If you follow my blog regularly, you know that most of my posts are of the tutorial and marketing variety.
I rarely create posts solely on my personal thoughts, or use this blog as a place to vent.
Well today, my friends, is different.
I have to be careful with my words because I certainly don’t want to come across as condescending or arrogant — that is NOT my intention, so I apologize in advance if you get that vibe.
However, I really need to get something off my chest regarding the emails I receive from lazy people. This topic has caused me to do a lot of thinking lately. (Yes, the picture above is me… thinking). 🙂
First of all, let me just state that I absolutely LOVE helping people. In fact, it’s a big reason why I’m able to make a comfortable living online to this day.
I enjoy giving advice to people who are making a valiant effort at affiliate marketing and creating a website or blog. I can relate to what you’re going through because I have been there before.
I am a firm believer in paying it forward, and I know for certain if you go out of your way to help others, it will come back to you tenfold. My income is a great example of that.
Here Comes “The But”
What I don’t like or respect is people who expect to get something out here for nothing. And when I say nothing, I’m not necessarily talking about money. I’m talking about hard work, dedication, and taking the time to L-E-A-R-N.
So what sparked this blog post, you ask?
I received an email from a gentleman who claimed he wanted to make a full-time living online with a website, but wanted me to suggest the fastest method that would allow him to do as little work as possible (especially when it comes to creating his website.) According to him, he just didn’t have time to sit and learn how to build a website.
Yes. Those were his exact words. I am not paraphrasing.
Do you see anything wrong with that question? Since when does making a full-time living online and doing as little work as possible go together?Â
As if to suggest there is a way to make a lot of money online without doing much. It’s that ridiculous get-rich-quick mentality that plagues the Web.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Of course there are ways to make money online without building your own website. There’s PPC marketing with affiliate programs, MLM companies that provide you with a website, and the list continues.
Although I should add that even if you do take those routes, you STILL have to work hard at promoting your business.
However, I didn’t get the feeling that this guy was asking about such methods. I hate to say it, but he just seemed flat out lazy to me.
And I probably wouldn’t have blogged about this email if this was the first or second one I’ve received. I receive multiple emails like this on a consistent basis.
It truly baffles me.
The Facts
Let me make one thing very clear. When I started this 10 years ago, I never had one single web design or programming class. I had never created a website before, had no mentor/consultant, and no formal training in marketing or writing.
The only Internet skills I had were browsing and sending email.
And because of my novice status, I made a lot of mistakes. Tons of them. Several of my sites failed. My income went up and down like a yo-yo the first few years, and sometimes I even doubted that I was ever going to earn enough to comfortably quit my 9 to 5.
I was no coding/programming genius (nor did I have a real interest in becoming one) and would often get frustrated when I couldn’t figure out something.
There were weeks where I would spend 20 to 30 hours on my websites in addition to the 40 hours a week I put in at my full-time job. That meant a lot of weekend work and late, late nights… even during the weekdays.
But I knew, if I wanted to be my own boss and have a successful business, I was going to have to get out of my comfort zone, work hard and continue to learn new things.
To this day, I STILL don’t care much for coding, but took the time to learn enough to develop a presentable website. So for those of you assuming you cannot succeed because you have no background in computers or web design, let me be your example and say…
You CAN do this, but you have to sacrifice SOMEthing. And if you aren’t willing to put in hard work, learn something new, get out of your comfort zone and invest the time, then this might not be for you.
And let me say that I truly understand the not-enough-time issue. Many people simply don’t have the time they’d like to devote to this. But I will say, if you are committed to making this work and really enjoy the ride, you always find the time.
Lisa’s disclaimer: I’m not by any means suggesting people who don’t have time are lazy. This is a separate point. I brought it up because I know the time involvement is a big issue for a lot of you.
To Sum it Up…
I’ll say it again…
I LOVE helping people, especially when I see they are trying very hard to learn. But I have no respect or tolerance for people looking to get something for nothing. It’s not the way the business world works whether you’re online or off.
OK, I’ll get off my soapbox now. 😉
Thanks for letting me vent.
