Winter Blues

January 27th, 2010 • Related • Filed Under

I wasn’t sure whether to write this post. I don’t normally like to talk too much about my personal life – it’s private. But I’m reminded that people connect to people. And one of the fastest ways of doing that is by being honest.

For the last couple of months I’ve been pretty much out of the loop in marketing. I had an international house move in December which certainly takes up a big chunk of time. Been ill too. Then I followed it by feeling depressed. I don’t know if I had actual depression, but I’ve never felt so blue in my life before – ever.

Winter can be a miserable time for a lot of us, especially in colder climates. For me it has come at the same time as moving countries. I didn’t really want to do that, but for the sake of my family (mainly my kids’ education) I’ve done it. We’ve moved back to a cold – very, very cold – climate from a warm one in Spain. And we’ve moved back to the hustle and bustle and road rage that we’d previously left behind. The shock of the cultural differences has reminded me how much I loved the Spanish lifestyle. It suited me.

This picture shows you the view I used to have:

My View

I now have a view out onto a busy main road. It’s not as attractive!

But when I see how happy my family is I’m glad we made the move back. It came at a cost to me though. I’ve left behind friends, a climate and location that I loved and a lifestyle that fit me like a glove. To be honest, I wasn’t prepared for how low I’d feel with this move.

Luckily for me I’m not really someone who ever gets down – I can’t remember ever feeling like this before in my whole life. And I’m getting used to all the differences now, so that initial depression has lifted and I’m getting back into the swing of things. My usual cheery self has returned, just about.

It does mean that an upcoming project has been delayed, by about 6 weeks or so. I’m creating a new product – a service that builds niche blogs for you, automatically. It should be ready, live and available in about a week, hopefully. There are a number of unique features that will prove invaluable, I hope. But more of that nearer the launch time.

To anyone affected by delays in my doing things I’d like to apologize. Sometimes life gets in the way of the best of plans. And it reminds us to enjoy the day, while we still can, because tomorrow might bring changes.

To those of you who are thinking about breaking into internet marketing for the first time, I would say jump in. Learn as you go. There’s never a better time than today to get started. You almost certainly won’t make $100,000 in your first month – or even your first year. But you’ll never make a penny until you’ve taken your first steps.

Why not take your first steps today – I’ll even help you out by providing software to get you started.

To anyone who leaves a genuine, engaging comment to this post I’ll offer you a free copy of my e-store shopping cart, SublimeSalesPro – yes, it’s a bribe to encourage more comments. And just so we’re clear, ‘interesting post’ as a comment does not qualify for a free copy! If you can’t genuinely contribute to the discussion, don’t. Buy the software instead.

I know from my site statistics that quite a few people read this blog, but very, very few leave any comments so I’m willing to bribe you to interact. If it works, I’ll probably offer more such goodies in the future – good stuff. If it doesn’t work out then I won’t offer such freebies.

Oh and by the way, if I get more than 10 genuine comments I’ll pick my favorite one and put together a package of resell rights material for setting up an online store using SublimeSalesPro – I’ll also do the script install, if required. And just to encourage people to comment sooner rather than later, if I get 30 comments I’ll close the offer. If you want a copy of the script, comment early!

Comment by Bill Flint on 27 January 2010:

Oh Man this looks “GREAT” & easy ?? I can’t belive they finally got it together! This should make it BIG time ? Is that easy to set-up ?
Great,
Bill
Comment by Corey Wood on 27 January 2010:

Hi Amin I can certainly understand you’re less the ambitous jump back into a cold environment.I live in pei Canada where from time to time we can experience cold bouts of weather.It’s nice to see someone as successful as you expressing themselves so freely it’s very refreshing.I had to leave family and friends in the past to go to work and make some money so I understand how you can get down leaving the place you love and your friends.Things will get better!I will be waiting for your new launch thank you for being so honest.Corey Wood!
Comment by Robert Little on 27 January 2010:

I am not only a newbie to online marketing, but a relative newbie to computers as a whole. Three years ago I could not even type! Yet, I decided to go back to school. After 30 years outside of academia, I went back for a Masters degree – in a whole new career path. Two years later I graduated with honors. Three weeks into my new post, post graduate job my kidneys failed and my eyes finally failed. So much for WORK! Now I am legally blind, spend 10+ hours each day on dialisys, and so weak that a walk to the mailbox requires several rest stops.

I am intrigued with the possibility of making a little money (and perhaps eventually – a lot). I like your advice to jump in. That without jumping in I’ll never get anywhere. Did I mention that I’m living on disability and my wife’s income. And she is anything but a believer in taking chances!

I’ve noticed in my life that most new things require a learning curve, and usually a learning curve has cost associated with it. I cannot afford any cost. I may be able to come up with a little start-up expense, but NO mistakes. I’m good with making little or nothing at first, but no worse than that!

Right now I could really use some words of encouragement and honest advice.

I’ve read lots of sales pitches that SOUND real good, but I want to hear from people with nothing to sell!
Robert Little
Comment by Anthony Phillip on 27 January 2010:

Hi,Amin.Truely a picture speaks a thousand words and more,and this view is heartening,being so cheerful.I mean that’s how I feel!Only the pureness nature can reflect the beauty of having a cheerful state of mind.As our world goes aginst nature,I sure hope that cheerfulnes of heart and mind would be a mountain unmoveable in it.
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hey Anthony

welcome!

