Friday, February 17, 2012

The Refreshing Truth About Technology and Making Money

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The Refreshing Truth About Technology and Making Money
By Joshua Boswell

Social media. Mobile media. Trip wire marketing. Email Campaigns. Search Engine Optimization. Shopping Carts. E-commerce. Hosting. Servers. Tablets. Smartphones. Digital Delivery. Java. HTML5.

I could go on for hours, listing all the different, complicated technologies and devices that so many Internet marketing experts tell us we "must have" to make money online.

But, the reality is ... neither you or I are going to be able to conquer and stay endlessly current with the latest, hottest, most amazing stuff out there.

This fact has really bothered me. And, in listening to many Carefree Entrepreneur subscribers, it really bothers you as well.

How can you and I possibly make money online, if we can't keep up with all the new stuff? And, not only that... how do we know who to believe... what's real... and what's just the latest passing fad?

I decided to turn to my mentor and good friend Mark Ford (you'll know him by his pen name, Michael Masterson) and get his opinion on the matter.

I think his insights will be extremely valuable to you. Actually, he shared these with me and the entire Carefree and AWAI leadership team. Katie Yeakle responded back stating plainly ... "This is a Master's course in Business."

And, indeed it is.

Here are his profitable and powerful insights ...

90% of the Internet marketing industry is a joke. It's based on a myth. The myth is that employing technological gimmicks can make you rich. This is not true, but it continues to be sold by so-called "Internet Marketing Experts" - and bought by unsuspecting would-be online entrepreneurs.

The unfortunate reality is that 90% of Internet marketing experts are frauds. They are frauds because they only make money by selling this myth - not by selling legitimate business tools or ideas.

So, how can they get away with it? Because they know technology. And these guys know technologies because they are fundamentally nerds ... technology nerds.

Over the last 10 to 12 years, while the Internet was changing the landscape of business, many of these nerds made a lot of money by exploiting their knowledge of specific Internet technologies.

But, most of them never learned anything important about business. They never learned the truth about sound business practices. And now, as technology has advanced to the point where these technologies are more user-friendly, these people - who were really nothing more than over-paid technical consultants who were giving advice about topics they knew nothing about - i.e., business - have become less and less useful.

Plus, as the market becomes more competitive, they are becoming less and less capable of acquiring new customers (people who foolishly believe in the myth of technology). And, that means we will soon be rid of them ... which is a good thing.

Here's the truth:

You can't develop a real business by learning or applying gimmicks.

There is one thing that every entrepreneur needs to learn, and it is not optional ...

It is 1,000 times more important than any one of these gimmicks.

If you have it, you can build empires.

Without it, expertise in 20 of these gimmicks will get you nothing.

What is it? The one thing you need to master is the Optimal Selling Strategy (OSS) for your business.

I believe that for every business, at any given time, there is one best way to acquire new customers. How you sell your product, service, or ideas - the specific decisions you make about presenting and pricing and talking about it - has a huge impact on whether you will be successful.

To take a business from zero to a million dollars (and beyond), you have to discover and implement your Optimal Selling Strategy.

When you have this, nobody can fool you with cockamamie marketing strategies or hollow technology gimmicks.

Rich Schefren - founder of Strategic Profits - is a tech nerd who actually understands business. He put it this way: "You have to learn the 'what' before the 'how.' People always ask me things like, 'How do I do PPC? How do I do SEO?' But, they don't know WHAT - What are you going to sell? You need to know that first."

Mike Palmer - one of the world's leading copywriters and sales strategists - put it this way: "Sales copy is king. Everything else is just gimmicks."

If you can learn and consistently implement your OSS, you can hire people to implement the rest. You can - and should - hire out all the technology.

I completely agree with Mark's assessment.

I promised to show you how you can be "Techno-Smart ... When You're Not" and this is it.

The reality is that you - as the entrepreneur - don't need to be caught up in the latest stuff. What you need to do is discover your Optimal Selling Strategy and then implement it.

Are there specific technologies you should be using? Yes, but only if and when you clearly see how they fit into your OSS.

In his book, Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat, Mark outlines "Four Secrets of the Optimal Selling Strategy." This past week, during my webinar Converting Your Skills and Experience into Wealth, I talked about each of these four secrets.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we are going to give each area a focused analysis so you can be fully empowered to begin discovering your Optimal Selling Strategy.

Editor's Note: Would you like to drastically accelerate the discovery of your Optimal Selling Strategy? Would you like to take your OSS and put it to use making money as quickly as possible?

On March 5, 2012, we are starting a brand-new session of our extremely popular Internet Money Club.

As a member of the Internet Money Club, you will explore your OSS, find the best match between your unique skills, uncover high-demand markets, and make use of the best technologies to rapidly reach your goals.

Seating is limited and we historically have sold out. Take action today, and you can receive a $1,000 discount at registration. Registration closes on February 25.

Click Here Now to Learn More about the Internet Money Club.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Your Primary Resource for Rapidly Getting Wealth

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Lessons from Michael Dell:
Your Primary Resource for Rapidly Getting Wealth
By Joshua Boswell

My purpose today is to help you unlock the vast storehouse of wealth locked inside of you ... and show you a formula for rapidly converting that storehouse into physical money.