While I won’t deny that working hard is extremely useful for doing anything in life.I still can sympathize with people who does things by asking first.Thought if they actually read your stories,they probably shouldn’t post here for these kind of advice on shortcut.Hopefully I’m not offending you with this statement.But I compare you to an average joe that work hard an smartly and eventually thought long-term mistakes and tribulation gain your much deserved success. I hate to tell you this people,but if you actually try some short-term strategy of the era she is at..you would failed badly in this time and age.
Think you for your website..it helps me create my blog..and see you around.
Hi Lisa,
Very profoundly written post in the simpliest form for any person to understand. I totally agree with you that one has to work hard in order to be successful. One famous business philosopher states that “success is not pursued, it is attracted by you becoming an attractive person.” Thanks for your post, very inspiring and motivating.
lol, that picture of you is hilarious! Glad I stumbled across your website 2 days ago! Great reads. 🙂
There is always someone who wants something for nothing. They want you to do all the work while they take the credit for it. I used to train and show horses for people like that, very seldom got even a pat on the back for a win. It makes you cynical, yes, but you learn that while you deserve the credit, you have to put yourself right up front and say, “I did that”.
Yes, it is annoying to constantly run into these people who want you to provide everything for them while they sit back and wait for the results, but there is NO quick fix, NO instant riches unless you buy lottery tickets, and NO overnight success — not even in show business. The average time for truly big success is (I think) about 7 to 10 years, although with the internet and social networking, it may be taking less time now. Lasting success comes from working hard and loving what you do. The rewards follow.
Yeah I’m SUPER LATE on this one but I have to put my two cents in here…. Lazy people serve a purpose (and that’s not just to motivate non-lazy folks). They are the customer. They are the ones who look for something to buy that will provide them with a “convenient” way of doing something instead of just doing ALL the work themselves. I was reading one of the earlier responses about Dreamweaver not being designed for artists. That might actually be a profitable idea for someone to make a program like Dreamweaver that is more in tune with an artists needs and ideas. Man, why didn’t I learn how to program when I could have… LOL!
Still I agree with your thoughts on this subject and venting through writing is always a good thing… unless it’s a threat note or something. But that’s a topic for some other time. Take care.
Hi Lisa! I’ve been viewing your videos and reading your posts whenever I get some time. I find them very motivational. You’re absolutely right! This is hard work. The key is not to give up. Whenever I need a boost, I visit your site. I’ve seen my blog go from 200 visitors (a day), all the way down to 70 (between 3 blogs). It’s rough. But I refuse to give up. I don’t want to ever go back to work outside of my home. Fortunately, I have a husband that picks up the slack financially. Otherwise, I would not be able to do this. I have an, “it has to work attitude!” I’ve had many sleepless nights working on my blogs. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
Hey Kim! I just wanted to say hang in there it gets better. But please remember that the life of a new blogger is more like that of a marathon runner than a sprinter. Many of the blogging experts will tell you that it takes from 3-5 years before your blog is financially successful.
A good book to read on blogging is “ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income” by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett. It has some good tips and is well worth the $16 you will spend on it.
Also, I would appreciate it if you would consider serving as a guest blogger on the following blog: http://www.the-Savvy-Woman.com. It is a website/blog that my wife and I operate. I want to also point you to a newsletter that my wife publishes that comes in handy for stressed out moms. The site URL is http://www.AMotherswit.com.
Finally, keep listening to Lisa, because she’s AMAZING! I brag about her all the time.
Good luck! And Hang in there!
There are many lazy people, that people can’t do in his/her life. you doing hard work you always get more and more success in your life..
Hello Liza,
You have a very wonderful site. I really like it and I’m getting so much things in here. I’m starting to learn about blogging and I’m serious too in developing it. Thanks for this site.
Hey Lisa,
Great post.
By the way, if you do have a way of making a full time salary from scratch for just, say four hours work per week, please let me know and I’ll work forty hours a week and make ten full time salaries.
I’ll then take on several full time employees to launch and manage a further bunch of new sites and pocket the enormous margin between their salaries and the site revenues.
I’ll keep doing this until I make, maybe a billion or so, then retire 🙂
Hard work = Success.
