Just Get Started!

Ken's Blog

This post is for me and for you, from the brand new SBIer who just purchased, to the sophisticated SBIer looking to take their business to yet another level.

It started with three observations this morning...

Observation #1

Chatting with my daughter Nori about anguilla-beaches.com, she shared an important revelation. She's read the whole Action Guide, explored Search It! and the HQs, read the MHQ especially, taken notes, and...

She doesn't know what to do next. Has a bunch of ideas, can see the final destination, but...

She doesn't know what to do next.

Decisions, decisions.

"I know, I'll read some more." "I'll tinker with the L&F some more."

She can see far ahead, see the final picture, but there are so many steps to get there. And some of them are scary, like pitching companies for corporate sponsorships... in a down economy.

Taking real steps of any kind is what it takes, no matter where you are in SBI!. But it's safer just to read some more, or do something that feels like you're doing something, but that doesn't really move you towards your next important goal, in Nori's case...

Increase income. There are so many monetization possibilities.

Nori needs to pick what is important and... just get started.

Observation #2

I am always pleasantly surprised, although I shouldn't be, at how well the majority of SBIers are doing at the one-year benchmark of their business. Most create content, have 50 or 100 pages or much more already. Have traffic. Have started monetizing.

Some are already soaring and most are on their way to varying degrees. I see the patterns. It's pretty simple... choose a good niche. Plan your monetization. Think through your VPP and voice, how you plan to position your niche. Pick your domain.

Write your content. Original material. Information that matters to you and that your prospective visitors want.

Get links. From a variety of sources.

Keep it real.

Grow your targeted search traffic.

Monetize.

OK, easier said than done. But it's all laid out in the SBI! process and you have the tools to execute it the right way.

Yes, DAYs 1-5 require thinking and analyzing, but this is about building a business. That takes some mental energy. Some work. And some decisions.

It's not hard work. No heavy lifting. You go through a process to ensure you have both a niche you know and love and that you can monetize.

Do you see a similarity?

Yup... Just get started.

Make the decisions as they come. DAY 4 may tell you there's no money in your niche. No problem. Retrace. Refine. Keep making decisions until you've got it.

Put it off? Afraid of making a mistake? No. Move forward.

Just get started. Once you get started, you build momentum. Habits start to form. You get used to working and start feeling antsy if you're not at it.

One way or another, it all boils down to this...

It doesn't matter if you take 3 days or 3 months to decide as long as you are working on it. As long as you have started.

Business is about building upon a constantly growing foundation of skills. But it only happens if you, at any given moment...

Pick what is important and... just get started.

Observation #3

There are impediments to getting started. They mostly come from within.

Take me. I've finally started with an exercise program. I was too lazy, "too busy," to do it. So I stripped it down to five basic exercises. Every morning, as the sun rises, I don't feel like doing them. But I get up and....

Just get started. 20 toe touches (I can't make my toes for the first few, sheesh), slow, taking 2 minutes. But that gets me started. 3 more basic exercises, 1 minute each. I finish with 6 minutes of simple aerobics. And I've done an 11 minute program. During the day, I add other exercises.

But the key is when I get up in the morning...

I just get started. Laziness tries to stop me. Being time-pressed tries to distract me. But I've prioritized that this is important.

Pick what is important and... just get started.

I'm convinced that most people are stopped by laziness, fear of the next step, or a failure to prioritize to determine the next step.

So... what should YOU be doing next?

Pick what is important and...

Just get started.  Mastering that is the #1 skill that dwarfs everything else.

All the best,

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Comments

[Gary Hendricks]

Hi Ken

I'm an SBIer and yes I really do identify with 'Just get started'. I'm the father of two young children and trying to squeeze in SBI with a day job is really tough sometimes.

So I tell myself, just write 1 article a day. That is my way of 'getting started'. And it works.

[Judie]

I needed to read this today. I can be a world class procrastinator. It's easy to become paralyzed by having too many ideas and not following through on any of them in the midst of trying to prioritize. Just getting started on any one of them is a way forward.

[Julien]

Reading this blog post has spurred me into action. I seem to be floating in a similar boat to Nori, where there are many different "next steps" to get to my eventual goal. I'm thinking too much, when I should just get started! Thanks Ken.

[Nathon]

Thanks Ken.

My L&F is awesome, but I've had my site since October 08 (6 months) and that's really all I've worked on.

Shame on me.

So now I'm "just getting started" writing. It's tough, but it's worth it.

[Annette]

Hi Ken,

This came at the right time, I've had my site for over a year, about 30 pages, I keep adding content waiting for the money to roll in, but wait, there is no "M" on my site.

I'll "just get started "now. Thanks Ken for all you do for us at SBI.

[cletus]

I have a lot going on online, some of which even requires that I own a website, but I must say that I am a novice when it comes to web opening as well as designs. I cant wait to get started.

[Mustafa]

Thanks Ken,

Reading this post encouraged me more to get started and build more, although since I submitted my site to the search engines two and half months ago, I haven't been lazy & I kept working on the site but I still haven't got any money and my traffic is really low.

I always put my free time working on my site and I hope one day it turns to a successful business.

[Changis Hakim]

Thanks Ken.

I have been trying to decide whether I should sign up tonight or not. I was ready to go to bed. But then I stumbled upon your "Just Get Started" entry. You said to pick what is important and get started. Well that did it for me. Gave me the nudge I needed. I am signing up right after I finish this comment.

Thanks and good night.

Changis Hakim
Changis@gmail.com