In 1992, at the age of 27, Michael Dell, of Dell Computers, became the youngest CEO to have his company ranked in the Forbes Top 500 Companies. News articles of the day called him an "overnight success" and declared that he had achieved "explosive" growth. Since that time, he has gone on to create the world's largest PC manufacturing company in the world. Not shabby.

So, I thought we would draw some lessons from his life. He used a specific formula to create this kind of dynamic growth and success. It is a formula that you and I can easily use as well.

He purchased his first calculator at age seven - a big deal in 1972. At the age of eight, he applied to take a high school equivalency exam. His parents were both business owners and he wanted to be one, too. He didn't pass, but he tried. He was programming a teletype machine at age 12.

At age 15 - in 1980 - he bought his first computer, an Apple II. After playing around with it for a few days, he proceeded to take it apart. He was curious to see how it worked. All through high school, he worked in sales and ran small businesses on the side.

When he hit college, he started a company selling computer upgrades and software. Before his senior year, he outbid a number of major computer maintenance companies and landed a government contract with the state of Texas. At the time, he was running his company out of his dorm room. He converted that initial contract into a computer manufacturing company.

The rest is history. Today, he is worth about $44 billion, with most of that being made in the past 10 years.

What was the secret to his success? What was his primary resource for creating wealth so rapidly?

I can sum it up in two words: Applied experience.

Look, from the time he was a kid, he was interested in computers and technology. When he hit college, he realized that all those years of tinkering with computers and trying to run small businesses could be worth real money.

He drew on years of experience and leveraged it to bring value to the lives of other people.

Applied experience is the key. Over the past few years, I have personally interviewed close to 50 millionaires. I have focused on their "backstory" to see if I could find clues to their wealth. In EVERY case, they leveraged their past experience to become wealthy. It is not just Michael Dell ... it is every successful person you will ever meet. Without exception.

You know that my mission with Carefree Entrepreneur is to help you create a solid, safe, ongoing, long-term stream of money and wealth. But, I want you to do it as fast and safely and easily as possible.

To do that, you and I must capitalize on existing resources.

Inside of you, there is bank vault of stored experiences. I don't know if you are 19 or 99 years old, but it doesn't matter. You have been breathing and living during all that time. By the course of nature, you have been collecting experiences, insights, skills, and talents.

And just like Michael Dell, those experiences can be worth millions to you. Why? Because other human beings are living and having similar experiences ... and they demand to live life better. People don't just want to live, they demand to thrive.

So, how do you convert your skills, experiences, and talents, into financially-viable businesses?

Through the course of my interviews, research, and experiences, I've seen a consistent pattern for turning experiences and skills into wealth. It can be easily explained in a simple 10-part formula.

Each part - or element - of this formula is essential to converting your experiences into wealth, just like Michael Dell did. Today, I'm going to give you the first element. I just don't have space in this article to give you all 10. But, in a few days, I'm hosting a private, no-cost webinar called "Converting Your Skills and Experience Into Wealth." During this webinar, I'll outline the other nine parts. I really want you to have them so you can create greater wealth in your life.

For now, let me give you the first part of the formula:

1. Part One: Personal Probability Assessment

I know it sounds really simple, but the first part of the formula - the starting point - is to do what I call a Personal Probability Assessment.

At some point, Michael Dell had to evaluate which of his skills, experiences, and talents were going to have the highest probability of success. His dad was an orthodontist. His mom was a stockbroker. Being a geek at a young age was not his ONLY skill set. He was pretty smart in a number of areas. I'm sure he could have been a good investor or dentist or doctor. In fact, when he started Dell, he was a pre-med student.

But, there came a time when he did a Personal Probability Assessment (but I bet he didn't call it that ... those are my words). Through that process, he clearly identified where his greatest probability of success lay.

Notice that I didn't say "potential" of success ... I said, "probability."

There is a really big difference there.

You need to take the same kind of assessment in your life. What skills, experiences, talents, and wisdom do you have locked inside of you that have a really high probability of creating rapid wealth in your life?

Another way to pose the question is this: What skills, experiences, and talents do you already possess that could benefit, bless, and enhance the life of another human being?

I have learned from past experience that this is a really hard question for most people to answer. They simply feel uncomfortable examining themselves and highlighting their positive qualities.

What is more, they often fail to see which of those qualities is actually going to benefit another human being. We are far too quick to discount our own value.

To help you overcome that tendency, I have created a really simple, but powerful tool. This tool allows you to systematically assess your skills, experiences, and talents. Then, using a rough formula I created, it calculates your highest areas of probable success.

When you get done with the assessment, it will instantly give you back a report you can print. This report contains your probability scores, plus gives you a couple of "next steps to success." It will show you what to do with your scores, so you can continue moving forward.

As my gift to you, I have decided to give you access to this unique tool, at no cost. Every person registering for my "Converting Your Skills and Experience into Wealth" webinar will also get a link giving them FREE access to my Personal Probability Assessment tool.

This FREE tool is in addition to the FREE access to the private interview I did with Perry Marshall. Both gifts are highly valuable and specifically calculated to help you convert your experience into serious wealth. You will receive them at no cost just by registering for the webinar taking place February 15th at 12 p.m.

The webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 15th, at 12 p.m. It is FREE, but you must register to participate.

Click here now to reserve your seat.