The first thing you need to do when starting an online objective to set a REALISTIC goal. This might be, to achieve an income that pays all your household bills within 1-2 years (depending on your lifestyle and mortgage commitments!). Or it might be to earn a full-time salary within 2-3 years. Sure, it CAN happen quicker, and there’s no reason not to be optimistic, but the biggest stumbling block in this game is too much optimism and not enough realism. It takes time to build a proper website, with a serious business plan, and it takes even more time, sometimes years, before you’ll see serious financial returns. Mr Patience and Mrs Consistency will lead you down the best path…
Great post. I hate that get-rich-quick mentality too. What amazes me is that people sell ebooks and courses about making money and can’t even make money themselves or don’t offer anything of real value.
Your website is the best I ever found about your subject. I always find useful info here. Great work.
All the best. You deserve your success.
.-= nobi´s last blog … Bicycle News =-.
I would like to add something to this topic- mind you, not that anything you’ve written needs it from a neophyte such as myself!
I would simply like to add that it’s important to have as much of a foundation as possible when starting this. I am still in my research-and-learn phase. I have had a TON of ideas, and have gone back to the drawing board several times. I really don’t currently have the funds to do much of anything right now- yes, even that $30 a month SBI! plan would severely hurt right now.
Therein lies much of my reason for wanting to be financially independent. i grew up poor and never really broke those chains, and I am well into adult hood. So for *some*, likely a great minority, this is fertile breeding ground for the “quick with as little work as possible” mentality. Hey, I need to make something YESTERDAY, feel me? I’ve been dreaming of being financial independence ever since I was a 15 year old foster kid laid up with a broken ankle watching the old Brad Richdale mail order infomercials, and went through every hokey scheme in existence for years before I gave up.
The light is shining bright on the horizon, however. I begin a new job (finally!) that pays a solid wage that will not only help me get back on my feet, but provide me such stability that I don’t have to DEPEND on my site idea to support me as quick as possible. For some, that sort of desperation is the kiss of death when it comes to any business venture, large or small. So my suggestion to everyone who has their heart set on this, is to make sure you have some kind of foundation under you first. Desperation can lead to panic, which can easily lead to hopelessness and depression- which can often lead to an emotional inability to really put forth your best effort because you don’t even believe it will pay off.
So that’s all I wanted to offer, sorry for the long post….. I just know with my situation, I am a good two months away from getting started (before I have that foundation settled) but I am utilizing that time to research all my potential topic ideas and begin developing my content beforehand. Good luck and best wishes to everyone trying to get theirs.
Lisa, by the way, a thousand blessings to you and yours sister. You truly are a force for good things and I pray that your cup runs over tenfold-from it’s current position.
I came across your video on yutube looking for something else. My first thought of making money one line was in 1996 when i got my first compute. What is the first thing i should do to get started
Start with reading my free book http://www.theperfectsiteguide.com
Hey Lisa you are such an inspiration for so many of us that I do not know if you understand the knowledge and encouragement you have all ready given to so many! My website websiteinfordummies.com is an idea I got from learning through you and so many others to step out and become a student so to speak of what it is you want to accomplish! I also just finished writing my first book and I hope to send you an autographed copy if you would send me your p.o. box! Good work and continue to straighted out those who want something for nothing. Can’t wait to finish making the website so you can see it and even critic it! Well God bless and prosperity to you and yours! Cheers!
Hi Lisa,
I noticed that you’re on the first page of Google for many “Adsense” related keyphrases. Well done, now I see where all your traffic comes from!
Just a question – what do you actively do to stay ahead of your competitors? After all, what’s to stop someone with better SEO knowledge from coming in a stealing a large chunk of your well-earned pie? This, for me, is a real threat in the online world, especially when one-woman/man-bands go up against big corporate fish with media teams. Lucky for you it hasn’t happened yet, I’ve got three piranha websites in my pond!
Anyway, great site, love your style, have fun!
Daniel
That is why voluntary inbound links are much more valuable than someone just trying to figure SEO out. Anyone can tweak a page with their SEO knowledge but you can’t fake inbound links from quality websites. That’s what affects my rankings more than anything. Back in the day it was all about on-page SEO, now it’s all about popularity. Which is good because it’s harder to trick/fake.
