Know what else I hate? Marketers who live by the dictum “confuse and conquer”. (Listen to my 5 minute MP3 at the bottom of this post please)
They prey on your willingness to believe that there’s just one “secret” thing you need to know, or special piece of software, or important relationship you need to have and then you’ll be a millionaire. And because you’re confused and don’t understand, you fork over your money.
Do you know what gives them their power?
The 4 hour work week mentality.
People honestly believe there’s something wrong with them if they can’t make themselves rich on 4 hours a week.
Here’s the truth. In order to stop trading dollars for hours you can’t just stop working. You’ve actually got to work harder… a LOT harder. But the difference is you work harder in a sustained way on building SYSTEMS which will then work for you.
Now here’s the thing, … I know everyone’s nodding their head along with this. But because of the confuse and conquer mentality, people don’t realize just how much work goes into building those systems before you can step away from them.
It’s not “work once, get paid forever”. It’s “work VERY VERY VERY HARD once, and get paid forever”.
Because as amazing as the internet is for automating your income streams, it’s also the most competitive landscape the world has ever known. (11 PPC slots in Adwords for example, and anyone in the world can bid for them … that’s almost 7 billion potential suitors you’ve gotta beat to be on the first page!)
So the BAD NEWS is, you’ve got to settle down and become a VIRTUOSO at one business model online if you want to be a multi-millionaire (or even just retire in comfort). And that’s going to take about 10,000 hours.
Not 10,000 hours until you make money … that happens progressively all along the way for people who settle down, focus, and keep solving problems. But 10,000 hours until you’ve really mastered the skills you need to shine and have everything you want.
Now, the GOOD NEWS is that most entrepreneurs take 10,000 hours to ACCEPT it’s going to take 10,000 hours, if they ever get that far. So it takes them twice as long as it should to really master the online craft. But YOU CAN SKIP THE FIRST 10,000 HOURS by just accepting reality. (There, I just saved you five years of your life, you can thank me below in your comments … or just tell me to “go screw” if you’re not ready for this level of reality yet)
Bottom line?
Find one way to generate traffic and one way to turn that traffic into dollars. Settle down and focus on that business plan. Keep solving problems until it’s humming.
If you’re attracted to my business model, which is to conquer ONE keyword conversation with focus and determination so you become the dominant player in that market, then join me in the hyper-responsive marketing club, won’t you?
You definitely won’t get rich next month (it’s not even within the realm of possibility), but you WILL watch me build a secure and solid foundation for a business, step by step, and learn marketing principles which will last you a lifetime. Click here to join. (Or to have Rocket Clicks build your business foundation FOR you, click here)
Dr. G 
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
A very valuable lesson. Unfortunately one that a lot of people don’t want to hear.
I have always appreciated your honesty and straightforward approach. You share so much valuable information. And more importantly refuse to engage in marketing hopes and dreams. I think everyone would be much better off if they would spend more time listening to you and the very few others who really tell it like it is.
Couple of notes:
The 10,000 hour principle was first popularized by the New Yorker writer,
Malcom Gladwell.
The 4 hour work week was a good book, a catchy concept, but absurd. At least now it is. There might have been more truth to it a few years ago, but right now the Internet is far too competitive for that.
I love you. (NOT IN THAT WAY!)
Lol
Great post (that will fall on many deaf ears.)
Forget being a “virtuoso”…I realize that takes 10,000 hours+.
What about making 4 or 5 grand a month (which would replace the fulltime income of half the population)? Does that take 10,000 hours, 5,000 hours, 1000 hours, 500 hours….?
Glenn,
You ALWAYS both bring me down to earth, and make me hopeful at the same time.
Thanks for the reminder and push. There always seems to be this whiny, petulant little kid in me that wants to believe there\’s an easier way, that I\’m just not smart or good enough yet to see it…which makes me really WANT to believe the \’silver bullet/bright shiny object guys.\’
I hereby vow to forget them and just do the work. I know one system in my business that works, and I\’m not doing ANYTHING else for the next month until I see regular dollars coming in from it.
Scott
No one can answer that for you Jeremy. It depends upon how you spend those hours, your current knowledge of advertising, copywriting ability, traffic sources, market, competition level, competitive intelligence systems, joint venture network, front and back end offers, customer service, upselling and cross selling ability, technical facility, freedom from distraction, persistence, determination, passion level, market to message match, management ability, delegation ability, testing and multivariate testing knowledge, personal situation (spousal support, family support, vs. discord and active discouragement), prioritization, focus, reaction to adversity, follow up ability, understanding of ethical compliance strategies, and about four dozen other variables you’ll encounter as you move through the wonderful world of internet entrepreneurship.
