Getting Started - Finding The Treasure.

[George Little]

Finding the Treasure. . .

When new people join SFI, they ask: "How do I get started?"

The answer to this question, like the answer to most important questions in life is "It depends."

If there were just one simple pat answer to this question, everyone would already know it. They would be given that simple pat answer the moment they signed up and that would be that.

If it were that simple, it would be no fun. If it were that simple, it would be no challenge. If it were that simple, it would not be a satisfying activity for a creative human mind.

Everything worthwhile in this world is created by a single, solitary, human mind. No one else can give you a formula to do something that is truly worthwhile. No one else can do it for you. Others can only guide you to use your own creativity to create something worthwhile.

So, what factors does the answer to the question "How do I get started?" depend on. Here's a few:

How much time you have to invest?
How much money you have to invest?
What knowledge do you have?
What experience do you have?
What skills do you have?
Where do you live?
How old are you?
What type of personality do you have (ex" people oriented or technology oriented, outgoing or extremely shy)?
What activities are you comfortable with and what activities are uncomfortable for you?

There are more factors, of course, but this gives you the idea.

Success does not depend on any of the above factors. (Nor, of course, does it depend on your education, sex, age, race, religion, national origin, or other such immutable factors.) Anyone capable of a little creativity can succeed.

It is just that how you get started is somewhat different for different people.

But still, the new ones want an answer to the question of how to get started, even though they do not provide information about themselves. So, what is the general answer - the one to give when these factors are unknown? Here's a possibility:

How do you get started in SFI? . . . You place ads.
What do these ads point to? . . . Your SFI Gateways.
Where do you get these ads? . . . From the SFI Resource Center.
Where do you place them? . . . . (Ah!, Here's the rub.)

Think about it. It would not work if there were just a short list of places for everyone to place their ads. And, that would be terribly boring even if it would work. The Internet is vast. It boggles the mind to contemplate how big the Internet truly is. The Internet is also constantly changing. The Internet is a living, breathing creation of all the minds in the entire world, evolving and growing by the second. (Think about it. The Internet will change the moment I submit this post . . . and I am just one of the billions of people in the world!)

There is treasure in the vast realms of the Internet. You have but to find it. For the new SFI affiliate, that treasure is in the form of little known, but highly effective, places to place ads. To be an effective SFI affiliate you have but to find the right places to place your ads.

So, how do you find them?

Others can give you maps. Other can give you clues. Others can tell you signs to look for along the way. But, no one can take you directly to the treasure. Only you, in your own creative mind, can study all the guides, consider all the clues, weigh all the advice, and then find the treasure for yourself.

I can tell you, mate, the treasure is boundless. There is more than enough for all who are looking. But, you have to look for it yourself!

Here is a little something to get you started:
Lesson 7 of SFI free Internet Income Course.
http://www.sfimg.com/ii/Lessons/7.html


Happy Hunting,
-george

[Karen Barnes]

So, how do you find them?

Others can give you maps. Other can give you clues. Others can tell you signs to look for along the way. But, no one can take you directly to the treasure. Only you, in your own creative mind, can study all the guides, consider all the clues, weigh all the advice, and then find the treasure for yourself.

I can tell you, mate, the treasure is boundless. There is more than enough for all who are looking. But, you have to look for it yourself!

Absolutely.

Not everyone searches for classified sites the same way. This includes: paid, free, reciprocal linking, pay per click search engines, ezines, and any other means of classifieds.

Also when people are searching the internet for things (ie working at home, nutritionals, cleaners, internet services, phone services, free stuff) no two people will search the same way.

[SherriC]

This post itself is treasure.

I've spent days now trying to put into words the answer
to that question "What Do I Do Now?"

I can point them to the Dboard (which has been my
saving grace). I can tell them to do Smart Start and
read all of the training articles, but ultimately it comes
down to THEM.

One of the things I love about this opportunity is
the fact that I can express myself and be creative.
That's what makes it feel less like work and more
like play.

I would love to use this post to send to my new
affiliates. I personally find it VERY inspiring.

Thank you George!

Sherri

[George Little]

Serri,
Sure, you can use the post in anything you like. Glad you found it helpful.

