If you want to have a serious Internet business, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes.
Are you sure you’re willing to pull out all the stops to make it happen? A couple of months ago my mentor Connie Ragen Green (who by the way does have a serious internet business) invited me to a live event in Orlando that she was attending and offered me a free ticket to attend. At the time I said that I would give my right arm to go, but just couldn’t afford it and turned it down.
Let me back up a bit and give you a little background. I am going to bare my soul and share this with you for the first time. A couple of years ago my husband fell 24 feet and shattered both of his heels. His recovery has been very slow and painful. Our finances have suffered terribly as a result. Actually, our finances were devastated. I hadn’t been online for very long when he fell and was not making much of an income at the time and we became very deeply in debt.
By the grace of God, he is able to work again and my business just keeps getting better and better. We have managed to chip away at our debt until we are almost debt free, again by God’s grace. We made a promise to ourselves that we will never again go into debt. We now pay cash for everything and credit cards are a thing of the past in our household. If we don’t have the money, we do without.
Now that you have a little background – back to my story. An online colleague of mine was attending the same Armand Morin Live event that I had been invited to and was adamant that if I really wanted a serious internet business I find a way to go. My answer was always the same – “I’d love to, but I just can’t, there’s no money in the budget for that right now.” (Did I forget to mention that our roof leaked and we had to pay for a new roof this month? Hence – totally broke!)
The more my colleague and I talked about it, the more I felt that little inner voice prompting me to find a way to go. I knew I needed to attend a live event, I want a serious internet business, but obvious circumstances had kept me from it. It was time. Way past time.
I have always said I would do whatever it takes to have a serious Internet business. Now it was time to put up or shut up. I had to do whatever it took to get there. Last minute airfare costs were out of the question, so were hotel accommodations. (darn that stupid roof!) I just kept chanting “whatever it takes, whatever it takes”. My only option was to drive the 1,065 miles to Orlando from Illinois and if need be, sleep in my van. “Whatever it takes, whatever it takes.” So, I packed up my van, recruited my mom and sister to along to help with gas expenses ( they really weren’t kicking and screaming too loudly) and off we went on a road trip to Florida. We drove straight through. It took us 20 hours to get to Sarasota where I dropped my mother and sister at my other sister’s condo for a nice visit/vacation and I drove on to Orlando.
My colleague Pattie, who I have been in a small mastermind group with for almost a year, insisted I stay with her and her hubby at their time share condo. I gratefully took her up on it. Honestly, I wasn’t overjoyed with sleeping in the van – even if it does have a DVD player. I wasn’t afraid, but really not looking forward to it. Pattie and I had never met in person, so her offer was very generous in my opinion. Thanks Miss P!
Why am I telling you all of this? Because I want to instill upon you how important it is to do whatever it takes to build a serious internet business. No one else is going to do it for you. If you go at it halfheartedly or a little here and a little there, it’s never gonna happen. You have to do “whatever it takes” on your part to become successful. Ahh…but when you do, the pay off is fantastic!
How was the event? Incredible! I met some of the most fabulous people and made lots of new friends, not to mention a few future JV partners. I now know mentors and people that I’ve done business with and admired for years like Connie Green and Nicole Dean in person, which is a huge plus. The training and knowledge I gained will help me to create immediate income. My “Why” is clearer than ever and I’m more focused! And by the way, Pattie and I are now BFF’s. The whole weekend was an awesome experience.
Thank goodness I decided to do “whatever it takes”. So I’ll ask you again – are you willing to do whatever it takes to have a serious Internet business? Would you drive for 20 hours and sleep in your car? I knew the moment I decided I was willing to do those things for my business, nothing would ever be the same again.
Make sure you leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Moira Wight says
atThanks again Celene – for sharing your story! It is encouraging to hear that others who we “see” on the internet are real people like us and do struggle at first – but push on through the difficult times. I, like you am serious about my online business and finding a way to get through – up, over or round – anyway but to get there! Thank you once again!