What I can tell you is, if you think you could possibly be happy working any regular job, you probably should.
But if you can’t imagine ever being happy other than as an entrepreneur, then find a model you believe in and just put your head down and keep solving problems until you get the progress you’re looking for.
Please don’t shoot the messenger.
Two golden nuggets expressed beautifully.
I’m gonna share this post with my readers if it’s okay with you Glenn.
==
It’s not “work once, get paid forever”. It’s “work VERY VERY VERY HARD once, and get paid forever”.
Now, the GOOD NEWS is that most entrepreneurs take 10,000 hours to ACCEPT it’s going to take 10,000 hours, if they ever get that far. So it takes them twice as long as it should to really master the online craft.
==
Finally, some straightforward honesty. How refreshing! Thanks.
Great message, this is exactly what I need to keep up with. As an AdWords consultant I find it hard to advocate though, even to my colleagues. Nowadays everybody seems to suffer from some kind of chronic self-overestimation. Everybody thinks they can learn everything and anything within days, especially adwords. It is funny that through a course like yours which has nothing to do with self-improvement my view on other aspects of life have changed a bit as well.
One thing I would like to add in favor of Tim Ferriss, the author of 4 hour work week. He himself dislikes the title and his ideas are much closer to yours than you might think. Though I think he underestimates the time needed to be an online entrepreneur, he is not so much supporter of working less as working far more efficient.
Thanks.
Sure.
This is ironic. The day before you wrote this I released a free video titled “The Secret to XXX” (where XXX is something important to my market). Although it certainly isn’t my intent to confuse anyone.
On top of the 10,000 hours, I’ve also found that you really have to try about 10 things, to find the 1 or 2 that stick. Or even better, find the runaway hit (I’m still looking for that one!).
I’ve got about 2 hours per day available to focus on my business. So to hit 10,000 hours, there’s only 13 years to go. Better get to it!
Chuck
Darn. I want to have my cake and eat it now!
But yes, no one would expect the results promised at making money online if they were doing say, a sport like tennis.
‘Become a pro tennis player in 30 days!’
When it comes to making money reality often goes out the window.
Thanks for setting the record straight, Glenn.
Well spoken, sir. Yes, 10,000 hours plus another 10,000 more! I think that Jaap’s got a point, though:
“Nowadays everybody seems to suffer from some kind of chronic self-over-estimation.”
It’s a Botox world, everybody wants instant answers and the old fable of the rabbit and the hare is, unfortunately, no longer resonant.
It’s only going to get worse. Every boomer out there (I’m one, by the way) is thinking about starting a simple little online business to supplement their “downshifting” into retirement. I’ve been working hard at mastering the online part of my business for three years. Some results, but not enough to justify the time I’ve put into it. You’re in the right business Glenn — selling the tools that all of us will have to buy before we figger out that we ain’t got what it takes. Rock on dude.
Thank You, so true. Very good informative information.
Sending love and light,beauty and Joy.
Solcarina
Hi Glen,
Thanks for all the great audios to fill my MP 3 Player.
The information is always cutting edge and very useful in trying to succeed online.
BTW anyone thinking they can do it without W-O-R-K is being totally unrealistic. Even the 4 hour work week requires W – O R – K ..
It is really sad that people keep buying into this push button instant millions mentality being peddled by the Internet Make Money Gurus!
The potential of wealth online is always there and some attain it ..
but none of them did it overnight and without lots of W-O-R-K !!
Thank you Glen for addressing this issue that we all have to deal with.
How do I take care of it ?
I get back to work and advise others who want the CASH that can be made online ..to do the same
So that being said .. I gotta go now and get back to W-O-R-K.
Thanks and best regards,
Harry Crowder
Excellent wisdom and advice. I have been struggling with the “get rich very soon” mentality promoted by others and wondered why I wasn’t getting the promised results. I appreciate your candor and good will in helping to give us “flu shots” from the hype epidemic of “Get this secret now” internet marketing product launches.
Thank you!
Absolutely true! You can’t create a good business model in few days…
Great article!
Just \"accepting 10.000 hours reality\" might not be that easy for most (certainly not for me). Any ideas how to do that?
I never heard of the 10,000 hours to mastery, but, I have heard of the 10 years to mastery of whatever it is you is trying to peak at.