My interview with Perry Marshall and the link to my Personal Probability Assessment will be given to you at the end of the webinar. Plus, I have a special announcement I'll be making.

If you're interested in taking your existing skills, experiences, and talents and discovering how to create wealth by using my 10-part formula, I strongly encourage you to join me on this beneficial webinar.

Click here now to reserve your seat.

As you recall, a month ago, based on your survey responses, I began a 5-part series called, "Simple Steps to Making Money Online." The first topic was "How to Find a Mentor You Can Trust." I think we've pretty much covered that one.

The second topic was, "How to Find Products That Sell." We are in the middle of covering that now. My upcoming webinar is part of that series.

Next week, I'm going to keep us moving forward by talking about "How to be Techno-Smart ... When You're Not."

Technology is moving at an ever-increasing speed. How do you keep up? How do you make money online, when you don't know a thing about programming, mobile apps, HTML, or Java?

I'll share some really powerful insights with you next week on how to actually make the technical side of this equation work smooth and easy.

Friday, February 3, 2012

The Untold Secret of Steve Jobs' Empire - Part 2

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The Untold Secret of Steve Jobs' Empire (Part 2 of 2)
By Joshua Boswell

Last week, I posed this question to you: "How do you find in-demand products that will sell and bring you high levels of wealth and success?"

Today, I'm going to show you why that is actually a bad question - at least it's not a very effective one, as you'll see.

To be honest, I used that question to capture your attention... now that I have it, I'm going to give you the right question... plus some ideas on how to use it profitably. And, I'm going to have Steve Jobs help me...

In 1997, shortly after Steve Jobs took back the reins of Apple, Inc., he was speaking at a tech conference. An attendee questioned him on his approach to using technology and marketing.

Sitting on a stool, he thoughtfully rubbed at his chin. Slowly he said,

"I have to think of how to create a product that will sell billions of units - not just a few million," he stated.

Now, if you ask me, that is really big thinking!

His tactic for finding and creating a line of products that would sell billions of units is really remarkable ... and astonishingly simple. Let me share it with you ...

We know that you have to find a product that is in "demand." Just trying to address "needs" is not enough. Everyone has already figured out how to have their needs met, or they would be dead.

Yes, you need to uncover "demands" - and then supply those demands - but how do you do it? Mr. Jobs' continued and explained what most companies do... and it's not very effective...

"The problem with most technology companies is that they look at what technologies are currently available and ask what they can make - and then sell to consumers - using those existing technologies," Steve said.

He also said he had made the same mistake and it had cost him hundreds of millions.

In thinking about that statement, I see two problems with the mentality Mr. Jobs is talking about here ...

First, there is no innovation. In-demand products... think iPod, iPhone, iPad... are those that are slightly new, different, unique, and resonate with a core emotional human desire for something better. Taking the same old stuff and slopping it around will never do. Remember this ... human demand is driven by "better."

Second, the core question of most technology companies that Mr. Jobs is describing is framed in a "me-centric" way - just like the one I asked you last week. The energy and focus is on the wrong person.

No wonder the average consumer thinks poorly of big companies and most salespeople. It's like saying, "How can I extract the most money out of this chump so I can be rich?" No one likes to be thought of in that way ... and certainly no one that I know of likes to be a pawn in someone else's chess game.

Only thinking about what you can sell people and how you can make money will preclude you from finding products that sell really well. It's ironic, but it will hold you back from really having a fulfilling, truly wealthy life.

With that in mind, let me give you the core philosophy that I believe drove Steve Jobs and Apple to be a global success...

"Instead of worrying about existing technology, I sit down and think first about how I can improve the lives of other people. How can I make things better, easier, faster, more efficient for them? What could I do to really impress them and raise their quality of life?"

I'm paraphrasing Mr. Jobs' remarks, because he spoke on the topic for more than 20 minutes - but the quote above is the mental and emotional essence of his approach.

His starting point in finding products that would sell really well, was never "What will they buy?" or "How can I get rich selling something to these people?" It was always, "How can I improve their life?"

By now, I hope you know that my entire focus with Carefree Entrepreneur is to help you create safe, solid wealth. Most people will never reach their dreams or this level of success, because at the core, their thinking is off. They have an internal, money-hungry focus that seriously damages their chances of winning.

My mission is to help you think deeper, differently, and more effectively. Together, we are going to uncover the secret mindset, strategies, and techniques of the truly wealthy.

That is why I brought you into the world of Steve Jobs... to help you quickly and easily discover products that would sell. He always began with the right question, and now you can, too.

So, now it is time to take action! This week, sit down and do the following...

Set aside 5-10 minutes and clear your schedule. I want you to really devote some energy and focus to this.

Clear your mind. Stop worrying about how you will become wealthy. Set aside your financial aspirations, goals, and dreams... and yes, your worries.

Most of all... Take the "me" hat off and put on the "you" thinking cap for a minute or two.

When you look at wealth and business through this lens, a whole new world of opportunities opens up to you. Let me show you what I mean ...

As bishop for my church, I regularly meet with people who are in financial distress. The top thoughts on their mind are ... "How can I save more money?" and "How do I make more money?"

As I was sitting with one man the other day, he told me that he'd been thinking of these two questions for a long, long time, but just couldn't see a way out of his financial crisis. Year after year, it just kept getting worse.