[navyblue]

George,

your post is really nice! a bit philosophical to desperate newbies, :) , but extremely true and inspiring.

we are all here receiving and giving some kind of help.
we all need guidance, from time to time,

but what a fantastic moment is the one when we realise our potential for learning and creating and having fun along the way!

sometimes we take ourselves too seriously!!
we think that success will only come if we worry about it so much it will be ours by magnetism! If only we knew! This can even be true (that we can attract success), but not through worrying. We can be success-magnets relaxing and letting our creative mind work.

why do children learn faster and easier than an adult?
more neurons synapses?
hardly.
they have the advantage of having fun (!) while they learn!
they play with information, they lateral-think spontaneously, they don't censor or criticize themselves as much as we adults do.
that is why they are imaginative and creative.


if we all could just be a bit more relaxed and have a bit more fun while we do anything in life, we would give our brain a chance to work more effectively.

i once saw a post of someone asking how we could make SFI business fun.
someone tried to answer it.
the answer wasn't brilliant, but the question was hopeless!

really!

the heart of the "having fun" aspect was not how to make your affiliates laugh while working their SFI business, or how to make prospects sign up because SFI is fun.
the heart of "having fun" was in allowing yourself to be free to create, to challenge yourself for development reasons, not performance chains.
we often forget how to trust the universe (my bit of philosophy here!:)) and enjoy the ride!
there is so much we can do using our brains!!!
add the internet to it, and the possibilities are endless!

finding a new affiliate or selling a product may be difficult, I am not questioning that.
but how many times we attach our sense of self-value and self-worth to results, and forget that there's more to it (or anything, for that matter), than getting anywhere?

everybody knows that a 1000 miles journey starts with one step...
but how many of us remember that the destination is not the goal... the journey is!!
and we take such heavy loads with us most of the time!!
what for?

if you are starting a new business and don't have any money to spend, learn all you can about the business and be creative.
don't pressure yourself for immediate results. Encourage yourself to learn more by studying, experiencing and practicing. and also making questions (like the ones we always see here in the dboard)
don't feel guilty for time spent learning, and time spent in trial and error. they are necessary for you to see how to make things work for you.

remember the 6 important "Ps":

* Perspective: learn how to look at things in more than one light! be open and flexible. Put perspective in all things!

* Proportion: the secret of the universe in one word! chemically, physically, biologically, and emotionally speaking! balance, ponder, feel, put proportion in your acts, thoughts, food and drink intake, self-criticism, self-pampering, love life, work, co-dependency, independency, etc.

* Priority: a must, always. we all only got 24 hours a day (at least until we learn the pliable structure of time :))

* Persistence: how much do you want something? how much are you willing to give?
A very wise statement, in my opinion, goes like that:
"The only thing that can be missing in any relationship is what you are not giving".
Far from being a guilt inducer statement, it is an eye opener. You should not tell yourself you are not giving enough hours or not putting enough effort in making your business successful, if that is not particularly true. Maybe what you are NOT giving is exactly the serenity to give it time. Give it your persistence. Give it creativity, and so on. But to be there to give, you must be there! Those who leave too early might lose for not really wanting it enough.

* Passion: do i need to say anything about that? i guess not! :) (maybe only to not forget com-passion)

* Patience: if you got this far in this post, you probably already got that one! Go at your garden and yell at a bud to become a full developed flower. It won't happen. Everything has its time. If you are enjoying the ride, meanwhile, you will see the right time arriving in a better mood and lighter spirit. Patience isn't only a virtue. Patience is a refined and intelligent marketing tool used by few. You definitely have to add it to your SFI toolbox.


And George, as Sherri, I too can see the benefits of passing your post on to my affiliates, in my newsletter. Would that be ok?


navyblue

[Mr.Frugal]

Hi y'all,

I'm a little busy right now ... but just felt like I had to throw my 2 cents in!

I am currently focussing on the one thing i can control.... my mind. I am very greatful for ideas such as these.

You Gotta pause a moment or two, & take the time to smell the roses. :)

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

Mike B.

[George Little]

Originally Posted by navyblue

everybody knows that a 1000 miles journey starts with one step...
but how many of us remember that the destination is not the goal... the journey is!!

Exactly! The true traveler enjoys the journey more than the destination. The true warrior lives for the battle more than for the victory. The true seeker is rewarded more by the quest, than by what is found.

This is *NOT* to say that you better enjoy the experience because you are not going to make any money. It is just saying that when you can adopt this attitude about your efforts is when you will begin to make it work and then begin to make money.

