Back in 2010, I didn’t know the first thing about online stuff.
I was just a long-haired kid from the 70s, still listening to hard rock and doing my own thing. One day I saw an email with some guy talking about how you could make money online. I clicked the link, and that was it — I was pulled in.
From that day on, I started reading everything I could find. I didn’t have a lot of money. I didn’t have fast internet (I was still using dial-up, believe it or not). But I had something else — I really wanted to learn. If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way.
That’s what I did.
Done For You vs. Do It Yourself — Here’s the Truth
One of the biggest things I wish I knew back then is this:
Trying to do it all by yourself can waste a LOT of time.
At first, I thought “autopilot” meant I could just click a button and things would run on their own.
I thought if I just found the right system, I wouldn’t have to work much.
But I was wrong.
What it really means is that somebody else has already done the hard work. The system is ready to go. You just have to send people to it.
That’s the smart way.
But I didn’t take that road. I tried to build everything myself, piece by piece, without knowing what I was doing.
It took years, and I was frustrated more times than I can count.
Things started to change when I found real mentors — people who had already made it work. They helped me understand what matters and what doesn’t. That’s when I started to see results.
How I Really Learned (And What to Avoid)
In the beginning, my email inbox was full of offers. One product after another. One “secret system” after another. I clicked on all of them.
That led to more emails. More offers. More stuff to read. It was too much.
I didn’t know it at the time, but that’s called Shiny Object Syndrome. I was always chasing the next big thing instead of sticking with one plan.
If that sounds like you — stop and slow down.
Stick with one proven system. Learn it, use it, and give it time. That’s how you grow.
The Tools That Matter Most (Keep It Simple)
You don’t need a ton of tools to do well online. But you do need the right ones.
Here’s what helped me the most:
A Good Autoresponder
If you’re building a list (and you should be), you need one.
My favorite is AWeber — it’s easy to use and dependable.
Another great choice is GetResponse -Both have been around for years.
2. Solid Hosting
You need a place for your site to live. Think of it like the land your house sits on.
D9 Hosting is what I use. The support team knows their stuff, and they always help when you need it.
A Real Mentor
This was the game-changer for me.
I stopped following random folks online and started learning from people who had already been doing this for 10 or 15 years.
Here are some of the ones I trust the most:
John Thornhill
Michael Cheney
James Neville Taylor
Lee Murray
Matt Bacak
They’ve been around a very long time. They’ve failed, learned, and figured it out. You can learn from them too.
My Best Advice If You’re Just Starting
Look, if you’re just starting out with internet marketing, I’ve got a few tips for you:
Don’t try to figure everything out alone
Don’t waste time jumping from one thing to the next