I suggested he change the question. "Why don't we think about what skills, insights, and experience you have that could bless the lives of other people. What could you do to make someone else happier?"

At first, the thought surprised him. He thought for a minute, and then with a little more prodding from me, he started listing off a number of his talents, skills, and insights. Within 20 minutes, he'd thought of about a dozen ways to help his fellow man and about half of those were ideas inside of proven, marketable industries.

In other words, he could make money doing them.

And, let me tell you, he was very excited. Finally, after years of being vexed by financial trouble, there was some hope for escape.

The difference came in turning his focus to others, instead of stressing about the money and getting rich.

So, that is my first suggestion for you...

Follow the example of Steve Jobs and start asking different questions.

Turn your attention to those around you and see how you could improve their life. What product, service, idea, innovation, concept, or information would make them happy and feel special and important.

That is the beginning of finding products that sell. It is also the beginning of innovation. Best of all, it will cost you nothing more than some deep thinking.

Once you have a nice list of answers to the question of, "How can I make someone else's life better?"... your next questions will be, "How do you convert that into products and services? How do you get the message out that you're open for business and ready to improve their lives?"

That's what we'll be doing next week... answering those life-changing questions.

Until then, open your mind to all the ways you could brighten someone's day and put a smile on their face. I know every time I use my iPhone or iMac or a cool new app, I'm smiling. It's the billionaire's way, so let's do the same.

Editor's Note: On Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at 12 p.m. EST, Joshua is hosting a private, 60-minute webinar called, "Converting Your Skills and Experience Into Wealth." He will give you a rare insight into the psychology of buyers, what they are looking for, what makes an "in-demand" product or service, and some simple ways to use your existing skills to create true wealth for you and them.

There is no cost for this FREE seminar, but space is limited and you must register.

Click here now to register your seat.

BONUS! As part of this webinar, Joshua will also give you FREE access to part of a private interview he did with Perry Marshall. Perry is well-known for being one of the first marketers to master Google AdWords and has now successfully cracked the code on making Facebook pay.

Joshua and Perry dive deep into the minds of business owners, marketers, and buyers in this rare and exclusive interview. You will walk away with core secrets to running a multimillion-dollar business, managing your time — including balancing business and personal life — and attracting more money into your world.

You will receive it via email for FREE after attending the tele-seminar on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

The webinar will be recorded and posted for later viewing if you can't join us at 12 p.m. EST, but you must register to receive access.

Click here now to register your seat.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Changes to Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

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Dear Google user, We're getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that's a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google. We believe this stuff matters, so please take a few minutes to read our updated Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at http://www.google.com/policies. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.
One policy, one Google experience

Easy to work across Google Our new policy reflects a single product experience that does what you need, when you want it to. Whether you're reading an email that reminds you to schedule a family get-together or finding a favorite video that you want to share, we want to ensure you can move across Gmail, Calendar, Search, YouTube, or whatever your life calls for with ease.	Tailored for you If you're signed into Google, we can do things like suggest search queries – or tailor your search results – based on the interests you've expressed in Google+, Gmail, and YouTube. We'll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you're searching for and get you those results faster.	Easy to share and collaborate When you post or create a document online, you often want others to see and contribute. By remembering the contact information of the people you want to share with, we make it easy for you to share in any Google product or service with minimal clicks and errors.

Protecting your privacy hasn't changed Our goal is to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible, through products like Google Dashboard and Ads Preferences Manager, alongside other tools. Our privacy principles remain unchanged. And we'll never sell your personal information or share it without your permission (other than rare circumstances like valid legal requests).	Got questions? We've got answers. Visit our FAQ at http://www.google.com/policies/faq to read more about the changes. (We figured our users might have a question or twenty-two.)

Notice of Change March 1, 2012 is when the new Privacy Policy and Terms will come into effect. If you choose to keep using Google once the change occurs, you will be doing so under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Please do not reply to this email. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered. Also, never enter your Google Account password after following a link in an email or chat to an untrusted site. Instead, go directly to the site, such as mail.google.com or www.google.com/accounts. Google will never email you to ask for your password or other sensitive information.

The Untold Secret of Steve Jobs' Empire

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The Untold Secret of Steve Jobs' Empire (Part 1 of 2)
By Joshua Boswell

The late Steve Jobs built a technology empire that has revolutionized much of the world ... and I believe it will continue to do so.

In the next few minutes, you and I are going to explore the kingpin-secret behind this empire.

You might not ever sweep the globe with your products and services the way he has done, but by using this incredible secret, you can make yourself a small fortune.

Best of all, you can do it online, from home (if you wish), and in your spare time.

To really understand the magic behind Mr. Jobs, let me lay the groundwork for you with this true story about A.T. Stewart, father of the modern department store, as told by Russell Conwell in his famous speech, Acres of Diamonds. Listen carefully and you will discover the magic to building an empire ...

"A.T. Stewart, a poor boy in New York, had $1.50 to begin life on. He lost 87½ cents of that on the very first venture. How fortunate is that young man who loses the first time he gambles. That boy said, 'I will never gamble again in business,' and he never did.

How did he come to lose 87½ cents?

You probably all know the story of how he lost it - because he bought some needles, threads, and buttons to sell which people did not want, and had them left on his hands, a dead loss.

