When I first told my family that I wanted to work online and not a traditional 9-to-5 job, I received some funny faces and plenty of serious talks meant to bring me back down to earth. I like that my family keeps me in the realm of reality. It helps balance out some of my crazier ideas.
It’s one thing to try and convince your family that you’re doing the right thing. It’s an entirely different beast trying to get other people to take the plunge with you.
Over the summer, I’ve been talking to a few folks about expanding my projects online. Sure, many people are interested in the idea. But, when you tell them that you have no financial backing for certain projects and that the projects can fail at any time, they lose interest fast.
Motivation is key
If you’re not entirely convinced you can be successful, you won’t be.
Even if I convince people that things will work out financially in the long run, it’s tough instilling self-confidence and motivation into everyone. The thing people most often tell me is, “I don’t really have the time.” They want success, but they don’t have time for it. Or, they want someone to hand it to them.
If you don’t think you have enough time, let me introduce you to a few people I know. How about a single mother with two kids, two jobs, and college classes to attend? I know few people with busier schedules than her.
Not having time means you don’t have motivation.
I can’t even begin to tell you how many people I’ve referred to Ian Stewart’s website There Really Is No Secret. If you haven’t checked out that site, it’ll tell you all you need to know to be successful in all things.
Finding the right people
My journey to find the right kind of people for my team has been tough. I have a handful of people that are on board right now for some upcoming projects.
I know plenty of folks online that have the right amount of determination, but right now, I want people that are close to home. I like being able to meet people face to face and having the ability to have weekly meetings where we can all get together and run over ideas.
To find the right kind of people, you have to put yourself out there. Get out there and make things happen. Be open and honest.
My selling point is: If you’re not willing to put your heart and soul behind a project, we’re not going to be a good fit. That’s what it all comes down to for me. I don’t care if you’re a genius or have never even touched a computer. You need to be willing to work hard and see it through.
What the heck am I talking about?
These are just a few thoughts I’ve been playing through my head lately.
I’ve been building a team of people that are willing to work hard and have fun on some online projects. I’ll keep everyone updated on the status of these projects (and what they are) as they near their launch.
In the meantime, if you live or know someone that lives around Montgomery, Alabama, that might be interested in working on the Web, shoot me a message through my contact form.
Thanks for the inspiration. I have been working on a project for about 8 months now and it’s about ready for release and I often have doubts. But I find if you just keep pushing something will come of it. As far as finding people with no cash , just an idea, I’ve had no success at all. So it’s been all me on this project. I many hats, Developer (my forte), Designer, Support, Marketing, Blogger, etc.. I’m learning alot!
Exactly. I’m always saying something similar. You can’t pay people to care. They either do or they don’t.
Justin, do you currently reside in South Korea or Alabama?
hi Justin, I’ve learned a lot from both you and Ian over the past few months and really admire/appreciate what you guys are doing for WordPress.
The real beauty of the web is how we can find people with similar interests, goals & direction to share and bounce ideas with. Separating the doers from the wannabes is another topic. Fortunately the doers seem to find each other one way or another.
Justin,
Success is in the journey. That’s why I dislike the traditional 9-5, because the journey usually stinks.
I’m trying to do the same thing North of Seattle you are trying to do in Montgomery. I can’t afford to start a full company. However, I made calls today to schedule a 2 night break away for three guys. We’ve got one project and we’re going to knock it out. We’ll see what happens from there.
Too bad we’re not in the same city
(I do have relatives in Pike Road…)
j
(PM sent)
Knowhow+Motivation+Damn good marketing strategy=success
The last one is as important as the two other.
Thank you for this inspirating post. I think the most important key for success is to do the things that must be done. This called so easy, but most of the people are to lazy. My slogan: Don´t think so much about the things you want to have – just do it!
Hi Justin,
I agree. You need to be motivated to be successful. I also agree it takes a team to be truly successful. I have recently assembled mine and business seems… smoother. Not that I am working any less, but it’s nice to have people who ‘have your back’.
Good luck assembling your team!
That’s true 1st the motivation and then the right kind of people is the success key. But the question is do we really care about negative motivation or positive motivation i think most of us always go for positive motivation but the truth is negative motivation plays an important role in our success. As it gives us strength to think in right direction.
Success is a question that we can’t not answer just in a blog post.
In my opinion, it takes time. You need to work hard day by day and still think just about how to be successful.
Sounds like you’re going through what all small business owners do at one time or another. Trying to succeed in business does take some real perseverance that only comes when you have vision of where you’re going. I wish you well.
If I reviewed the most common phrases I say, Not Having Time for something would be near the top of my list. I suppose I should re-evaluate myself and check that I still have motivation.
Thanks for the post Justin, i am having the same issue regarding financial backing.
I am also having trouble hiding the fact that i am only 17 (if your having trouble now, try it when your still technically a teenager).
It is funny to witness if the cup is half-full or half empty. I used that in a post just the other day…Except it ended with maybe we need a different cup.
I have no time that is a true statement. Fortunately, it is all spent on motivation or maybe call it direction and passion. I hope that your passion becomes your financial success.
I like your philosophy of finding like-minded people in your area.
