More Fundamental Than Even CTPM

Ken's Blog

There's a phenomenal Forums thread going on over at the 50+er gathering. One SBIer wrote something that re-rang in my ears...

"Even though I've been building sites... for almost 10 years, I knew nothing until I started with this program."

That statement stuck with me for some reason.  We know that SBI! enables small e-business people to succeed at unmatched rates.  And yes, to say it's a combination of the C T P M process and tools is boring by now.  

But, for some reason, that "building sites for 10 years" statement got me thinking...

No matter how little (or how much) you know right now, no matter if you've only been with SBI! for two months or if you've been building non-SBI! sites for 10 years, you are already working at a more important level-of-thinking than 99% of professional Webmasters.

It's more fundamental than any individual process or strategy or "DAY" within SBI!. And what is that?...

You know that you are building an e-business, not a site.  OK, doh... Everyone kind of knows that.  It's so easy to say and understand, right?

But if it's so obvious... why do so many people, pretty much everyone (hosts and marketers, and their customers) actually, talk about building a site instead of building an e-business?

Offline, that would be the equivalent of telling others, "I have a dry-cleaning building."  You'd say, "Huh?"

Offline, people say, "I have a dry-cleaning business."

Online, they say, "I have a site about dry-cleaning."

Online, the concept of building a business has not been internalized.

But SBI! simply won't let you escape it.  You research... and that part can be very frustrating.  Some don't survive it (they realize they didn't really want a business, they wanted a Ge-Rich-Quick).  You plan your monetization (we all hate that hard thinking -- but you can't escape it!).  In essence, you are fleshing out a business plan.

Everything is geared, from reading those first paragraphs of DAY 1 and from your first click of a button on Brainstormer in DAY 2, until you bank your checks, towards building a business.

You are simply immersed, without even needing to say it, in the process of business-building.

Yes, following the SBI! Action Guide is critical.  But it's the "subconscious setting of the business-mind" that provides the environment within which you do it all.

All the best,

Add to Delicious

Digg this

Comments

[Bonnie]

Thank you Ken for your insight and perspective. And of course, you are so very right. Thank you also for the reminder that I am working on a "business" not just a website. It will take persistance, vision, clarity and hard work. The dedication I apply will be what I receive back; that is up to me.
The distinction between simply building a website and building a business is very strong point that should carry weight and importance with everyone.
Here's to holding onto that vision and pushing forward to a better future for us all.

Bonnie
www.breyerhorsecollectors.com

[Kevin]

We developed the concept of "web presence package" instead of calling a website a website for a small business. I am glad that we are on the same page. It is amazing how much our thinking is common and I have not found you yet. But I am glad I did.

[Bill]

You are absolutely right about that! We "onliners" think only of building sites, not businesses.

One thing I learned a long time ago was to stick to your knitting, your "core competency" and let others do the rest.

But with SBI!, one CAN stray a bit and learn not only how to build a site but really build a business. And knowing how your web site works, and not having to rely on flaky or over-extended "web masters" is beneficial to your business.

[Ronald]

I cannot add much to the previous comments, they are all so right. I am soon 58 and of course want to build a business (I too have "built a website" till some minutes ago). Although I have a 7 to 18 job, doing admin and website for my doughter I can come to about 10 hours/week developing my business with SBI (since april08). I want to have more time, however even with this limited time I observe rising numbers of visitors and I am still confident to do my business within 2010 latest. I went back to read MYWS, which gave another impact in customer oriented content production.

[Michael Boyter]

So, to continue on with the dry cleaning analogy...

...instead of fussing so much about the
color of the store window shades, the
pictures that I'm going to hang in the
lobby, and where I'm going to place the
decorative in-store plants, I guess I
should be in the back doing business
like, actually dry cleaning clothes
and working to bring new customers
in my door? lol :-)

Great post Ken. It makes discussion
of 3 column or 2 column seem very
trivial, doesn't it?

[Reinis Ikass]

At first I wanted just to say "amen". That would sum it up. :) Then again it would be a waste of everybody's time.

So let me elaborate with my story:

About a year ago I "put up a site", made some videos (good ones - in my opinion), wrote some articles, some blog posts...and nothing happened.

Okay, some of my friends did visit my site and liked it - I did my best to give good content. But that was it.

I had fallen for the Internet Marketing/ Blogging/ Social Networking hype. Where people make money on internet by telling others how to make money online - thus making money. Brilliant! :)

Anyway, I have wasted about a year, countless hours working on my sites and thousands of dollars in opportunity cost. Needless to say that my site has yet to show income. :)

About two weeks ago I "re-discovered" Sitesell. I had already seen it some time ago, but did not pay any attention at that time. Ouch! :)

I've read the whole site. At least twice. And most of the books. It all makes sense, all pieces of puzzle fit together.

It still puzzles me though - how I lost the "business" part in Internet Business. I guess experience does come with a price tag. :)

I just want to thank you Ken for making all of your knowledge and experience available. You are my hero! :)

PS: I could kick myself in the head for missing the Valentine Day special offer! :)