Said the boy, 'I will not lose any more money in that way.' Then, he went around first to the doors and asked the people what they did want. Then, when he had found out what they wanted, he invested his 62½ cents to supply a known demand. Study it wherever you choose - in business, in your profession, in your housekeeping, whatever your life, that one thing is the secret of success. You must first know the demand. You must first know what people need, and then invest yourself where you are most needed.

A.T. Stewart went on that principle until he was worth what amounted afterward to 40 millions of dollars, owning the very store in which Mr. Wanamaker carries on his great work in New York. His fortune was made by his losing something, which taught him the great lesson that he must only invest himself or his money in something that people need. When will you salesmen learn it? When will you manufacturers learn that you must know the changing needs of humanity if you would succeed in life?"

Knowing the current and ever-changing demand is vital ... but it is not the whole equation.

There are two more things you need to apply in business to really create success ...

To illustrate this, let me tell you one other story, this one about Steve Jobs and the iPhone. This story is pulled from a New York Times article titled, "How the U.S. Lost Out on iPhone Work" ...

"In 2007, a little over a month before the iPhone was scheduled to appear in stores, Mr. Jobs beckoned a handful of lieutenants into an office. For weeks, he had been carrying a prototype of the device in his pocket.

Mr. Jobs angrily held up his iPhone, angling it so everyone could see the dozens of tiny scratches marring its plastic screen, according to someone who attended the meeting.

He then pulled his keys from his jeans.

'People will carry this phone in their pocket,' he said. 'People also carry their keys in their pocket. I won't sell a product that gets scratched,' he said tensely. The only solution was using unscratchable glass instead. 'I want a glass screen, and I want it perfect in six weeks.'"

Between these two short stories, there is a remarkable secret formula to creating massive amounts of wealth. It is very simple ... yet it is usually the number one thing that up-and-coming business owners neglect.

And, let me tell you, the secret formula being used here has never been more needed than it is today with online business development. Steve Jobs mastered it and created the largest company in the world, while changing the way we consume music, documents, videos, the Internet, and social media.

So, let me break all this down into a simple 3-step formula for you so that you can begin replicating it in your thinking, business life, and even in your personal life.

First: A Proven Demand.

Notice that I did not say "need." We all have needs, but that is not where new wealth is created. New, ongoing wealth is found in human demands. What are the products, services, ideas, and luxuries that we come to "demand"?

Human beings are funny critters. In most places in the world, we figured out a long time ago how to meet our basic needs. The fact is that you and I could live just fine by eating beans and rice every day. That meets our needs. So, why do we eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products? Because we want - no, we demand - variety. We demand the joy of sitting down to a rich, tasty meal on a regular basis. We demand fast foods and microwave ovens that save us time.

In a similar vein, we don't "need" cell phones, computers, or even cars for that matter. Humans lived and survived quite nicely without all of that stuff long before you and I came along. But, we came along and demanded more out of life. And, most of us are getting it thanks to some savvy business owners.

Don't look for needs - those are all taken care of. Look for the demand.

Second: Improve and Innovate.

I have a news flash for you. Steve Jobs did not invent the cell phone, PDA, computer, tablet, or any other device that I know of.

Just like Mark Zuckerburg of Facebook didn't invent social media. Ray Kroc of McDonald's didn't invent the hamburger. And, Sam Walton of Walmart didn't invent big-box retail stores.

You can't even tell me who invented those things without a quick Wikipedia search.

(Oh, and Jimmy Whales of Wikipedia didn't invent the online encyclopedia or the "wiki" format ... that was Rick Gates, in 1993 ... but I digress ... )

But, all of these people found a way to improve on products that were already proven to have a demand. They innovated new, unique, better, faster, easier, stronger, tastier, cheaper, and smarter ways to do things.

For Steve Jobs, part of the magic to the iPhone was getting rid of the standard plastic screen that scratched easily and replacing it with unscratchable glass. It's a small thing, but after 18 months of my iPhone running around in my pocket, the face still looks new. That makes me feel good ... like I'm a man of quality. I demand quality in my life and Mr. Jobs found a way to innovate and deliver.

Third: Marketing.

Even the best products and services that meet the highest demands in the world can fail ... and have repeatedly.

The final ingredient here is your ability to speak to buyers in a way that clearly tells your story and speaks to how it relates to them.

A personal experience from about 10 years ago sticks out in my mind ...

My wife and I were taking the children on a walk in the park. We saw another family sitting at the side of the pond with a loaf of bread. A flock of ducks had assembled close by the shore in hopes of picking up a mid-morning snack.

Now, note this ... the ducks were already fat and happy. They had plenty of food in the form of pond-scum and bugs. They did not need a slice of Wonder Bread to live. But, if you have ever eaten a bug, you know Wonder Bread is a lot more enjoyable. Even if you are a duck.

So, the demand was there ... and the fluffy white, innovate bread was there. The family was poised for a successful outing with the kiddies to feed the ducks.

But then, it happened ... One of the younger children suddenly grabbed a bunch of slices of bread with both hands and ran excitedly toward the pond, screaming as he went. As he got close to the water's edge, he hurled the chunks of bread at the now frightened and scattering ducks.

You know the result. The ducks scattered in an instant and the bread got soggy and sank to the bottom of the pond, much to the pleasure of the carp.