I enjoyed all the positive comments – it says something about your post.
david c ballard
Hello, I somehow stumbled on one of your posts. When you say, not having time means you don’t have motivation… do you mean I have two years to complete something and I’m running out of time or I don’t have time for success I’m too busy with my own personal life? I don’t know, I thought it was confusing. This is confusing… I feel like it can mean anything if you don’t simplify it enough. Just a thought. By the way, I’m Korean (thought I’d share).
I checked out the ” There really is no Secret” website you mentioned in your article. I was expecting some elaborate success stuff…and lol I got the same lesson I learned in the Navy…minus the profanity. Keep your head up, and keep moving.
hi Justin,
Great post. Success generally involves taking a risk. And if you’re taking a significant risk, there will always be some people that advise against it. Thus, if you have a plan to succeed, you should also plan that a significant number of people probably won’t be able to support you… Steve
PS. Your header image is cool, but is there a way to “left float” it, if that makes sense. I surf with a partial window, and when I came here I saw only part of your header, so what I saw was “stinTadlock”.
It is definitely tough to find good people, and it can also be equally as difficult to just take the risk and go for it. This can be said for many things in life though, and taking the plunge is a lot better than kicking yourself for not. Am I sounding cliche yet?
got an email – headed over to read and say hello.
can’t wait to get over to my blog – i don’t know what i don’t know but, i do know – this will be my personal blog – i’m excited to find out what everyone does behind the WP curtain – i can post and do the small creative (minor) things.
This is for fun and me – your welcome to visit and no one is obligated to stay – i hope there are enough at least to share a common interest.
Wasn’t there mention of not having enough time…like i said you not obligated to come or stay.
I’ll come to your personal blog first if you want.
i hope to invite everyone soon.
david c ballard
Justin – good point:
If you’re not entirely convinced you can be successful, you won’t be.
It’s called the self-fulfilling prophesy. There are alot of people out there who do this to themselves. They fail at one thing, then another and set up a pattern of failure. It’s not the failure – it’s the mindset. There are plenty of stories about people who failed miseravly (I’m thinking Walt Disney and PT Barnum) who ended up as successes because they believed that they could and would succeed.
Good luck and have fun!
Success is depend upon the couple of factor
What kind of goal u are going to achieve
What is the lead time
What kind of environments
What kind of difficulty level u have
So couple of thing
Regards,
Qaisir
“(I’m thinking Walt Disney and PT Barnum) who ended up as successes because they believed that they could and would succeed.”
Jack, you’ve got a great example here of what the world has seen as a successful person. Just to flip the coin, however, instead of paying a batch of cartoonist after they finished a movie, Walt Disney kicked them out on the street and hired people to keep them out. Here’s to success!
A RandomHouse.com snippet about “The Triumph of the American Imagination”, a book by Nel Gabler about Walt Disney’s life:
“Gabler also reveals a wounded, lonely, and often disappointed man, who, despite worldwide success, was plagued with financial problems much of his life, suffered a nervous breakdown, and at times retreated into pitiable seclusion in his workshop making model trains. Gabler explores accusations that Disney was a red-baiter, an anti-Semite, an embittered alcoholic.”
As Justin’s article starts…just some thoughts on success.
Motivation is extremely hard on a daily basis. It usually comes in spurts. Need to find a thought or a feeling and hold on to it and never let go.
Thanks for the great read! Yes, motivation is key… There’s a lot of people that will tell you that you cannot do something. Those people are the ones who usually end up working that 9-5 their entire life.
Taking the risks on some actions is sometimes needed to make things happen. Get motivated by your goals not because others wants you to be. In that way, people seen you making things happen and in return will get motivated.
I remember quite a few years ago now, I had a meeting with a small business advisor and he said to me that if you wanted to set up and make a success in business you would have to find around 24 hours a week on top of your day job whilst in transition. I have since set up a successful Printed T Shirts business and I am at the far side of transition. Looking back I would say that the business advisor was correct if not slightly conservative. It’s a struggle but well worth the effort.
Your post causes me to reflect back on some of the partners I have worked with in the past… it can be very difficult to find like-minded people who won’t quit when the going gets tough. Remember: people who say “you can’t do that” don’t mean YOU can’t do that.. they just mean THEY can’t (or don’t want to).
Motivation is what we need in everything in our life
“Hard work and discipline are what you need to succeed. This applies to everything. There really is no secret—or shortcut—that will get you around this. Get to it. Now.”
You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved.
“A successful is one who can lay a firm foundation with bricks when others have thrown on it.”
listen yourself,always beleive in you
listen to ur heart, trust ur instincts
KNOW U CAN!!!
see ur on strnth, dreem it—dare it
do wat u r afraid of,keep d faith
follow ur vision
REMEMBER!!
anything is possible if only ur believe
AND SUCCESS WILL BE URS:)
“if you try hard and give your best without expecting anything then you must be achieve your goal”
i love the inspiration you give me. I know how hard it is to get financial backing. a while back I was presented with a deal of a lifetime and it took me about 2 months to find a person to finance a $150,000 project that I had on the table. But I stuck with it and didn’t give up and now I am glad i didn’t because I made a killing on it.