I love that view, I must say. I could look out of the window when I was working and see that. Not bad, was it?

You’re the first to reply and I appreciate that. Do you want a copy of the shopping cart script?

Amin
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hi Robert

First, I want to congratulate you for taking some action – that’s 100% the first step in achieving anything. And second I want to tell you that you can make some money without spending a whole lot – you have to trade a little sweat equity, but it’s doable. I understand what you say about your wife not wanting to take chances – my wife is the same.

In fact, when I made my first sale on the internet for $7 I was, to be quite honest, really excited. It worked! But when I told my wife and her parents they literally laughed in my face. $7? What good is $7? The answer is that on its own it’s a burger and fries and maybe a coffee. But as the start of something, learning as I went and tweaking, testing and being willing to keep going, it soon had some little sisters and brothers.

You’re right when you talk about sales pitches that sound good and I understand what you mean about listening to people with nothing to sell. What you want is genuine advice that isn’t just out to make money off your back.

Let me give you one piece of advice that is real simple, but so many people don’t follow it (me included, sometimes): Pick an approach and make a start. Then keep working at it. Forget the latest ‘wonder system’ – it will still be there if you want it later. Put real effort into whatever you’re doing, because if you don’t, you’ll get nowhere.

Then, when you’ve found an activity that works, keep doing it!

By the way, you’ll find, like most of us, that 80% of your efforts don’t really achieve anything. When you learn to spend just the 20% of your time on the productive activities, you’ll be able to make a little money without having to work all day long.

If you tell me what you’ve already tried in the past I may be able to give you some more specific suggestions.

Amin

P.S. I forgot to ask, do you want a copy of the Shopping Cart script? Do you have any domain or hosting to use it on?
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hi Corey

Welcome and thanks for the kind words. I didn’t feel comfortable admitting how down I was – I hate to be seen as weak – but I know I’ve let a couple of people down with launch timing and response times because of the last month or so. It seemed the honest thing to do to admit to it on this blog.

I think you’ll like my blog builder product – the feedback I’ve had so far from the people who’ve seen it has been very strong.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hi Bill

Are you asking me about the Shopping Cart at SublimeSalesPro.com?

It’s hard to answer a question like that because everyone has different experience. I’ve set up and installed many hundreds of sites and scripts so to me, it’s pretty easy to set up. For a beginner I guess it might be a bit daunting, but at least there’s an option for a paid install. Most scripts do assume a certain level of knowledge and I remember what it’s like not to have that knowledge.

When I first started building websites I made some real ugly things that showed no understanding of design. When I started installing scripts I used to get headaches with the complex ones!

If you’re asking about something else, if you clarify what you mean I’ll try to answer for you.

Amin
Comment by Corey Wood on 27 January 2010:

Hi Amin I made a posting earlier I’m just fixing some spelling mistakes lol! I can certainly understand you’re less then ambitious to jump back into a cold environment.I live in PEI Canada where from time to time we can experience cold bouts of weather.It’s nice to see someone as successful as you expressing themselves so freely it’s very refreshing.I had to leave family and friends in the past to go to work and make some money, so I understand how you can get down leaving the place you love and your friends.Things will get better!I will be waiting for your new launch thank you for being so honest.Corey Wood!
Comment by John Counsel on 27 January 2010:

Hi Amin

I find it impossible to comprehend anyone choosing to live in a climate where snow and ice aren’t an option. And having to move countries for your kids’ education seems extreme. If I want snow in winter, I drive an hour or two into the mountains. Then I leave it behind.

Maybe it’s time to move to where great views, great climate and great education are all available together, with no global financial crisis, no serious traffic hassles, no language barriers, world-best Internet access, brilliant lifestyle, fabulous beaches… you get the drift. *lol*

Learn more about this Shangri La here:
http://www.johncounsel.com/popups/p-adams-acc.html

In short, my old mate, don’t worry about the blues… any right-minded person would feel depressed by what you described. And, since you did it for your kids, it’s a noble sacrifice done so they can have a good education, learn to be like everyone else, park you in a geriatric home as soon as you reach retirement age, and bicker over your meagre remaining possessions.

This is something you should feel good about, not gloomy!

Have a great 2010 — and spend as much time in Spain as you can.

Fond regards,

John
Comment by Joan on 27 January 2010:

It must be very difficult for you to move into a new place and leave your comfort zone. It’s good though that you have your priority like your children’s education and your family’s future. Your strategy in marketing by giving away limitted copy of your software is great because you let some people test your product and provide you feedbacks later.
Comment by Bill Flint on 27 January 2010:

No, Wasn’t talking about web set-up [ I can't do that ] just getting the account and program. You will set it up? Right?
Thanks,
Bill
Comment by Edgar Allen on 27 January 2010:

Hi Amin — 18 months ago I moved from a place and climate i loved (Arizona) to a cold & snowly climate I truly dislike. However, it was a nice new start with a great job–which I still need.