Moral of the story ... The way you present your message is vital to your success. If you look at some of HP's odd, complex, alien-style tablet ads and compare them to Apple's rich, warm, personal ads, you can quickly see why Apple is crushing them in this market.

Now that you know this simple, time-tested formula, the question is, how do you implement it?

How do you find products and services that are in demand? Because, as any good copywriter or marketer will tell you, that is the very first and most essential step to success. You MUST have a compelling offer. The offer has to be intrinsic in the product itself. It can't be something it isn't.

How do you uncover where there is a need for improvement and innovation? Because we, as humans, demand better and better lives, there is always a way to improve on existing goods and services.

Next week, in Part 2 of this series, I will give you a couple of powerful, but simple and cheap ways to find in-demand products and show you ways to improve them with little innovations that will resonate with your buyers.

The marketing conversation will have to wait for another day ... but don't worry, it will come. It will come because I'm focused on helping you create a safe, flexible online business that brings you six-figures. And, to do that, the market conversation has to come ...

Friday, January 20, 2012

How to Find a Mentor You Can Trust

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How to Find a Mentor You Can Trust
By Joshua Boswell

In the next few minutes, I'm going to give you a solid, bulletproof formula for picking a mentor you can trust.

But first, why do you need a mentor?

I'm using the term "mentor" here pretty loosely. What I mean is a person or system you can comfortably hang your hat on. Someone reliable who will show you how and when and where you can make money online.

There are two reasons why you need this simple formula of mine...

First, there has never been a "solo success story" in the history of the world. Every person of great wealth, health, and happiness has had someone giving them a hand up and helping them find their way.

You're not going to be the first person in history to break this pattern, so you need a person or system to help you along your journey.

Second, there is the issue of white noise.

That is what I call the constant bombardment of information, pitches, and enticements you and I face every day.

It seems like everyone under the sun has some kind of system for making money online. And, all of them are fighting and grabbing for your attention. It's like walking into an old-fashioned marketplace with 37,000 vendors hoping to sell you their wares. They shout and yell and do everything they can to win you over. The volume can be deafening.

It's also very confusing.

Which one can really help you? Which is a scam? Which is well-meaning, but just doesn't have the right stuff for you?

You and I both know that before you move forward, you need to pick something or someone to work with. Until that happens, your mental capital will be spent wondering who you should trust... and you'll be caught up in wondering if some system is right for you.

To help you get past that stagnant position, I'm giving you my personal formula that I've used for picking mentors I trust and are right for me. Here it is...

1. Step One: Harmonize Values and Priorities

This is the first and probably most important step. You want to know if the mentor or system you're considering harmonizes with your core values.

It's no good saying, "I don't like what that guy is promoting, but he seems to be making a lot of money so I'll follow his lead." If you do that, it won't be long before you feel frustration, conflict, and internal turmoil.

All of those feelings will stop you dead in your tracks. You'll be confused and conflicted. You'll always be wondering if what you're doing is right or not. All of that energy will take away from your ability to make money online.

Many years ago, when I started my copywriting business, I sat down and made a list of industries, products, and services I would never write for. I also made a list of activities I would never engage in.

I applied that same list to my selection of gurus and mentors. If they made their money in those sectors or strongly supported those values on my list, I stayed clear.

As I looked at my list, I saw that someone was making a ton of money in all of these industries. I also knew that some mentors in those industries were decent people... just not my kind of people. I wanted to be true to myself - no make that... I had to be true to myself so I could sleep peacefully at night.

One other thing to consider here, that's closely related... Does the mentor or system harmonize with your priorities? In other words, is following this path right for you, based on your personal priorities, goals, and focus in life?

I could have made a great deal of money in the world of financial copywriting... but, frankly, it was just not my thing.

So, my first question for you is this... does the mentor or system harmonize with your personal, internal, core values and priorities? If yes, move on to Step Two...

2. Step Two: Determine Congruency and Sincerity

I wish it wasn't so, but there are people in our world today that say one thing... and do another. Or, they encourage you to do something they have never done. They sell theory, not reality.

At one point, when I was in a critical phase of my life and business development, I found myself sitting across the desk from Michael Masterson. It was a rare and profitable treat for me.

We were talking about a number of opportunities I could pursue. One of them was wide-open and growing. It was a good opportunity in a good industry. He said to me, "Joshua, have you ever done anything in this industry?"

"Well, no," I replied.

"Then I think we'd better stay away from it right now. People can feel when you are sincere and are speaking from experience. You don't want to try and sell theory or guesswork. People deserve better than that."

It had a profound impact on me. I decided that in all of my efforts, I needed to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. This meant I could not get rich by selling systems and ideas that I had not personally implemented.

When you look at a mentor or system, ask yourself, "Have they actually done what they are proposing I do? Is their life congruent with their teachings?" If not, stay away. You are buying theory, not reality.

And, if you're going to put your time and money into building a business online, you deserve to know what really works and is proven.

3. Step Three: Reality Check

A lot of mentors and gurus out there get a little carried away in their claims and promises.

I understand why... it's very hard to be heard in the fierce marketplace today. And, for a certain crowd in the world - hype sells. The more hype... the more inflated the promises... the more they're buying.

So, in order to sell more and make a living, many mentors play the "Keep up with the Hypesters" game. If one promises you can make $5,000 a week working just 20 hours, then the next guy feels like he needs to promise you $10,000 a week in just 10 hours to even be heard. And, it can sharply escalate from there... as we have both seen.