Lisa you are absolutely right. The harder you put in – the more you get out. I have a full time job and a full time business and I enjoy it both.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for all your posts. It gave me a lot of insight on how I could earn online. I have and 8 to 5 job that I enjoy most of the time and I can’t endure some of the time. But what I can’t really endure is that I am well aware that I’m grossly underpaid. But living in a Third World Country with soaring unemployment rate, I should really not complain. Anyway, I came across your site when I was looking for ways to earn on the side. Reading your posts gave me a lot of ideas. I like writing and I currently have a blogspot. And since I’m quite new with the idea of earning online, I was wondering if I could start slow and safe. Is it ok if I just experiment on blogspot first before I put up my own website? Is it possible for me to earn decent amount through Adsense on my blogspot?
Thanks again Lisa. I know you have inspired a lot of people though this site. Have a nice day.
Hi Lisa!
You’ve been such a great inspiration to me. It’s only recently that I’ve decided to put up my own blog and make a little income from it apart from my full time job. I’m no techie person, but I’ve been spending hours over the internet reading and learning how I can make money from blogging. Because of your site I was able to understand google adsense work! So, thank you. I am an avid reader and fan. I’m glad I came across your website. Cheers to your hardwork!
.-= izzasy´s last blog … Make Money from Blogging =-.
Such people are called n00bs in the Internet slang. They expect you do the job for them and they get all the benefits from your hard work.
Thanks Lisa for a good post. I agree with you on so many people end up buy products and never do anything with them. They work at their online business as a hobby, and if they treat it as a hobby, that’s all it will ever be. They need to treat it as a real business, if they ever want to quit their day job, they need to work hard at their Internet Business.
I have been working at this for a little under a year now, and still not making much money yet, but I have learned so much in this time by taking action. I know I can do it if I keep plugging away at it. I work my day job and always am putting in a few hours every day on my Business. I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot from them.
I started going to Internet Marketing Events and Meetups and this has helped me so much in the last few months. My best advice is to Network with other Marketers as much as you can.
.-= Thomas Shay´s last blog … New FTC Marketing Rules that will affect Internet Marketers starts Dec. 1st 2009 =-.
Couldn’t agree more. It’s obvious (not for all unfortunately) that you have to do something to get something. You can’t just start earning overnight because you have THAT website..You have to work a lot to get it noticed and to get people, and quick methods are usually..not succesful.
Great articles Lisa 😉 You’ve helped me at some points when it comes to my blog and I wan’t to thank you for that. Keep up the good work, you’re making many people lives better.
.-= Chio´s last blog … Light Painting =-.
Hello Lisa,
First and foremost, thank you for all the great information you provide. I have been struggling for years with how to be my own boss. I chose the Web as my vehicle for success Because of the low overhead and I thought it was something I could do.
I have watched most, if not all of your videos and Have found them very encouraging, they not only inspire me to continue my pursuit for financial independence, they are affirmation that – IT CAN BE DONE.
Once again I thank you and wish you continued success.
Hi Lisa,
I found your website, free e-book and this blog today while searching for advice on building a website. Quite honestly, you are the first person on the web who I somehow feel comfortable trusting. It is honorable to “give back” while supporting yourself. You’re doing a great job here and I thank you for that! Your work is of high quality and you should be proud. I realize this doesn’t just “happen”. It takes courage and discipline to achieve great things.
The combination of what most people have written here inspires me to try harder with some of the difficult things in my life. I’ve also noticed the quality of writing skills from most of the people responding here. On some blogs I’m not used to seeing proper punctuation and complete sentences void of misspelled words. What a treat! After all, it really doesn’t take much effort to press down the shift key and make a capital letter, and maybe surprise everyone by throwing in a period at the end of a sentence and checking for spelling errors. How can one expect to be taken seriously while demonstrating the skills of a below average student in the Fourth Grade?
Focusing on quality and distinction could improve the abundance of sloppy and careless work found all over the Web today. If we collectively accept nothing less than the best, others will most likely rise to the challenge. It reminds me of travelling to various parts of the country and noticing all the litter along side the highways in some areas while others are immaculate.
There must be masses of “good” lazy people out there who would be much happier if they would only learn how to motivate themselves and become competitive. They may be followers just looking for a good example, or perhaps worthless vermin breathing precious air. It wouldn’t be fair to speculate.
Do I win the soapbox prize?