Since I have suffered with clinical depression my entire life, as we sometimes say here…”I feel ya.” My opinion is to continue to be self-aware as you have been. If you start to cycle into and out of the “blues” regularly, please reach out for help.

Just a little personal update, I have completed a great free report on high blood pressure, am in the process of writing an ebook on the subject, and have a hot topic new report and ebook in initial development.

In spite of all the ups and downs, life is fun and rewarding and the daily thrill of internet marketing (in any niche) is really a blast! Hope you stay well and thanks for sharing.
Comment by Len on 27 January 2010:

Hi Amin,

Welcome to the cold. I live in Manitoba, Canada. We just had a blizzard that dumped a whack of snow on us and now the mercury is sitting around -20 C. Coming from the Caribbean I can appreciate how you feel but look at the bright side. Your kids will get the education you want for them and you will be closer to the IM action.
Think of all the conferences and seminars you can attend much more easily now!
Cheer up and keep up the good work!

Len
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hey Len

We got down to -20 degrees here in the UK so, believe me, I know how bad that is! Of course it’s not normally that cold, but relative to what I was used to it’s been a shock.

I hadn’t thought about the ability to attend conferences – you make a very good point and it’s something I’ve now promised myself to do during this year.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hey Edgar

I hear ya, bro, I hear ya, and thanks for the good advice. Hiding things and bottling them up is no good for anyone.

I’ve never been given to the blues, literally never before, to be honest, but this was such a shock to me I had to write about it to help get it out of my system.

I’m very interested in your work on high blood pressure. Apart from personal interest (3 different meds a day to control mine) it’s an area I’m involved in, IM wise. When do you think you’ll have the ebook finished? Will you have an affiliate scheme on it?

Amin
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Hi Joan,

welcome.

Thank you for your kind comments. Kids and family come first – I’ve learned that the hard way. When I was a wage slave (and boy was I a slave) I spent more time seeing people at work than I did my own family. Never again.

Once the comments are closed I’ll release the shopping cart software to everyone and I hope you’ll use it and let me know how you get on.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

John!

G’day mate, how are you? Haven’t bumped into you for a while.

As for moving to the land down under, we’d be there tomorrow if they’d have me. No degree, over 50, no recognisable qualifications – I just wouldn’t get a visa. We have family in Oz and it’s a place we’d love to live in, but it doesn’t seem all that likely now. I think I’ve missed the boat on that one, sadly. We’re hoping to get there to visit family next year, or the year after so at least we’ll be able to see what kind of life we might have had!

Oh, and the kids already bicker about everything I have – the number of iPods I’ve lost to them because they liked the look of my shiny new toy.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 27 January 2010:

Bill

I’m not quite sure what you mean. The first 30 who comment here will get the shopping cart, but I’m not sure what you mean by account?

Amin
Comment by Mary Kellner Coon (makingmagic) on 27 January 2010:

Amin,

I consider myself to be a self-taught “newbie” that has spent 3 years researching and trying to learn “everything” I could possibly learn about all the different aspects of owning a business online. I had been a manager of a hotel at one point of my life. Others were co-owner of a new and used store, owner of an accounting/tax business (decades ago), and peeling potatoes on a conveyor belt line with 15 other women. I have always worked what ever J-O-B would help to pay the bills. I understand moving and making changes for the good of the family. I grew up in Pennsylvania so I also know how winter can bring depression when you can’t get outside to enjoy the warm sunshine.

I truly loved your honesty about things that affect everyone at sometime in life. I don’t care that they don’t admit it to others, but they must be honest with themselves and admit that it happens to everyone, including them at some point in their life. If it truly never has, then they would have no reason to be trying to build a business and build a life as everything would be peaches and roses. I don’t think someone that had never been there would even bother to try to research information that would bring them to blogs to learn about any subject and maybe wouldn’t bother to learn to use a computer for more than socializing with friends.

A few years ago, I had to leave Florida and return to Pennsylvania to care for my mother. That area holds few jobs and “0″ opportunities which is why I had left more than a decade before. Because I was needed 24/7 at home with mom as full-time care, I couldn’t just leave to find one of the few jobs there. I decided that putting myself in college online was the solution for me and I would strive for the dreamed of degree in accounting. This gave me a small income that would help supplement my mothers Social Security benefits and allow us to pay bills so not to put her in a nursing home. I soon learned that there was still to much time (especially in the winter) with nothing to do except sit and chat with friends on computer or working on crafts. I love piecing together picture puzzles but it does become “boring” when it seems to drag from days into months. I think you understand what I mean. Yep, you got it. Depression 101 in on a massive scale. School did help alleviate it some but taking only two classes at a time so not to become overloaded if mom had a severe bad health issue gave little comfort when she was feeling well enough to sit in the living room watching television for hours.

I soon started receiving offers for work online or starting a business. At first I bypassed them but depression and boredom will soon have you reading anything and everything to find something to make life worthwhile.

