A venture starts out with an idea; it’s your idea, your creation, your baby and you want to drive it. You also have goals you want to meet, perhaps a number you want to reach, and your expertise in this specific niche is what you’ll rely on to keep the business running. But you’re only one person and your knowledge is finite. Read that again: your knowledge is finite. So what happens when your tank starts running low on the freeway? You can set it in cruise control and call it a trip, or you can do something bigger. You can welcome the help of others, call for roadside assistance and keep the proverbial pedal to the floor.
“Adapt or Die”
My foundation was strong, but by using only the expertise I had in short sale investing, I was limited in my earnings because I had exhausted the market on my training. The real estate market took a turn and was no longer an opportunity for people. This forced me to think outside the box,, and I came up with a new idea which transcended my original plan. I realized I could use the valuable information I had on building a business and take it to the next level through publishing other people’s products online. I had mastered online marketing, driving traffic, split testing and all other areas of bringing a product to the market on the Internet, so I decided to share that wealth. That’s when IPM (Info Publishing Masterplan) was born.
Use Your Established Relationships
For this idea to work, however, I needed friends. They became the independent variable in my equation; nothing could work without outside help. Over the first couple of years that I promoted my virtual short sale investing (vssi) program, I built a strong online presence. Consequently, this helped me develop many affiliate relationships. I was asked by a few affiliates to help them bring their products and information to the next level. That’s how it all took off. I started with one, and then continued on to help the others publish their information products.
I started promoting others’ products online and it proved successful for both their companies and mine. I worked to get on the top-ten list for most sales of their product launches, which they recognized. This helped build stronger relationships with my affiliates, who then helped me by sharing their valuable information to help me grow my business. I now have partners/affiliates/clients from all over the world that I work with daily.
Recognize Your Limitations
There are red flags that will pop up when your business has reached its limit. For me, the obvious sign was when we reached our revenue ceiling, which is never a good sign. Initially, I brainstormed ways to continue our company’s growth, which led me to where I am today.
Ultimately, you have to live with the mindset that you’ll never settle for mediocrity. Sometimes, that means swallowing your pride and realizing the benefits of seeking outside help. Instead of focusing strictly on my own knowledge, I looked for ways to bring other people into the equation. I understood that my knowledge, coupled with their products, could take both of us far beyond the mile markers we were stalled at. I could become complacent and run my business on empty, or I could strive for something bigger. It took thinking objectively and creatively, and setting my ego aside, but by utilizing others’ expertise, I excelled. Share the road, and you too can lead a caravan of people down the freeway to success.
