I was born in January of 1970 in Seattle, Washington. While I was growing up, my Dad worked at the Boeing Company, where he was a high level manager at Boeing Computer Services. Yet, in 1988 (the year I graduated from High School) we did not have a computer at home.
Think about that.
One of the highest level executives at Boeing Computer Services didn’t have a computer in his home in 1988.
I was 18 when I graduated from High School and I did not get my first computer until I was 23 years old (1993).
My first computer looked like this:
Those were the days of America Online (AOL), “you’ve got mail” and chat rooms. When it would take 5 minutes and an awful screeching sound to get online, only to be kicked off 5 minutes later.
Keep in mind, you couldn’t use your home phone when you were online and you would be charged $3.50/hour extra if you went over 5 hours of Internet access per month.
Cell phones looked like bricks and before I had a cell phone, I actually had something called a “beeper”.
There was no Amazon, eBay or Google.
I am what you call an immigrant in the world of technology.
Flash forward to today…
Let’s look at my 18 year old daughter.
Here is what Emma’s computer and phone look like (not including her eBook reader):
Emma has never experienced a home without multiple computers and cell phones. She doesn’t know a world without texting, navigation and blogging and she goes to the movies by simply pulling up Netflix on her laptop. As long as she is connected to WiFi, the Internet is pretty much free.
Emma is a native in the world of technology. It all comes easy to her.
If you feel lost and frustrated when it comes to technology, welcome to the world of just about everyone over the age of 40.
You are not alone.
Add on the pressure of trying to learn how to build your business online and the frustration turns into overwhelm and paralyzed home business owners. But don’t worry, I’ve been at this a while now.
See, just after 9-11-2001, I lost my “cushy” outside sales job and that was about the time that my wife discovered the art of selling our junk on eBay for profit. One day I was looking over her shoulder and saw that she sold a dress that my daughter had outgrown for about 100 times the price that it would typically sell for at a garage sale. Long story, short, we became the 2nd largest eBay sellers in the State of Washington and our business was featured all over the place, including Entrepreneur magazine.
I learned a ton about marketing online and a couple of years later, began to apply what I learned to the world of Network Marketing.
In January of 2003, I placed my first Google Adwords ad for Network Marketing (pretty sure that ad was the first Network Marketing ad ever on Google).
In October of 2003, I launched MLMBlog.net, one of the first blogs on the subject of Network Marketing…that blog still ranks at the top of Google.
Between 2003 and 2004, I personally sponsored over 100 people into my primary business and made a six-figure income shortly thereafter.
I learned a lot through painstaking trial and error.
Then (between 2004 and 2005) I began to apply the principles of Attraction Marketing and I generated over 10,000 leads, allowing me to create a business that I could build from anywhere in the world.
This little Attraction Marketing secret has allowed me to become the #1 Recruiter and # 1 Team Builder in a company with over 100,000 reps.
Yes, it was work but it wasn’t as painful as making a list of names and cranking out uncomfortable phone calls to my friends and neighbors. I still use the phone, but it’s different when your potential business partners and customers actually ask you to call them.
If you want to see exactly how Attraction Marketing works, my friend and MIT/USC graduate, Ferny Ceballos has put together a groundbreaking and free 10 Day Internet Recruiting Bootcamp.
Ferny’s 10 day bootcamp will cure every case of confusion and overwhelm, even for my friends over 50 years old.
To your success!
Ty Tribble
This article is right on the money. I come across a lot of people who get so over-whelmed when it comes to using online marketing strategies to build their business. What I do is provide a quick coaching session to give them a simple game plan on how to move forward.
Online is powerful when done right. Unfortunately, the learning curve is very steep. It took me about six years to really master it. It works great now, but anyone in their right mind would not have persevered with it like I did. I think offline is much easier for most people.
There are actually three different "online" venues if you ask me, MLM, Affiliate marketing and your own product or service. Each of these can be very profitable if :
1. You know what you are doing or have a mentor that does
2. You are in a coaching system that teaches you what you need with no fluff or carrot sticks
or
3. You have all the tasks you are not comfortable with or are not as proficient as you need to be done by those that are and focus on the tasks that you are good at and enjoy doing.
Does that mean that you are never too old to learn? Or maybe you think you know everything you need? The answer toi both of these questions will always be answered with a resounding NO by anyone who has acheived any level of tyrue success, in business or in life.
Excellent article… In fact inspiring one,,,Those who feel like lost their business would be happy to see this and get inspired… Thank you so much for sharing… Long way to go
Amen to that! I totally understand the concept of information overload. Hell, I’m experiencing it right now but have to put things in perspective . This should be called an epidemic in the vein of Internet marketing.
Yes, information overload is a huge problem for most people. The learning curve is very steep. Most people give up and quit before they master their skills. I can see why. It’s frustrating when you work hard and accomplish little and earn nothing. That being said, if you can stick with it and figure it out, it’s totally awesome. I’m glad I didn’t quit my “make money online” experience.
Chuck