Sometimes we need to take a time out. Alex goes into this in module one. (See Alex, I was listening) Today was one of those days. The way my schedule has worked out this month, I actually have 2 days a week off. I have had to pick up as much extra time at work as I can due to pay cuts. The past few months it has meant working an extra day a week, this month I work 16 hours on Saturday so I get Sunday and Monday off.
So, I have been looking forward to Mondays so I can get some uninterrupted time for the business. Today went fairly well, I spent about 7 hours working away on various projects. But a time comes when you hit a wall. I have felt guilty about taking time away from my business because eventually I hope it will produce enough to lower our debt and offset the overtime I have to work to make ends meet. That is the beauty of Internet Marketing, you can scale it to where you want it to go. So when I was coming up empty, I decided it was time to take a time out, otherwise all I was going to do was sit and check my email every 5 minutes. Alex suggests taking a walk, but I decided to veg out in front of the TV.
As Internet Marketers, or affiliate marketers, whatever you do you need to balance productivity with down time. Alex also reminds us that this is not a race. Although things are getting close financially for us, I also need to remember that I can only do so much and I am only capable of accomplishing so much. As long as I am giving my best effort, that should be all that matters.
Now after a few hours off, I am ready to go again. I don’t feel as discouraged, or that I am never going to make it. I am still a bit confused about traffic, but I will keep posting on blogs, and doing what I can.
So if you find yourself staring at your monitor, checking your emails every second, or just staring off into space, maybe it’s time to take a break. Solomon said, “Steady plodding brings posterity, hasty speculation brings poverty.” I guess I am one of the steady plodders. Maybe if Steve Snow has a virtual soda, I might join him on his boat. What do you do to take time out? Leave your comments.
Till the next time,
Gene
Hi Gene
Read your post and know exactly how you feel…
As a fellow Alex Jeffreys student time and money is of essence.
You have the right attitude … keep doing what you are doing and it will come good.
Do not think about the money, do not race, take your time … get it right and the money will come to you!!!
Keep your head up-think positive-your time will come.
All the best Sandy Buchanan
Sandy Buchanan´s last blog ..Health, Wealth & Happiness
Gene,
Honest and open post. I like it, because I can associate with it.
I am also working this coaching at my own pace, and the reason is that I have to learn to do the new things. Sometimes I feel that I fail more often than succeeding, but after every string of failures there is success, inevitably.
What I do when I take time out, is walk on the beach. Weather permitting of course.
Keep moving – you are getting there!
Hey Gene,
I know exactly what you mean, is good to get away from it all once in a while. Then you can come back and look at things in a different and refreshed frame of mind.
I like to watch TV too, it helps take your mind off things. I also play on my games console, and strangely enough it does actually help me to think better when I return to my desk.
I going to take day off on Friday, make do a couple of hours on my blog at night, or maybe just comment on others blogs.
Would be great, If you get a moment, to hear your feedback on my latest blog post.
Take care mate,
Paul.
Hey Gene,
You’ve posted a topic here that is crucial to ultimate success.
You simply must get some R & R – otherwise you’ll start getting stale and not think straight.
I got up this morning and went and hit some golf balls for an hour (7.30am to 8.30am), back at the computer by 9.0am.
Okay, I got up quite early, but boy, was I energised and now at 3pm, I’m still feeling great.
An hour or two R & R will actually make you more productive over the week.
Keep in touch,
Andrew.
Hi Gene,
I was just thinking about the need to take time away from the computer.
So what you say rings very true with me. There are so many things to be learned and done that I feel under great pressure even when I use my time doing exactly what needs to be done. And keep learning what needs to be learned.
While I don’t want to still be a beginner after 10 years as is the case with some people because they never really focused on the most important things, the fact is that there are tons of things one needs to learn how to do.
I gave myself 3 years to learn and do what it takes to make it. I know of people that have done it in 2 years but I tend to be slow at the beginning so 1 extra year just to remove any doubts.
Going for a walk is great and rejuvenating after slouching in front of the monitor. But to really get my mind of everything swimming in the ocean or having a game of tennis works great for me. I also used to play the guitar and sing quite often but haven’t done that lately. The TV is OK but not for too long. After all it is just another screen and a screen is what I want to get away from to rest my eyes.
You’ll get where you want to be as long as you keep moving toward it.
Vance.
Vance Sova´s last blog ..List Building Steps, Step 1-Get Autoresponder
Hey Gene,
We hear so much about the dedication and discipline required to build a business, online and offline but it is good to take a little bit of time out just to recharge and refocus. You are spot on when you mention staring into space and re-checking emails over and over. Probably time to take a break, let your mind clear and when you go back to it you will have more of an idea of what to do next.
And thanks for visiting my blog. Hope to see you again,
Andy
Andy Michaels´s last blog ..Ye Must Give Back Before Ye Shall Receive!
Hey Gene:
Thanks for commenting on my blog. Finally getting around to posting on everyone’s blog. Just want to say Hello and wishing you great success with the course. I can relate to your post as I’ve been doing that all day!
Gigi
Gigi Messina´s last blog ..GETTING ORGANIZED…
Hei from Norway Gene,
Great post and reminder to each of us, thanks.
I have to admit I’ve allowed being a busy fool to burn me out more than once.
It still is a challenge for me working online, and we are not alone facing it are we?
I’ll have to share more on my own blog of what I have and continue to learn.
Please do the same.
T.Owen@InternetMarketingSuccess´s last blog ..How Newbies Can Joint Venture With “Players”
Hi Gene,
I usually find it quite difficult to take a break because I know there is always *something* to do, whether it’s update the blog, comment on other blogs, work on a new product, do some promotion or outsource some other tasks.
However, when I *do* manage to take some time away from the computer, it helps to think about things more clearly and work on a renewed plan of attack.
When the downtime also involves alcohol, it’s suprising just how clear future tasks become, haha!
David
David Walker´s last blog ..Six Success Factors – Setting Up an Online Business
Hey Gene
I don’t think I had found your blog before. You really know how to hit the nail on the head in regards to the “simple difficulties” of on line marketing.
It is simple but it is very difficult to gain ground. Those first few comments on your blog are very incouraging and the first few opt ins to your list gives you some delight that you are doing the right things.
The difficulty is how little headway you make for the effort put in. Hours spent writing ads or setting up giveaways or trying to think up content for a blog post. The initial ROI is pretty low.
Just need to keep plugging away at the plan, and then take a hard look at the plan and modify it if you don’t feel you are making enough headway.
Norm