within
hours.
'Believe
in your Customer'
The start of
any new business requires investment. That investment can take many
forms. Time, money, and ultimately, faith. One
area worthy of a hearty amount of all of the above is your customer.
Thinking big
requires that you step outside the box, review your products and
processes through the eyes of your client, and that you blow them
away at every stage of the game.
Don't ever take
your customers for granted, or rest assured, they'll reciprocate,
and drift away.
'Show 'em
you Believe'
One of the most
common mistakes made by the new internet entrepreneur is to take
a product or service with appreciable value, and detract from its
salability by marketing it from a website that looks like the personal
home page of a twelve year old from the mid 1990's. Poor layouts,
lagging download times, animated graphics galore of folks dressed
for the disco era bouncing about beneath flickering rainbows dropping
into glittering pots 'o gold, all brought to life via the dated technology
known as the animated gif.
Dump it. Clean
it up. Organize, and revitalize with informative, easy to use, quick
to download, blow their buns off web site design and functionality.
If you can't do it yourself, find someone to help you, because as
we all know, first impressions take the cake.
Thinking big
means not accepting substandard presentation as sufficient 'because
we're on the internet'. It means taking every step possible to ensure
your organization's future, and in doing so, ignoring the value of
nothing.
Thinking
towards the Future
There was a
time when organizing next week's sale event was considered aggressive
future planning. Not so today, my friends.
With large organizations
across the globe preparing business plans well into the next decade,
the ability of the small business to compete, and to perhaps overtake
the goliath, may well lie in their foresight. Plan big, and plan
long. Consider a single target, and how it can be achieved via multiple
paths. Don't let change surprise you - instead, welcome it's arrival
with open arms, and prepare your road to adaptation in detail, and
well ahead of time.
The Final
Thought
At the end of
the day, thinking big involves risk - there's really no way around
it. But risk that is well planned, and then exceptionally well implemented,
is rarely a risk at all - consider it merely an investment, one that
is focused on the development of an endless variety of relationships.
Relationships that are certain to challenge, frustrate, weaken, then
strengthen again, and if you're strong enough, to reward you beyond
your wildest dreams. Good luck folks. Now go eat that sandwich.
back
to top
|
.gif){kind=tracking}
