No less than 4-5 times a week I receive an email from someone and within the subject I see “(Personal)”. This used to mean something to me when I saw it.

It used to mean that the email author took the time to personally write me an email outside of their normal email blasts.

It used to mean that they actually mentioned something personal about me, how they knew me, how we connected and what they want to do for me and have me do for them.

It used to be something I could trust and I was actually excited about receiving, especially when it was from a big name in the industry or that I wouldn’t normally hear from.

Now what it means is that I first think this is another trick to get me to open their email selling me something, or that it is a broadcast email thinly disguised as a personal email.

Internet Marketers are lazy as it is, but now they are getting really lazy, making mistakes and those that really care are suffering.

What personal means to me..

I’m guilty of using “(Personal)” in an email subject.  However, I only use it in these 2 ways.

Personal Use #1: When I  send an email to someone that receives tons of emails and I really want to capture their attention and the email is specific and personal to them and only them.  But I don’t just stop at using “(Personal”) and some generic subject. I follow it up with something that wouldn’t be in a broadcast message. Something that really is personal to them, that will catch their eye and that will trigger a memory.

Personal Use #2: I’ve only used this once, and really hesitated doing it at all. However, when I sent an email to my subscribers about something that was personally going on in my life, that I wanted to share with them.

It’s about building trust and connecting

I recently read an article about Internet Marketing and Jason Moffatt was interviewed. Jason made a statement that is missed by so many people trying to get started in Internet Marketing. It’s about building trust. You have to connect with your subscriber and your customer.

People are willing to buy items and take advice from people that they trust, that are transparent and share openly and willingly. Being deceptive is never an option.

What does it do to your level of trust when you receive an email with a subject of  ”Personal” and it’s an obvious broadcast email? That trust factor just got ratcheted back a bit, if not completely removed.

Let’s hear from you..

Tired of seeing this so called personal emails? What emails get your attention first and which are the first to hit the trash folder?

This is a topic that I’ve been really paying a lot of attention to lately. In fact, it’s really all I have been paying attention to. I’m not talking about what I’m running from, because I’m not… I’m talking about Mindset.

Mindset is important. It’s the single biggest factor to your success online yet people spend little time working on it or really thinking about it.

The fact is…people want to become online marketers because they see and hear about these great success stories. People making millions of dollars a year online.

Those that aren’t succeeding, that aren’t achieving their goals, are likely running from something. They are running from their current job, they are running from debt, they are running from their current life. There lies the problem.

Over the past several months I’ve reflected on what I’ve achieved in my life, both online and offline. While I was working on my online business, I never felt the need to quit my job or to escape my family. I’m not in debt, although I have been and I distinctly remember the feeling.

The truth is, when I started working on my online business, I was always running to something. I was looking forward to the income, the checks. I envisioned how easy it was going to be. I knew that if others had done it, so could I, and it just happened. I didn’t do anything magical. I didn’t look for a shortcut.  Like Nike, I knew to ‘Just Do it’.

Step 1 for success, stop running away, and begin running toward your goal.

What is Mindset?

Mindset means different things to different people. I’m probably one of the few people that hadn’t read The Secret until recently. It’s amazing that what I read in that book I had been practicing for some time. And as I began to look around and remember all of the recent training, coaching, seminars and people I’ve spoken with, books I’ve read, etc.. there was a recurring theme. You change your beliefs, adjust your mindset, think success and you will achieve it.

Here are a few examples. In April I was in San Diego attending Mass Control 2. Frank Kern had the group do quite a few exercises… ranging from envisioning your perfect life, to writing exactly what you will accomplish in one year. Again, not envisioning what you want, envision what you can have. Act as if you already have it.

A few months later I attended Launch Tree Live in Vegas. Again, Frank Kern spoke, but this time, it was Marshall Sylver’s presentation that overlapped. You must act and believe that you have already achieved success and it will follow.

Finally and most recently, the videos that Tony Robbins just put together with John Reese and Frank Kern contained much of the same content. Changing your beliefs will allow you to succeed.

Step 2 for success, believe you will be successful and eventually you will be.

Excuses and Negativity

I thoroughly enjoy my work(if you can call it that). I enjoy communicating with my members and subscribers. Occasionally, I’ll have some people unsubscribe from my list…and when they do, they feel compelled to leave a comment or reason. I love that… and I encourage it. It allows me to grow and adapt.

