The Internet, Money and You

When you put all your eggs in one basket, it's a dangerous thing to do- if the basket is squished; you're out of eggs, aren't you? We all know the analogy holds to hedge your bets, to make a way of escape, to not place your efforts in jeopardy of failing with no way out. Yet the very people who advise you when it comes to the internet are saying that you have to singularly focus on one element and one element alone. It has to be confusing, and it must be examined. Can you afford to focus only on one element of the business you are doing, excluding the others?

If you have a business that you are doing over the internet, and that business is bringing in funds, turning a profit, the first response of people who don't get the whole picture is that pure profit because it doesn't cost anything to have a web page. This isn't real, there are plenty of costs involved in the web- most of which have nothing to do with the internet itself, but are costs nevertheless. For example, utilities comes to mind, office cost, whether at home, or in an office, use cost, and maintenance just to mention a few.

To balance the picture you have to consider all the factors of the business, and the first and most difficult point is that your business does profit, but it needs measuring. The ultimate measure of profit is what is left after all the invoices and bills have been paid. This can be quite extensive depending upon your business and how the profits come in.

This measure is important from a perspective of what you are actually doing, it's good to know you are succeeding, but it is also essential if you are to be able to move beyond that immediate success to the edge, where those who don't want competition don't discuss topics. Remember that in the real world competing means that someone is going to lose, someone is going to win, your competition wants the loss to be on your side, and your job is to bring every conceivable element into the match to win.

In order to get this into your daily thinking remember that we aren't using the half empty glass concept, it doesn't work with the web, what works on the web is the glass full of water, and many straws, who is going to get the last sip? Getting to that point is the part that many times isn't discussed. What will get you there is sometimes hard to see, certainly can be hard to finance, and often calls upon the internet entrepreneur to think in ways that are unique. If you are a creative type person this won't be as big a challenge for you, but if you are a person who has to work at creativity, then the challenge comes in the form of a question, is it possible to learn this?

If we listen to those who believe that they know what it will take you to remain only a competitor to them, not a conqueror, not a winner, but only a challenge, then we will continue to use models that don't work. The standard business model does not seem to work well with the internet. It's not very clear as to why this might be so, but developing a product, researching the market for that product, then financing the apparent sales, seems not to match up with the experience of the internet. Stay with us as we explore this, as we further pursue what you can't afford not to know.