Have you ever struggled with your business?
Well, I thought so. Pretty much everyone has been struggling with their business in one way or another at some point in time. If you say you haven’t, you’re probably not a business owner or you don’t care about your business.
I can summarize it in one word – Overwhelmed!
I believe that is the number one reason that people fail or struggle in business. No matter if it is online or offline. They become overwhelmed.
I guess we have all been there. Thinking that IF I only could get this [fill in the task] done! Then things would be easier and take care of themselves. Then I would get more time for my family and friends. Then I could give more attention to [fill in the task]….
It is basically the same story no matter who you ask.
If they are in an online business, chances are that they are doing all their work by themselves.
- Building websites
- Driving traffic
- Calling prospects
- Creating ad campaigns
- Building an email list
- Creating content
- Writing articles
- Social Networking
- Customer Service
- [fill in the blank]
You name it, and they are probably doing it.
Could it even be so that this person is YOU?
I must admit that I have been this type of person, and although I’ve been changing my mindset a lot the past year or so, I still have some way to go.
The past months have been really overwhelming in my life. Not because there are too many new things I need to learn (well there are, but that’s not the reason). No, the major reason that I have been everwhelmed is because I have started seeing more success.
Yes, you read right. I have seen more success in the past 6 months than I’ve ever seen online before and that has caused me to take on too many new tasks, starting too many new projects and acually loosing quite a bit of focus and discipline.
Yes, success requires focus and when you get success, you can easily become overwhelmed, which leads to less focus and less success…well, you get it. It can start a negative spiral.
Anyway, I’ll get to my point with this blog post.
I have been quite overwhelmed as I said and today I draw down a mind map on my drawing board which made me reflect on all those ideas I have in my mind that I want to implement.
This is how it looked when I was finished:
The mind map on my drawing board
As you can see, it is A LOT of tasks on that board! No wonder I was overwhelmed.
This mind map also reminded me of a report written by Rich Schefren a few years ago that my mentor Jonathan Budd had recommended me to read.
It’s one of the most downloaded business manifestos to this date and it made Rich famous and know as the Gurus’ guru. Some of his clients are well known marketers like Mike Filsaime, Tellman Knudson, Jeff Walker, Alex Mandosian, Yanik Silver, John Carlton and many many more…
Well, I will tell the rest of the story in the video below.
So, here is the link to Rich’s Internet Business Manifesto.
Download. Read. Implement.
It’s well worth to get rid of that overwhelming feeling and reading the manifesto is a Great start.
To your successful future,
Dr Jon
PS. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of this post and Rich’s manifesto. Also, I would love to hear about your greatest struggle in business and how you have overcome it? (if you have)
Jon,
Thanks for this great offer. It seems that ever since I came online I get overwhelmed pretty frequently. I’ll figure some things out, grow a little and then more information and things to do to get to the next level and yup…overwhelmed again. It seems to be a repeating pattern every time I want to grow and learn just a little more. Good to hear from you.
.-= Don Enck´s last blog ..Is Customer Service A Lost Art =-.
Thanks for the comment Don.
Yes, it is so easy to get overwhelmed online. keeping focus is harder than ever (at least when you have signed up for a few internet marketing lists). When your email always get bombarded with the next shiny thing it is very easy to get distracted.
I hope you will enjoy the report!
Jon
Jon.
You seem the epitome of organization to me! So your sharing your own struggles with “overhwhelm” is especially meaningful — and really made me sit up and take notice!
I know it’s not the system or the map or any particular procedure that holds the magic. But a snazzy new tool, combined with the support you have generously provided here is so helpful. Today was a discouraging day. Thanks for helping me end it on an upbeat trend for tomorrow!
THANK YOU! Jon what’s up buddy!!!!
Yes indeed… growth and “overwhelm.”
Focus, discipline and info overload…
So many ways to tackle this and at the
forefront will have to be your personal
PHILOSOPHY guiding WHY you’re in business
and WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING TOWARD.
You get so busy sometimes and grow
and you get more business and it can
sometimes take you away completely from
the main reason you were building this
kind of business…
And WHY.