Originally Posted by navyblue

And George, as Sherri, I too can see the benefits of passing your post on to my affiliates, in my newsletter. Would that be ok?
navyblue

Sure, navy, help yourself. btw: beautiful post!

[Mr.Frugal]

...to be brought back to the top.

I think it should be required reading for all new affiliates.

[spyderbite]

Originally Posted by George Little

Where do you place them? . . . . (Ah!, Here's the rub.)

I found the treasure. I've got a ton of responses/exposure from my own existing sites/audience. Seems, those who are into free lottos and sweepstakes are also looking to make a buck off the internet. Go figure! ;)

If anyone is interested in a list of free lotto and sweepstakes sites who sell advertising, let me know and I'll try and compile one. Rates are pretty cheap.. eg. I sell 2000 page views for $10. Some are cheaper and some are more expensive. But its definately a great source for single/stay at home/retired women.. that's the biggest demigraphics.

Oh.. and by the way.. no you can't advertise on my own sites.. them be my stomping grounds!
8-)

[Jessica32]

Hi, to everyone here. I am so happy to be here and reading your posts, especially, navyblue’s. Yes, I did manage to get to the last sentence with no extra effort needed. :) I just love reading informative and really inspiring posts as the one you, George Little, et al have here. Thank to you all for the amazing tips, advice and information across the board.

Currently I am busy building my own website and can’t quite wait any much longer to finishing it even if I am just starting yet. Right now I’m still experiencing dizziness - Read that: E-X-C-I-T-E-D! :) - because of lots of ideas that have been coming to my head regarding what to put on my website and how am I going to present it so that people would be attracted to visit it more than once, or even consider taking a look at it once they found it on the net. In such a way that they will be lured to sign in to SFI based from their appraisal of my website. I must say I am given by God with creative talent and I think this is one opportunity for me to make use of it in a manner that will reward me not only intrinsically but as well, Financially or Economically. Isn’t that what we all are for??. :) That even right now I already want to thank SFI for giving me this kind of motivation - motivation to SUCCEED - in this business, in this undertaking, with all your guidance and assistance, and most of all, your INSPIRATION. It’s just been 4 days since I signed up to be among SFI’s fortunate members and 4 nights since I encountered this board, and so far. . . well, it’s nothing short of FANTASTIC. :)

How I wish I am already done with my website so I can already apply what I have read/learned from here, i. e., posting free advertising or classified ads on carefully chosen sites through those Gateway banners, and so many stuff I’d like to do and experience once I am already finished with my website. I figure it’s the first requirement for this “exciting” journey to start right and make it a “fulfilling” one.


By the way, I am Jessica and I come from the beautiful country of the Philippines.

Pleasant rainy evening all. It’s 9:00 here.


Speaking of TREASURES, I find SFI is a whole lot more. It’s the Way, though, Jesus is the ultimate. :)

[pcmaples]

Amen, Jessica, I'm a little afraid I might forget that among all this talk about money.

You must have already seen some response or results to be this excited. I, on the other hand have been trying for a week now without one hit. ( I got all excited after I had checked out all my doorways, and suddenly had hits, until I discovered the hits I had made were counted.) I even signed up to eagle-whatever so I could get started with some growth while I was learning what to do next, but I am still dead in the water. I thought about opting-out, but then spent all day researching web pages. I'm definitelly not having fun, but I'm determined to keep trying just a little longer.

[hannahoates1805]

Hello Folks,
I am a newbie from New Zealand, and wondering how to become an EA. Firstly I ordered Liquid Nutrition but when I saw the shipping price, and the fact that anything shipped from the USA was going to take 6-8 weeks I decided against that. I have already bought Internet Marketing eBooks, so I am not keen on getting more of the same stuff. I want to use the Internet solely for my business, as offline retail selling would not be an option in the rural area that I live in.
Have read some of the threads, very interesting, but as an "oldie" I am somewhat overwhelmed at the moment. :dazed:

[codedi2004]

I have been a member now for 3 weeks and have yet to get off the ground. This is the first time I came to the Discussion Board, hoping to find advise and find out what I am doing wrong. Yours was the first thing I read and you gave me the best answer possible....just keep at it....I actually think I may love you. :h) LOL! I was getting very put out until I read your letter. Thank you for putting it all out there like that. It was exactly what I needed today. :BigEyes:

Thank you,

Desi