But, here's my perspective... I love vegetable gardening. I love the process of preparing the soil, planting the seeds, weeding, giving the plants time to grow, and then finally reaping a healthy, fulfilling harvest.

There are certain laws in play here that just can't be skipped or rushed. You have to do things right, in the right order, and in the right timing.

If you plant seeds on Monday and try to harvest a week later, you'll get nothing but dirt.

Business is the same way.

There is an order, process, and timing to it all that needs to be obeyed.

So ask yourself, "Is this system or mentor promoting things in a realistic, rational order, with appropriate timing?" If not, stay away. Save your time and money.

Over the years, I have used this simple, three-step formula to protect my time, my money, and my emotions. More than anything, it has been very effective for me at turning down the volume of the "noise" that fills my life. This has made me much more focused and effective... resulting in a healthier, happier, wealthier, more fulfilling life.

This simple formula has also helped me build a great team of mentors - people that genuinely care about me, my happiness, and my financial success.

If you are serious about making money online and creating cash-flow systems, then clearing the noise and locking in a mentor is the first and most essential step. If you get this wrong, you could wander for years and spend money recklessly on things that never produce.

I know that cutting the noise and gaining a solid mentor has made all the difference for me.

It will for you, too.

Editor's Note: Joshua is just finishing up an expanded version of the concepts he talks about here. This special audio program comes complete with transcript, guidebook, and mp3 audio files.

Joshua explains how to find your personal strengths, key words and ideas that reveal people's true values, how to "read" people by their vocabulary, body language, and other telltale signs. Also, get his insights on what realistic time frames are for making money online and discover a simple pattern used by almost all online success stories.

You will be able to use all of this to safely and effectively begin your online money-making venture.

"How to Find a Mentor You Can Trust... and Other Online Money-Making Secrets" will sell for just $49 to make it affordable for everyone.

But now, for a limited time only, you can get it for FREE by taking this simple survey. Share with us your thoughts, ideas, and insights, and Joshua's new power-packed product is yours as our complimentary gift - no strings attached.

Take the survey now by clicking here.

But hurry... this offer expires Wednesday, January 25th.

If you have ever been confused about who to listen to and where to focus your time and money, this new product is for you. Get it as our FREE gift today.

Take the survey now for your FREE gift.

(NOTE: If you have already taken this survey, don't worry... your FREE gift will be sent to you via email before the end of next week. Look for it soon... and Thank You!)

Friday, January 13, 2012

And the Survey Says...

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And the Survey Says...
By Joshua Boswell

In a word... WOW.

Last week, I asked you to share your thoughts, questions, concerns, and dreams with me.

The response was almost overwhelming. I have been reading thousands of comments, stories, insights, and personal feelings.

Thank you!

I feel like I know you now. I'm going to do my very best to honor the trust you have placed in me by being so open and direct.

Today, I thought it would be very helpful for me to summarize a number of the things that came up repeatedly in the responses.

After I share those main points with you, I'm going to give you five specific resources that will show you exactly how to start making money online.

(You'll notice there is a strong correlation between your questions, thoughts, and comments... and the insights I'm going to share with you over the next few weeks.)

I found five major themes repeated time and time again as I analyzed and evaluated the survey results. Here they are... see if you relate to them...

1. Big Question #1... Who do I listen to? Who can I trust?

This is a HUGE issue.

Specifically, you told me: "I want to get focused and start moving forward, but there are so many options, so many systems, so many tricks, so many secrets, so many voices. Which one do I listen to? And should I be listening to all of them? I mean, they all sound really important!"

I sure can relate to this. When I first got started building my business, I went newsletter crazy. I think at one time I was subscribed to 30-40 newsletters. I had purchased about half that many marketing, copywriting, and business development programs. And, I had attended twice that many live seminars.

If they were talking, I was buying and listening and trying.

After a while, my head started to feel like it was going to pop. Massive information and sensory overload.

What's more, I felt like a failure because I couldn't make ANY of those programs work. So, my frustration levels rose and my income dropped. It was not good.

One of the biggest decisions I had to make at that time was who I was going to listen to. I realized that many of those people were just con artists. They were selling systems for making money online that taught other people how to sell systems for making money online... and no one had actually made money online with a viable business.

Stay clear of those folks.

But, there were others that were sincere, genuine, and truly successful... I just couldn't listen to and follow all of them. I had to pick one to save my sanity.

So, how do you pick? How do you know which is right for you?

In the next few weeks, I'm going to give you a very clear, concise formula for choosing your "online business and money-making mentor"... I'm talking about the person and/or system you should follow and use to create your personal business and money-making system.

2. Big Question #2... How to pick a product or service that will actually sell.

I was speaking at a seminar a few months ago and a very nice, distinguished-looking gentleman in his mid-50s approached me with this same question...

"I've been in business and sales for over 30 years. I know a little about marketing and a few things about copywriting. I'm talented and intelligent. I just don't understand the Internet... and even worse, I have no idea what I would sell online."

The talented individual without a product or service to sell is very common.

How do you know what will sell? How do you know if the market is saturated? How do you pick the next, hot trend? How...

Obviously, if you could figure out the next Facebook, you'd be set for life. I'm just going to burst your bubble and say that you probably aren't going to.

