Take a trip with me down memory lane as I recall a few of my failed sites and the lessons learned.

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I received a lot of insightful comments, and quickly noticed a common theme among the replies.

There was a lot of emphasis on planning and enjoyment — two things that are often ignored by people just starting out.

The Planning

I mention this a lot, but I’ll say it again.  People don’t just stumble upon websites or blogs like they do a store on a street (unless they’re using StumbleUpon.com.)

So while you may have a great idea for something, you have to consider how people will find you.  And not just any people, but people who will be interested and/or need what you have to offer.

One of the most common reasons people fail is they don’t put a lot of research into their ideas.  Coming up with a great idea is an obvious first step, but execution is the most important one.

You really have to educate yourself on how people use/surf the web and what techniques are available to draw traffic to your site.  A lot of people believe their great idea is enough to funnel traffic to their site, but it doesn’t work that way.

Enjoyment

Where would I be if I didn’t love what I do?

Well for starters, I’d probably still be at my 9 to 5 job.

The love for this business is what kept me going all these years.  I haven’t always had high-trafficked websites, and my affiliate checks used to have fewer numbers on the left side of the decimal.

I spent many frustrating days and nights scratching my head over code, or trying to figure out how to FTP the right PHP so my URL wouldn’t be 403.  (Yes, it rhymes.)

But in the end, I’ve always found this process rewarding.  There’s nothing like that sense of accomplishment when I learn something new, plus it keeps me wanting to learn more.  My love for writing and teaching others has also made the ride fun.

So that’s the attitude you have to have about this or you are doomed to fail.  Enjoyment comes first and then the money.  Not the other way around.  You have to find something about this process that will keep you motivated through the challenging times.

A lady once told me “If my site would just make some money, I would probably enjoy this more.”  But the real trick is you have to enjoy it enough to stick around long enough for your site to make money.

And let me be honest. Some of you must come to the harsh realization that this may not be for you.  The desire to make a lot of money and be successful is a start, but the enjoyment is what keeps you going when the going gets tough.  People who make a lot of money whether it be online or off, typically enjoy what they do.

Are there days when I feel totally uninspired and uncreative? Absolutely. But those moments don’t usually last long and are often due to external situations not related to this business. So you may have to ask yourself. Am I really enjoying this or am I enjoying the idea of financial independence and financial security more?

I’ll let you ponder that one for a minute.

If you remember nothing about what it takes to succeed online remember two things: planning and enjoyment. These two alone will take you very far out here.

And planning should go beyond “I want to make money and I want my site to have X, Y and Z.”  In fact, that’s not planning.  It’s a goal.

Research your market.  Find out what people in your niche need and want.  What kind of problems can you help them solve? Look for forums in your potential niche and keep an eye out for recurring topics.  Check out existing websites and blogs and look for gaps and areas of opportunity.  Hone your writing skills and study up on the various ways to market your website.

Don’t forget to read the forum thread.  There’s some great advice from people who have been there/done that.

Feel free to add your own advice and lessons.  And if you’re a newbie, absorb the information like a sponge!  You are fortunate to get this kind of advice that a lot of us didn’t have when we started.

In this book, Ken outlines 13 different mentalities/personalities that cause failure.

Even though this book was written years ago, it contains eye-opening, in-your-face points that are still very relevant today.

From the Ready-Aim-Ready-Aim mentality (the person who plans, researches, plans, researches, and never starts) to the Fire-Fire-Fire-Fire-Fire-Fire mentality (the person who jumps from one idea to another and has trouble sticking with one concept because they lose patience if the money doesn’t roll in fast enough).

Ken does a great job of categorizing the various personalities.   In one section he carefully describes one group as “IQ challenged”.

Don’t frown. That may sound insulting, but it was written quite tastefully. He bluntly points out that this business is not for everyone, just like any other line of work.

Unfortunately many people have trouble facing this fact. They believe that wanting to make money should be enough motivation to succeed, but it takes more than that.

Adding My Two Cents

If I were to add a 14th mentality to Ken’s list, it would be “Fear of Failure.”  So many people never make it over the hump because they are afraid to fail.

I cannot tell you how many emails I’ve received from people who are hesitant to start a blog or a website because they worry no one will ever visit… as if it’s some kind of personal rejection.

Let me tell you.  I’ve had more failed sites than profitable ones.  And if it weren’t for those failures, I wouldn’t be earning a living online today.

It’s not about how long it takes you to succeed. It’s about acknowledging the mistakes you make and using those lessons to catapult yourself to the next level.  And if that means trying 3 or 4 different concepts before finding the right one, so be it.

People forget that success is largely mental. If you go through this process plagued with fear of failure, it can stifle your creativity and prevent you from sticking with it when progress is slow.

That’s why so many people get too caught up in the Ready-Aim, Ready-Aim, Ready-Aim mentality Ken mentioned.  They are afraid to step out of their safety net and just do it (as the old Nike campaign instructed.)

So if you haven’t read Ken’s mini book, give it a read (right-click, and “save as” to download).  It’s free.

If you’re having trouble getting your site or blog off the ground, you may see yourself in this book. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.  It could be the reality check you need.

Watch the video below to learn more about why I believe many people struggle with building their AdSense revenue…