I had already owned businesses that I had to close for reasons such as divorce and knew that I had dreams of owning a business that would allow me to travel and see the world someday. I still dream of that. Next step was to start trying to learn all I could “for free” as I couldn’t afford to do more. Mom passed away and other glitches in the road of life but three years later I had pieced together what I wanted for a business online (at least I knew exactly what I felt it should be and had many of the parts). I can’t say I knew all I needed to know, I still don’t. I had myself stuck in a rut of “it has to be perfect or no one will come” which made me terrified to launch and as you said “Jump in”.

Finally, someone that I have been following for awhile now had a webinar. I sat in on the webinar and asked a few questions. For someone who prefers to remain in the back of the room, it was a terrifying experience but thrilling also: sort of like a roller coaster ride. I made a comment during the webinar about needing help to finish what I had dreamed. The person holding the webinar asked me how to contact me as they had a message they would like to give me.

Simply stated, “Do not wait for perfection as God is the only perfect and without Jumping In, You Go Nowhere”.

This blog reminded me of that and made me desire to post. You see I listened to that email message and two days later, I silently launched Touch My Heart – Information Mall. It still is a work in progress and will be as I want it to be ever evolving and changing, but I have been amazed at what responses I have been seeing since the launch on December 1, 2009. I can’t afford to outsource so all the work is done by myself and had a partner for the first 8 weeks but at age 67 she determined that it was to much for her while caring for a disabled husband. It has slowed the progress of the creation of pages but the work does continue.

Thank you for speaking out. There is not one person on this earth that has perfection within their life and without the down sides of life we will never learn to enjoy the up sides.

To a great 2010 for everyone.

Mary Kellner Coon (makingmagic)
http://touchmyheart.mobi/wp/
Comment by Morgan Madej on 27 January 2010:

Hi Amin,

I wondered why you had disappeared from my bulging mailbox! I hope you are recovering from the effects of moving country and feeling blue…

I have read that moving house is on of the most traumatic un-natural experiences that one can have! If it makes you feel any better you are not alone…

I have been there several times and experienced personal losses of loved ones on the way. Changing countries and cultures, adapting to the climate and the language can be challenging and rewarding too!

I have found that it is always close family that makes the difference and gives me the feel good factor by always being there for me. It is also said that your home is where your heart is… so for me it is my closest friend, my wife.

You moved because your famliy came first and now you getting over over those initial pangs which are completely normal as you come to terms with your new life.

Getting back into the swing of things and communicating with people you meet everyday and strangers who may subsequently become good friends is the pattern of life. I now live in a village in the Pomorskie region of Poland where no else besides my wife speaks English, but I am always to fhe first to greet people in their own language even though I might not get a reponse or worse, not have enough words to respond if they do! (I speak Pigeon Polish)

I am sure you don’t have a problem with engaging people in conversation! It’s the best way of settling in to your new environment and culture. Writing your post here is a good sign that you are on the road to recovery! Keep your emails coming!

Regards, Morgan
PS: I like the picture-blue skies over you!
Comment by Edgar Allen on 28 January 2010:

Amin — I’m sorry to hear that you’re a fellow hypertension sufferer. I wish I’d known that the vast majority of cases can be literally cured naturally.

I should have the ebook finished in a couple of weeks. I’m in the process of verifying some of the data now. And, yes, there will probably be an affiliate opportunity – maybe something along the lines of $7 Script.? It would be an honor to be affiliated with you.

In the meantime, you may find my new report, “5 Things Your Doctors Won’t Tell You About High Blood Pressure Treatment (And Why You Should Know Them)” interesting. It’s written under my health pen name (David J. Webb).

If you choose, you are welcome to download it here:

http://www.filefactory.com/file/ah80bf3/n/5Things4PUB_pdf

Of course, any of your followers are also welcome to a copy – courtesy of…YOU! Best of health to you!!
Comment by Joni on 28 January 2010:

Dear Amin,
I am fairly new to your email list and well when I read about the chance at a free product you got me to click!

I just want to encourage you(I also live in cold country,Minnesota)it’s like 8 degrees right now and I can’t wait to make enough money to buy a vacation home in Hawaii ok well Florida.

When I feel down about living here I think about the memories, the friendships, the experiences that my kids have had not to mention the amazing schools and colleges with 100’s of choices. You have one chance to make decisions for your kids future, there’s no do overs.

So chang your thinking around and know your sacrifice today for a better future the pay off will come. Your kids will be adults some day and you can be confident that you are reshaping their entire lives the moment you came back! They will thank you and hopefully will be prosperous their entire life because of what you’re teaching them and giving them -the greatest educational opportunities on the planet!

And yes the kids will move out at some point so you can look forward to moving back to Spain, Maybe? just a thought, I also believe when you do good for someone else, God will do something good for you. I don’t know you that well yet but I try to stay focused on all the good I’m doing for the sake of others,what your give out will eventually come back to you. You probably have an amazing business and get to spend more time with your family than the average American. What a great way to make money! Think on the scenerios that will different be because of your choices.

I think you should be commended, and respected as most families follow the lead of the man of the home and move where ever he desires or his business takes him and the kids have no say. You are even shaping their personalities to be like you!, kids copy you know:)

You sound like the kind of person people can trust and will want to do business with. I believe the main characteristic for business success is trust. I always check out character and you can tell just by the way they live, speak and well who they hang out with too.

