Web designer gives guidance on online business

I am a web designer by profession and i have been doing this for more than 10 years. People always keep asking me about the whole online world and how to go about it. My advice is that you should just go ahead and do it rather than just wait for tips or guidance from website designers like me. Learn while you do.
In internet marketing or in any business… Ever heard of analysis paralysis? It’s the over analysis of things that results in getting no job done. You’re so eager to make it perfect, you forgot the most important thing… Doing it.
I use to have this problem and I still do every once in a while. You might have experienced it but you’re not aware of it. Reading a lot of materials thinking that it might help you. But it only paralyzes you. The most important thing is to just do it.
I read the book “Rework” its about how to manage a small online business. Its not a book how to make adsense sites nor do affiliate marketing nor “How to be a blogger”, its a general book on how you become consistent at successfully managing your small online business. What strikes me with this book is to keep it simple. Being a small online business is great. You don’t have to act so big, so the good or bad things you do, nobody will know or even care.
My point is, if you spend more time doing the things in your mind instead of just pondering on it all day, you can go places and move forward. There is something we call, iteration. Where we continue to add improvements to something. Be it a website designer's blog, an ecommerce site or affiliate campaigns, it doesn’t matter. Nobody cares if you mess up. Nobody will laugh at you. You can still change things. Remember, its your business and you have all the time in the world.
Ok. You might have some questions in your mind such as:
- I don’t have money to start my own business- I don’t have experience in running a business- I don’t have time- I don’t know how to run a business
And my answer is:
- I don’t have money to start my own business
Having no money for business is the most common excuse. You can borrow money. Sell some crap things you don’t use. Get a loan. Rob a bank. Seriously, we are not in the great depression. Money is everywhere. Furthermore, online businesses are not that expensive to start. You just have to need a website for around 2,000 Pesos. Just a website and you’re open for business. Remove the idea that you need a lot of money to get started. You don’t. At least not in an online business.
- I don’t have experience in running a business
Neither did I when I started as a web designer. I’m mainly a software engineer. Pure technical stuff. The kind of guys that would never ever think of running a business but only to fantasize about working in a large and popular company. But I did. I manage to pull through. You just have to have the determination to go and act on your ideas. Remember that thoughts and ideas are spiritual in nature and perishable, act upon them and you give it respect. Ignore it and you’re stuck with the idiots who blame the government for their misfortune…
- I don’t have time
Sure. And I’m the mad hatter.
- I don’t know how to run a business
Read books? Go to seminars? Go to conventions? Surf the internet? Ask a family relative who has a business? Ask a friend who has a business? The list can go on.
The moral lesson of the story is, Just Do It. And when you do it, you will be victorious.Nike is the god of victory in Greek mythology.
I got a chance to meet a businessman that owns a driving school here in Mumbai, 40 years old, 3 years in business. And one thing that strikes me during our 2 hour conversation is that when he said “You just have to take risk. Just do it. Sooner or later you’ll get pissed about your work. How plain and routinely you go to work everyday to receive a measly pay check. You will want change. But that change is with a cost. It’s up to you if you want to take the chances. Any successful person will tell you, “I’m glad I took that chance” and I’m happy I can say that as well.”