But, I'll re-inflate that bubble by telling you that you don't need to create the next Facebook. You can make a couple hundred dollars... to tens of thousands of dollars... online with just a small handful of people on planet Earth ever even knowing you exist.

I have met and coached people who have a ‘buyer list' of less than 5,000 people, but make a strong $500,000 a year. Think of that!

One of the keys to that formula is picking the right product and/or service.

That is going to be a major part of our conversation in the coming weeks as well. I'll show you a number of really simple, totally free, and low-tech ways of checking the pulse of the market. Give me any product or service idea and in about 10 minutes, I can tell you if it is going to sell or not.

I'll show you how to do the same.

3. Big Question #3... How to build a profitable online business without learning a bunch of techno-garbage.

I'm with you there!

Technology is the ultimate moving target. iPhones rule the world... and five years ago they didn't even exist. Facebook, Twitter, iPads, Google Docs, mobile marketing, texting, and hundreds of other technologies came into being just in the past 5-10 years.

It moves at lightning speed.

What will tomorrow bring? Scary to think about.

The question is this... do you have to keep up with the ever-increasing madness? Do you need to be a certified geek and devote your life to the worship of the latest and greatest gadgets?

No!

How would you feel if I told you that you don't need to be unusually technologically savvy to make money online. What's more, keeping up with the geeked-out Jones' is not a requirement.

And, actually, from a business management and money-making perspective, you may be better off keeping your hands off the iPad, and staying out of the HTML coding. You'll see why as we move forward.

4. Big Question #4... How to build a list of people who want to hear from you and will buy.

There was a day when people walked around and bragged about the size of their "list."

"I have 300,000 names on my list" they would say with a deep sense of belittling pride and superiority.

It used to impress me.

Not any more.

I started working with many of those companies. I saw how many of those people were actually listening to them. I saw how even fewer were actually buying... or had ever bought.

I don't know, maybe there was a time when that was the only way to have success online, but those days are gone.

Being genuine, building relationships, connecting with real people that are excited and eager to buy from you... that is the key to online business today. Especially if you are not looking to get rich, but just want to make an extra $1,000 to $10,000 a month with a side business.

If people really want to hear from you, they will usually buy... especially if you are connected with them and know what is going to benefit them.

5. Big Question #5 (the nitty gritty!) ... You want to know if you can get started with little or no money...

This is a tough one. And, I'm compelled to be straight with you...

Nothing in life comes for free. I don't care what anyone tells you. There is a price to everything.

But, one of the marvelous things about the Internet is that it has radically changed our medium of exchange.

It used to be that money was just about the only medium of exchange. If you wanted something, you had to cough up cold, hard cash.

Today, the Internet makes valuable exchanges so much easier that in many cases, money is not needed. For example, if you want to be heard on Facebook, you don't have to pay money... but you do have to pay in time and interesting posts.

I have found many, many resources for starting and running an online business that require a price other than hard cash.

So, is it possible to get up and running with little or no money? Yes - I believe it is.

But, let me be clear... There is a price to be paid. You will make some kind of exchange to get money flowing to you.

I'll give you the resources and insights needed to make the exchange quickly and reasonably... and usually without putting down cash.

Okay - that's all I have for you right now...

There were many other insights and questions that came up.

For example, "Can you give me a simple, rational, step-by-step system for making money online?" or "I've tried many systems that get me started, but leave me hanging at the halfway mark. Can you help me finish and actually start making money?"

I could go on, but I think the five I've commented on here were the biggies.

I want you to know that I've heard you loud and clear. I told you before that my mission right now is to help you build an online, side business that will bring in a solid income - eventually netting you over $100,000 a year.

I now know what your most pressing questions are... and I promise to answer every one of them.

Not only that, but I also promise to answer the questions you didn't know to ask. It's what we don't know that we don't know that can really hurt us. So, I'll peel back the curtain for you and unravel this mystery called "making money online."

To start fulfilling this promise, I'd like to give you a peek at what we're going to talk about over the next few weeks. I've created a series of articles I'm titling "Simple Steps to Making Money Online." Here are the article topics:

Step One: How to Find a Mentor You Can Trust
Step Two: How to Find a Product that Sells
Step Three: How to Be Techno-Smart... When You're Not
Step Four: How to Find Buyers that Will Buy From You
Step Five: 5 Ways to Get Started Without Spending a Dime

To access this series - and other exclusive Carefree Entrepreneur content - I simply ask that you register. You can do that instantly by clicking here.

Yes, I'm offering these insights and years of experience FREE of charge... but I'm not interested in pushing this stuff on you or anyone else. My mission is to help those who are truly interested in making a good income online and growing their businesses for many years into the future. Are you one of them? If so, this article series is for you.

Simply click here now to get registered. The "Simple Steps to Making Money Online" series starts this Wednesday, and will be delivered via email once a week.

Of course, this series is just the beginning of exclusive Carefree Entrepreneur content that I'll be sharing with you. But, you can be assured that every word will be focused on helping you make money online. Many systems get you started and leave you hanging... but we are going to take you to $100,000 and well beyond.

To join us on this exciting six-figure journey, simply click here now to register. Let's get started...

How to Make Money With Your Blog, Blogging, And Secrets to Work At Home

Friday, February 17, 2012