And what the ultimate end result desired
truly was.
We get buried in grow, grow, grow
and we add, add, add…
But sometimes you have to back up
completely and ask yourself if that
direction is really where you wanted to
go in the first place.
I heard a great piece of wisdom the other
day and it went something like this…
“Knowledge = Adding and adding and adding pieces to your library…
While WISDOM was the act of taking pieces away that are not really serving your true purpose…
Sometimes we get so involved (and addicted) the
the KNOWLEDGE gathering and we fall for the illusion
that growth = ADDING MORE KNOWLEDGE…
When in fact…
Growth is more about Wisdom…
And wisdom is more about KNOWing what
to let go of… letting go.
And that all comes back to our
DEFINITE CHIEF AIM
The “End Result” we’re all driving for.
Is it to be constantly filling ourselves
with more and more KNOWledge = data and
stuff to do…
Or was our chief aim and purpose something
entirely different?
It’s an inside game we must be disciplined
to stay true with.
Freedom. Time and Money.
Versus. Fame. Expression. Constant “busy”
The past 24 months have seen tremendous
change in my business… and in my life as well.
Business actually shot up…
After I reanalyzed my real purpose and
Definite Chief Aim… the WHY I was doing
all this… and
It led back to SIMPLE. LEVERAGE. FREEDOM.
TIME. FAMILY. SERENITY. REFLECTION.
I let LOTS of “busy things” go. Completely.
Simplified EVERYTHING.
Stopped chasing the NEVER ending…
“I’m going to master internet this and internet that…”
And instead of chasing internet “mastery” I turned
the internet into my slave. Not the other way around.
And that little tweak in my philosophy allowed
me to refuel, stay on task with the bigger picture
and just not get sucked into the “overwhelm” thing…
Kinda zen like in a way it’s funny.
I totally understand what you mean by
that mind map!!!!
When I saw that manifesto a couple years
ago… I drew mine and it made me sick.
WAY TOOOOOOO MUCH.
That was the trigger.
FIND out what was 100% necessary
and PURPOSE DRIVEN…
Versus the vanity driven stuff that was
just a never ending chase that truly will
never end…
Find your purpose and definite chief aim
and all else falls in place.
Great piece my friend!!!
Franco
WoooHoooo, Your Back! Missed you buddy – nothing like writing a list to get ‘stuff’ outa your head, I’m a big fan of the whiteboard.
Cheers Buddy
Anna
.-= Anna Johnston´s last blog ..FLYING THE FLAG FOR GEN Y CHEFS =-.
No Kidding! Good mind-map. That spoke right to me. I battle that daily.It is important to stay focused on your small goals and hit them and keep your attention on the important thing. Thanks for this.
.-= Patrick McIntosh´s last blog ..The Netherlands and Germany or Spain- The FIFA 2010 World Cup Finals! =-.
Thank you so very much! This came at such a timely basis. Only 2 days ago, being overwhelmed, I had to take what I call the many “post-its” in my mind and write them down.
It was too much for a list, so instead, I drew a tree, with a big cloud on top of the paper.
On the bottom of the paper I wrote THE POWER OF NOW
The rooted the tree into that. I wrote all the things that were “rooted” and in place with my business. The branches contained things I was working on and how I would see them branch out. My tree has many branches tee hee!
To make a long story short, I did this in detail.
THE CLOUD contained the things I needed to GET RID OF!
I have several properties, 2 MLM’s that I’m tired of so I need them to go away so I can give my undivided attention to it.
MAGIC HAPPENS
One house is about to close, Another has a buyer, The three that are left will be polished and up for sale next week!
After reading your message and seeing the video, I think my tree will turn into a forest! MANY THANKS, DONNA MERRILL
MIND MAPPING REALLY WORKS….THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS INSPIRATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE LINK, WHICH I AM DOWNLOADING NOW!
Great to have an outline for writing down what is overwhelming. As we need to write something down,
we have to formulate in our mind what it is we are
focusing on, and as we become aware of what that is
we tend to have more direction by visually seeing
what thoughts have been rattling around in our head.