Moira Wight recently posted…Internet Marketing Armand Morin – Marketing Tutorials “Its Not Your Fault ”
Celene says
atThanks Moira, I appreciate the support. It isn’t easy in the beginning, but if we just keep plugging away, we get there. I have such a sense of clarity not it’s amazing. Big hug!
Sharon says
atGood for you for pursuing your dreams!
Sometimes we have to step out in faith and take the risk before the provision shows itself.
It helps to have a clear sense of the direction you are to go. Good for you for obeying the inner voice.
My son says to me, “Mom, don’t say you can’t afford it, ask, how can I afford it.”
This is a very inspiring story.
Thanks for sharing it.
Best to you!
Sharon
Celene says
atThanks so much Sharon. I love the “how can I afford it?” I am going to use that!
Blessings,
Celene
Patti Winker says
atWOW! I’ll say that again… WOW!
I can’t believe you did that, Celene! I am truly impressed.
You know what your story does? It really put your money where your mouth is. A lot of online entrepreneurs tell people to get out there and do whatever it takes to get off the ground. And, although their advice is good and genuine, we don’t know that they ever did “whatever it takes.” We take them at their word, but…
To actually hear someone’s real life example of doing whatever it takes is awesome and inspiring.
Kudos to you Celene, for doing whatever you had to (and what an adventure!) and for sharing your personal story. It means a lot to us to hear that online entrepreneurs, no matter how successful, have struggled along the way… like the rest of us.
Bless your heart and a big thanks to everyone who took care of you along the way.
Patti Winker recently posted…Celebrate National Skin Cancer Awareness Month – Cover Up And Live
Celene says
atThank you Patti. That means so much to me to hear that. I appreciate your support and love. Wish I could have met you there too! Next time for sure.
Big hug!
Nicole Dean says
atOn a purely selfish note — I’m so thankful that you came so we got to finally meet in person. 🙂
And, I’m very proud of you for making your business a priority.
Hugs,
N
Celene says
atIt’s purely selfish on my part to darlin’! Big hug back atcha!
Connie Ragen Green says
atWe are pioneers in the online marketing space, and a pioneer’s life is never easy. Celene exemplifies the person who will do whatever it takes to make a huge change in their life. My hat is off to you, Celene. When I met you in person I knew that you had made a decision many others will not, and that will carry you far.
To Your Massive Online Success!
Connie
Connie Ragen Green recently posted…Money From Mini Sites
Celene says
atThanks so much Connie. You have amplified the existing “whatever it takes” voice in my head with your mentoring and I love you for that!
Jan Riley says
atOh what a great post! Perfect timing for me as I spent the weekend struggling to get a stupid optin page to work ( today I am outsourcing the sucker) I can heartily agree that NAMS is a very different networking event. It is friendly and informative and full of women.
I went the first time in January 2013 and will be back in August. It’s how I met you and that ALONE was worth the price! It’s a great community and I hope to see more of ya’ll there.
Jan
Jan Riley recently posted…Creating Compelling Website Content
Celene Harrelson says
atThanks Jan, I just love NAMS and go glad I’ve gotten to know you. NAMS is one of the few networking events that men don’t dominate. It’s pretty well even, don’t you think? Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Celene Harrelson says
atThanks Jan. So glad we met too! I’m looking forward to seeing you at NAMS. Yes there is a good balance of women to men there.
Jan Riley says
atYes I agree – a good balance of peeps, I just mentioned it because at other IM events felt skewed the other way, (as in: lots of good ol boy politics & talk .) I really liked the openness and genuine interest other people have there in helping each other. I noticed that conversations were productive, helpful and open.
As a hugger, I always evaluate any event by the number of hugs I get by the end – NAMS got a high rating!
Jan Riley recently posted…Creating Compelling Website Content
Celene Harrelson says
atYes, I knew what you meant. And yes, [tbpquotable]NAMS is way up there in the hugs factor. Even the men are huggers. It’s because we’ve become family.[/tbpquotable]