The excuses I often see are things like, “This stuff doesn’t work”, “I can’t afford to do this”, “These ideas take too long, I need money now”. It are those people that will continue to subscribe and unsubscribe from others lists, spending countless hours online looking for one secret that will give them their success.

It amazes me that people can spend so much time complaining, but aren’t willing to take the time to be positive and make a difference for themselves.

Step 3 for success, focus on being positive and grateful. A little positive energy goes a long way.

Failure is an Option

I want to make something perfectly clear… it’s OK to fail. It’s perfectly fine for you to not have an immediate success. It is NOT Ok to give up, blame someone else and create excuses for the failure. It happens. Be realistic about the failure, course correct and move on. I’ve had several failed business ventures and many of the industry “gurus” have openly admitted their failures. Had they given up, they wouldn’t have achieved their guru status or the big bank accounts and success they have today.

What Are You Going To Do Right Now?

Seriously. Right now at this very second. Right after you read this. What are you going to do? Are you going to go on, wasting time(not saying reading this is wasting time by any means), checking the news, reading other blogs, picking through sales pages… OR are you going to make a plan for yourself. Are you going to change your beliefs, your mindset and begin each day being grateful for what you know, what you are about to accomplish and they things you are about to have because of your change in mindset?

Take action, move forward.

I thought I’d share this with my readers because it’s all too easy to only look out for yourself.

My 9-year old daughter Nicole has been watching everything I do online. She sees me making videos, blog posts and hear me talking about Twitter and Facebook.

She’s often asked how she can do stuff online….all in good time.

This morning Nicole set off to run her “LemonAid” stand… that’s right, Lemon “Aid”. She’s selling $1 cups of lemonade and all of the proceeds go to the Miracle-Network in Richmond via to help fight pediatric cancer.

Before she left, she asked me if I could do that “Stuff” I do online and help her sell some lemonade.

It was a great idea. Not only was I impressed that she thinks that way, but the fact that she really wants to raise as much money as possible for a very good cause.

So I did what any good father would do, set out to help. The Miracle-Network has an online lemonaide stand and I set one up for Nicole. 100% of the donations are collected by the Miracle Nework  and it’s secure.

So, if you can spare $1 or even a few more, you can donate directly on Nicole’s LemonAide website and help her reach her goal of $2000.

Click Here to Donate Securely

Please help Fight Pediatric Cancer and donate.

Are you ready to stand out?

Back in April, I headed out to San Diego for Frank Kern’s Mass Control 2 event. As you can see from the photo, I was able to look like a complete fool, but at the same time, got to meet the man himself.

Anyone that is looking to getting into Internet Marketing always asks the best way to get recognized and get in with the “gurus”.

The very best way is simply go to these events. Sure, some cost money, but many are free.

For instance, The Mass Control 2.0 Conference was free when you purchased Mass Control.  Yes, the was a $1997 price tag attached to the product. However, not only did I receive a ton of value from the course, the opportunity to network with big name is tremendous.

Here’s an example. As a result of traveling to San Diego, I was able to meet and hang out with several well known industry leaders. In passing, they asked what I was doing, what I sold and how it was working for me.  I told them. Nothing more. The result was that these guys were responsible for selling about $17,000 worth of my product, all by themselves.

So, how did I get them to sell my stuff? Simple, I didn’t ask them to. Instead, I asked them what I could sell of theirs. I was just hanging out being myself.

Bottom line, go to these networking events, meet people. Offer to help the gurus. Show them you can do something for them and they will do something in return (Most times).

Upcoming Events in Vegas

Next week I’m heading to Launch Tree Live to see some of the industry’s greatest marketers speak. People like Frank Kern, Mike Filsaime, Anik Singal, Armand Morin, Stephen Pierce, Maria Andros, Mike Morgan and Perry Belcher.

Those are just the speakers. The other people that are likely to be at this event are huge. And that’s when you get your opportunity.

Not your opportunity to lurk, follow and stalk them. But instead, introduce yourself, find out what they are working on, how you can promote their stuff, what you can do to help them. Be sincere and be ready to take action.  You’re likely to be surprised at the response you’ll get from them.

Next week I’ll be posting plenty of updates, pictures and recording some videos with some of the people I’m meeting out there. If you’re around and see me, make sure you stop by and say hi.