As we visually become aware, and focus on the over
whelm we can design a clearer picture of how to prioritize.
.-= Wendy MacKay´s last blog ..Positive Energy =-.
Thank you Linda!
I’m glad that you liked it and was helped by it.
I hope the days after your comment has been better.
Jon
Thanks Franco!!!
Awesome comment! You’re Da MAN! :)
I appreciate you sharing your wisdom! I know that you have experience enough to know what you’re talking about.
Finding your purpose and take a prupose deiven approach is the absolute best thing you can do to stay inspired and on track!
I’m moving to Cali soon as you might know. Looking forward to see you over there sometime even though I know you’ve escaped from that area.. :)
Take care my friend. Speak Soon!
Jon
Thanks Anna :)
Yeah, finally I’v got some stuff out of my head! :) Whiteboards are great to help with that.
Speak soon my friend! Hope all is going fabulous down under!
Jon
Thanks! Yes, a lot of people can relate to that mind map I guess.
Becoming overwhelmed is so common and happens to literally everyone at some point.
The key is to know how to handle it and stay focused, just as you mention!
Have a wonderful weekend! (even though the world cup is over :))
Jon
Thanks for your inspired comment Donna!
Yes, when you write down all your thoughts on paper onstead of keeping them in your head, magic things can happen.
I’m happy to hear that its working well for you and that my blog post was an inspiration.
I hope you enjoy Rich’s report which is a great read!
Take care,
Jon
Yes Wendy,
Becoming more aware and clear about what you want, helps you to prioritize and focus on the things that is most likely to create the desired outcome.
I’v recently started to write down more and more and I can definitely feel a relief and I have become more clear on what I should focus on.
Jon
Jon, What I like most about this post and your video is your willingness to address the truth so many of us know each day: that having a business of our own in the 21st century requires so much discipline and focus, and as a result, can lead us to being overwhelmed! I admire you for sharing your own story with being overwhelmed and how you wrestled with moving forward. I look forward to reading Rich’s document. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Best to you as you continue on your journey,
Mary Lou
.-= Mary Lou Kayser´s last blog ..Are Old School Network Marketers Extinct =-.
Hi Dr Jon: Right on again. You’re awesome and give so much valuable information. Appreciate it lots, thanks. There are so many shiny tools for the internet business, I don’t take the time to focus and apply what is out there that is very helpful for my internet business. Thanks for reminding me.
Your friend,
Arlan
Jon, love the mind map! Having a good plan and thought process is key in building any business. Your points should be taken very seriously by any person that wants to succeed in online marketing!
.-= Michael Feil´s last blog ..Blogging For Beginners – Value Of The Mentoring Tab =-.
Jon, thank you for sharing the link to the Internet Business Manifesto. I have been feeling quite overwhelmed recently and have not even started on many of the videos I need to produce. I look forward to stopping back at your blog soon. Thank you again.
.-= Scott Pollov´s last blog ..Why Write A Business Plan – Eight Great Reasons! =-.
Thanks Scott! Yes, it is soo easy to feel overwhelmed when you are working online. Take on thing at a time and I’m sure you’ll get your videos done pretty soon.
Dr Jon
Jon,
This is great information you share here. I recently heard Rich Schefren speak at a recent affiliate event and it was interesting to hear him say this is the reason why he failed online for so long, trying to do too much. Yet ironically he had made millions in other businesses offline.
Considering Rich has mentored such successful people including Mike Filsaime, I know he knows what he’s talking about.
I remember him saying when is MORE the solution to TOO MUCH?
I am going to download this and read it.
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Karen
.-= Karen Marrow´s last blog ..Social Media Manager Becomes Key Position In Successful Businesses =-.
Jon thanks for the video and I love your mind map!! I have felt overwhelmed since i came online at the beginning of this year. I go through stages when it is worse but it seems always there.
I used to be such a focused person and now I feel “all over the place”. I am about to download your suggested Manifesto.
Thanks Jon.
Sue
.-= Sue Price´s last blog ..Home Business Tips – Design a Life =-.