When I read your post I knew you are a man of compassion because you’re so unselfish, have you thought about writing it on your about page, let people know who your are, your love for your family, for Spain, what drives you, how your like to help people?

It will draw people to your business that have the same drive for success. People want to learn from those who they can trust, rely on and guide them in the right direction.I always look for a blog that will help me get through the hurdles that they already experienced because they have the answers to specific problems I may have to deal with in the future as a newbie. But if they don’t have sincereity, I don’t stay on their list.

Well this went on way longer than I thought but you sounded so down and I wanted to lift you up with some things to change your thinkin. Keep your thinkin straight and the mood follows:)

You’re Blessed!
Sincerely,Joni
Comment by Steve Matsukawa on 28 January 2010:

Hey Amin!

How’s it going? Hopefully you are feeling better now, though if you moved to where there’s snow and other nasty stuff, I can understand being down, LOL!

I wanted to comment on your shopping cart Amin, but when I clicked many times on the link you provided (http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=OjfrR&m=1fkIM5Mb6KkGVz&b=3IqBm82MzbhgGuiRtnMFYA) to see your shopping cart, I never connected to the site.

So I honestly did try to look at your shopping cart, but I never did see it. I would have loved to have commented on it, but again, I never got the chance.

I am sure it’s a pretty cool piece of software or you wouldn’t be touting it, and I would love to give it a try.

I just wish I can get that ding-danged link to work for me! LOL!

But hopefully I will get a copy of your shopping cart script and I can come back and give you some honest commentary on it.

Amin, you take care and try and enjoy the winter, who knows, with global warming and all, we may not see them again in our lifetimes, LOL! Not that I will miss the cold and shoveling snow and etc. LOL!

Best regards,

steve
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Mary,

what a heartfelt response. Thank you for sharing that with us, I appreciate it.

And I’m delighted that you’ve launched your product! Congratulations on that, I hope it’s doing well. What you said, “I had myself stuck in a rut of “it has to be perfect or no one will come”” is so true. I think most of us probably feel like that.

Can I let you in on a little secret? I know a couple of millionaires who always launch before their product is “perfect” – that’s why they’re millionaires. As Microsoft used to say, “shipping is a feature too” – in other words get it out there!

I’m sure your previous business experience will help you – there are lots of everyday tasks to do when you’re building an online business. And discipline and planning are the same skills whether you drive to work, or sign in at your computer.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hi Morgan

When I was in Spain I spoke a few words of Spanish, but my accent was always very convincing. Like you, I sometimes got a response that I couldn’t then reply to! People used to look at me funny when I then said I didn’t speak Spanish – they must have thought I was making fun of them!

I agree with what you say about family, no question. And I’d forgotten that a house move is high on the list of trauma-inducing activities. Thanks for reminding me of that. I don’t feel quite so bad for having been a bit stressed out about it now.

That view in the photo is something, isn’t it? At least we have relatives still over there, so we’ll be visiting from time to time.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Edgar

I took a look at your report and it’s pretty good. Some information in there that I wasn’t aware of and I’ve studied the subject!

You’ve missed a clickable affiliate link on the first banner in the book though. I’d also recommend getting it onto a proper hosting account for downloads, because the filefactory thing is very, very slow. I think you’d get some people giving up, rather than go through the hoops to get to it.

I have a couple of ideas that might help you with it, although this isn’t really the place to discuss them. If you’re interested will you open up a dialog with me at my support desk?

Amin
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hi Joni

Thank you so much for your contribution. You gave me several things to think about. And I think you are probably right that I should let people know who I am – it’s not enough to let people know what I do. We all primarily relate to who people are, right, not their occupation? If succeeding is about knowing your strengths and weaknesses then one of my weaknesses is not opening up enough to other people.

I think you’re right that I need to think about changing that.

I’ve been to Florida many times on vacation (3 times, one year) and I’ve been lucky enough to take family with us, who wouldn’t normally have been able to go. Great place for a family vacation. I hope you get your dream of owning a vacation home there.

Do you do any internet marketing of any kind? I assume you must do, to be on my subscriber list. What’s your primary website? (I like to take a peek at what people are doing!)

Amin
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hello Steve

I’m sorry that link didn’t work for you. I just tried it myself and it worked for me, but here’s the direct link to the site: SublimeSalesPro

If you have any problem seeing the site when you try this new link, just let me know. As soon as the comments are closed here I’ll get everyone set up with their copy of the script. It has a simple affiliate system built in, so especially for beginners it’s a great starting point.

Amin

P.S. I’m glad to say that we don’t get winters as bad as this in the UK normally! This one has been the worst one for over 30 years – by a large measure!
Comment by Paul Hanna on 28 January 2010:

Hi Amin
Great to see you back and on the mend, been there my self.
Four years ago i broke my shoulder and became a single parent at the same time, could`nt work (you cant plaster with your arm in a frame),too much time to think and dwell on your prolems.
Like you said i dont think its depression, but not a nice place to be.

Anyway looking forward to seeing your new niche blog builder software very interesting, i will promote it on my blog.
I have been messing about with cubecart (another learning curve,easy to use really), so been looking at shopping carts.

Keep up the good work, nice to get you emails again.

Paul Hanna
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hi Paul

Ouch, you had a couple of painful things happen at the same time. I sympathize.

I’d be interested to hear more about how you got on with Cubecart. I used it a few years ago and quite liked it. I think for a lot of inexperienced people it’s probably a bit difficult, but then that’s probably true of almost all scripts.

I know that even the $7 Secrets scripts – which are really simple – used to get beginners very confused.

I hope you’ll try out my shopping cart and let me know what you think of it.

Amin
Comment by Edgar Allen on 28 January 2010:

Amin — Thank you for the awesome feedback. I’d love to hear your ideas…can’t find a support desk button. You’re certainly welcome to email me a link. Again, your ideas are very important to me. Thanks.
Comment by Steve Matsukawa on 28 January 2010:

Hi Amin!

You truly are a gentleman, I thank you for responding to my comment and providing me with a good URL to check out your shopping cart.

I have done so and I must say that the uncluttered look and simple to use interface makes your shopping cart a definite winner. It seems especially well suited for digital products.

There are those of the school of thought that ‘gee-whiz’ graphics, video and audio make for a better selling proposition. Well, when buying a product, you don’t buy the ‘hype’, you buy the product.

As Sgt. Friday said in ‘Dragnet’, “just the facts ma’am, just the facts.”

Isn’t there an acronym that goes along the lines of KISS?

I imagine those who do use the graphical devices to bally-who their products have to due to the fact that there must be some insufficiency in their product.

Hence, they hide behind ‘hype’.

I am also under the idea that we are adults now, and shiny, glittery objects that make noise no longer provoke our sense of ‘wow’. But I digress, LOL!

I say ‘thumbs up’ on your shopping cart Amin, it’s a winner for sure IMHO!

As for moving, it’s one of my most unfavourite activities, bar none. But the excitement of settling in the new homestead usually qualms the stress.

I moved from sunny Southern California to the unworldly nether regions of Pennslyvania, which for me was much like moving from one country and culture to another. LOL!

I don’t know if I will ever get used to temperatures colder than that in a refrigerator, but I am getting over the shock of that.

LOL!

From what I have read of your writings Amin, you seem to be a good person with a strong core and have a great sense of family values.

So I have faith in you getting past this bump in the road, and I look forward to seeing you riding high in the saddle shortly.

I do hope that I am one of the fortunate ones that will receive a copy of your shopping cart, as I said earlier, the clean interface and simplicity of use makes it a winner.

LOL, I just hope it doesn’t require being a rocket scientist to install it, LOL!

Amin, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on your shopping cart and to chat with you via this blog, take care!

Best regards,

steve
Comment by Jasmin on 28 January 2010:

Hi Amin and everyone else,

I think your initiative to open up has given you a nice credibility Amin and you’re the first marketer that i’ve contacted of all the other marketers lists that im signed up to. Mainly because you send a healthy level of newsletters which makes it more interesting to read, i wanted to encourage you to continue to do so.

I can really feel the things you’re going to, as i too have gone through a whole deal of changes in the past 6 months now. But once things are in place i believe yo will get back on track rather quickly.

I find your advice about starting out an online business being spot-on!
I’ve been interested in internet marketing for a long time and i’ve collected countless ebooks and subscriptions, but i never really had the guts to start something on my own..
About a year ago i received a mail from another marketer where he encouraged his readers to start something. It was different than the usual talks trying to sell their subscribers. It was a none sale letter, saying that instead of spending your time reading through and collecting other peoples books, you should go out there and make the most of it. He said that a ship does not sail until you put it into water and off the shore. And once it’s in water, it can get of course, but you’ll steer it right.

That piece of advice triggered me into action. By doing just a little thing, you will accomplish something.
I first started out by trying to sell other peoples ebooks, most of the where out of date and not attractive. I was incredibly active from start, but all the effort didn’t pay of.

Having the advice that triggered me into trying in mind, i set up to try a different approach. Thinking that so many people can have a nice income from the net, why shouldn’t i?
That’s when it occurred to me that i first had to find a niche that im good at and start on a low level, and start my own product or service..

Since i am a bit of an expert in football (soccer) i did a small research in that area from a marketers point of view. I found out that i can offer a better service than 90% of the current services in that niche that was provided at the time. So i did a small research on what i needed before starting up, and then dived into it.

I offered 2 months of free service, and then i had people paying and thanking me for it.

The most important thing i noticed was that as long as you’re productive, proficient and honest, you will never have a problem dominating a niche!

So if you know what you want to do, take action, do your research and then go for it. None else will give you a free shot, it’s your productivity that will earn your first dollar online..
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hey Edgar

I included the link in my last reply to you, but it might not have been obvious as a clickable link.

Here it is in direct form: http://www.sublime-products.com/support/

Amin
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hi Steve

You’ll definitely get a copy of the shopping cart.

I know what you mean about flashy graphics. Sometimes the wrapping is the best thing about some products!

Although the shopping cart is pretty understated you can change the graphics completely if you want. Most people would probably want to do that to brand it to their own store identity.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 28 January 2010:

Hi Jasmin

Welcome. I’m very flattered that I’m the only marketer you’ve contacted – thank you!

Congratulations on taking action and creating a site. I see you’re using MMS to run it, so it’s a subscription based members’ site. Good for you, that can be a great business model.

I think you’ve said a couple of things that are incredibly important:

“I was incredibly active from start, but all the effort didn’t pay off.” and “I set up to try a different approach.”

I think it’s important to put effort and persistence into whatever strategy you try, but it’s equally important to know when it’s time to move onto a different tactic.

There’s an old saying that puts it very simply: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

And boy, that’s true, isn’t it? I’ve known a lot of people in your situation who would have given up, but you’ve taken action and you’re reaping the rewards.

Just one final comment: On the helpdesk over the years I’ve seen a couple of support tickets from people who’ve said they want to make money on the internet, but don’t want to “study anything, do any work, put any effort in”. I see that you’ve done the exact opposite. You’ve studied, you’ve worked and you’ve put effort in – and now you have a functioning and revenue producing site. Amazing how effective effort and thought can be, isn’t it?

Amin
Comment by Steve Matsukawa on 29 January 2010:

Hey Amin,

Thank you for your generousity!

Best regards,

steve
Comment by Joni on 29 January 2010:

Hi Amin,

In response to -do I have a website, well as a newbie there are so many hurdles and yes i am on my umteenth training course, but I think I have learned from every one of them, but most incomplete in some area.(I am approaching 50 and well not up with all the technology-) so am in the process of getting through this 12 week course step by step but i won’t give up, when I started I barely knew how to do e-mail.I have come a long way and when I get it going I will let you know it would be nice to have you take a look.

Joni
Comment by Amin on 31 January 2010:

@Steve, you’re welcome!

@Joni, I’m 51 now and I think back to all the things I didn’t know, even a couple of years ago., There is a lot to learn, that’s for sure. I would like to encourage you on a couple of things:

1) You don’t have to learn everything before you’re able to achieve things. It’s possible to make websites without knowing everything about the process. Sometimes people learn better by doing, getting it wrong, fixing, trying again. Sometimes, jumping in the deep end is a good way to learn.

2) Everything you need to learn you will learn, even if it takes you a little bit of time. There’s nothing you must learn that is so complicated (honestly!) that you can’t learn it. Oh, and there’s a lot you really don’t need to learn, too.

Amin
Comment by Crystal Martin on 2 February 2010:

Hi Amin,
I can certainly understand what you’re feeling. It has been so cold and gloomy here lately and we’ve done our fair share of moving when we really didn’t want to. Are you sure your family isn’t feeling the blues right along with you?
Comment by John Counsel on 2 February 2010:

Hi again Amin

I can’t believe your offer hasn’t attracted many more comments by now. Let me see if I can beat the bushes a bit for you.

John
Comment by Robert Little on 2 February 2010:

I’ve yet to actually try anything! I am trying to wrap my brain around what is involved and/or necessary. unfortunately I am moving along real slowly. I don’t even have a cohesive overview of the process of driving traffic.
Robert Little
Comment by Amin on 2 February 2010:

Hi Crystal

I’m pretty sure my family aren’t feeling the blues. But that, in itself, makes me happier.

I’m beginning to feel a bit ashamed for being such a cry-baby now, to be honest. Yes, I was unhappy about moving countries, but when you compare that to the real suffering some people have to go through it’s a bit self-indulgent to complain about it, I think.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 2 February 2010:

Hi John

I was hoping for a slightly bigger response, but I’ve realized that I’ve never really placed a call to action on my posts. So I suppose people get used to not responding – something like that anyway. I remember when Robert Plank first started specifically asking/bribing people to comment on his blog, his response numbers showed a steady growth. After a few cycles it became the ‘norm’.

So, shamelessly, I’ve got various bribes lined up for the next few posts!

And if you can beat a bush or two that would be great!

Amin
Comment by Amin on 2 February 2010:

Hi Robert

It’s worth diving in and trying something, even if it fails, just to get some experience and feedback on what you’ve done.

Is there anything particular that stops you from having a go at something? In a way I’d suggest you stop worrying about traffic right now. Until you have something live on the web you’ve got nowhere to send traffic. If you manage to get something up on the web you’ll still have to start thinking about traffic, but at least you’ll have somewhere to send it. And that, on its own, will put you ahead of a large percentage of the population who never get round to making a real start.

What kind of internet presence do you want to have?

Amin
Comment by John Bear Blint on 2 February 2010:

Hi Amin,

Sorry to hear that you had to move to a cold climate. I moved from the cold country in the USA to the heat and humidity of the tropical climate here in the Philippines.

But, the people here are so much nicer and friendlier than the same in the US. People here are very poor and humble and shy. Family values are so very, very important here. Here, they do not put old folks in the nursing homes, they take care of them at home,,,,and they do it happily. Just part of being a Filipino and the family culture here.

I was reading the book “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. One day I finished breakfast and was just wondering why I am living in the Philippines — over 9,000 miles from my home town. I opened the “Purpose Driven Life” book at a random page and the first sentence I read said, “God puts you geographically where He wants you.” My question was answered.

I still miss my kids and friends in the US, but the new family and friends here is well worth it all!!! I would not trade my new life for anything.

Every time I changed jobs in my life, I always was kind of sad about things, and a little scared about starting all over again at a new job or career. But, I found in looking back, that every time I changed jobs or locations, it was always for the best. Better things happened, better friends, better income, more faith, better housing, better climate and so forth….. I hope you find the same happens now for you and your family.

God’s abundant blessings always for you and your family,

John
Comment by Edgar Allen on 2 February 2010:

Amin -

Of course there are people who may be suffering more than you or I. That doesn’t mean that your feelings now are not valid or important. They are important to you and those who care about you. I admire the fact that you have had the blues and still are able to feel for others. I don’t believe in calling people names and that includes my self. Please don’t even think yourself as a name like “crybaby.” It’s just life, man. — Edgar
Comment by Tom on 2 February 2010:

Amin,

While reading your post, I couldn’t help but think of my cousin. When she was a junior in high school (here in the states), she signed up to be an exchange student for her senior year. She went to Spain. She loved it so much that she never returned!

That was over 40 years ago. She’s come back for a few visits, but loves Spain.

I can identify with you about doing what’s best for your children. I made a decision to move to a different city just so that my son could go to a better school. It took me a while to adjust as well.

Well, sounds like you’re coming around to your “old self”, and we’re all looking forward to the launch of your new product.

Have a great 2010!

Tom
Comment by Mike Darling on 2 February 2010:

Amin:

Greetings from the 7 Dollar Secrets forum. I first noticed your name there when the 7DS took the world by storm.

I still have a handfull of little websites powered by 7DS that sell game table plans, bringing in a few bucks a day to my PayPal account. Truly the little script that could!

Sometimes this IM journey can be lonely. I remember making my first OTO sale over a year ago…who could I tell? who cared? who would even know what I am talking about?

Our inspiration has to come from each other. Our courage has to come from inside. Our perseverance to continue comes from fear. Fear of being trapped in a j-o-b. Fear of being dead, broke, and still working at age 65….

We can do this thing. Whether in warm Spain or the humid east coast of the United States, or the wind swept desert of Australia, we can do this thing.

Amin, thanks for your candid sharing with us.

And don’t mind us if we ask you how you are doing a few weeks from now.

Keep on. Don’t give up. Look for strength from your friends and from inside.

Mike D.
Bend, Oregon USA
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Hello John

Nice to see you hear and btw, contact me on my support desk and I’ll sort out something with you about my new product as soon as it goes live. Same deal as with Jon.

I’m certainly very optimistic about the future. I think it was just the change really that shook me. These things happen, don’t they?

I was interested to read your description of people in the Philippines. I have a feeling that if you described the people of any place where family values are genuinely important you’d find a lot of commonality. I’ve had a couple of outsourced workers over there and I must say they were a pleasure to deal with. Friendly and open.

Don’t forget to open that support ticket.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Hi Edgar

I think you’re right, it is just life. But when I see how much terrible suffering there is around it reminds me how very, very lucky I am. I don’t ever want to forget that.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Tom,

That was some senior year your cousin had! 40 years, no kidding? I think it’s safe to say she must have fallen in love with the place.

My children are happier than they’ve been for a couple of years (so’s my wife!). How great is that? I have no doubt that the move was the right thing and a good thing for us as a family. Did I want to move in the first place? NO. Would I move again if necessary? In a heartbeat.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Mike, hello

It’s been a while since I visited the 7DS forum, but that’s what really got me started. I met a few interesting characters there and some have gone on to do very well.

It is a great little script, isn’t it? It helped a lot of people start to make money in an easy – and affordable – way. Your own ongoing sales are testament to that. Congratulations on that. If you got even one sale that’s a success, so getting ongoing sales is fantastic.

“who could I tell? who cared? who would even know what I am talking about?”

Ah, yes. Family don’t always understand, do they? I think I mentioned in the post itself that when I got my first sale my relatives laughed in my face. One said “what good is $7?”.

You got an OTO sale so congratulations – you know how thrilling it is to know that succeeded so I suspect you know exactly what good $7 is!

IM can be lonely – perhaps isolated is a better word. I’m guilty of not always reaching out enough to make connections myself. This post was a deliberate attempt to stop being so insular and I’m amazed and grateful at the responses.

“Our inspiration has to come from each other.”

You hit the nail on the head again. In looking back it’s obvious that marketers who are ‘human’ tend to do well. Cold and distant figures can sometimes leave us, well, cold and distant! I’m reminded of the fact that a couple of well known marketers goof around, make mistakes, don’t waste time on shiny packaging BUT they keep doing better and better. People just respond to their humanity and genuineness.

We’re all made to relate best to other people who relate to us – aren’t we?

Amin
Comment by Mary Kellner Coon (makingmagic) on 3 February 2010:

Amin,

I do not know if it is from your autoresponder sequence or if it is because I did not opt in to your newsletter until the day after I had posted my original message here. I received a message that if I wished to be considered for the offer that I needed to come in and post a comment.

I want to thank you again for your honesty as it is very refreshing. I receive hundreds of emails a day each of more than 3 dozen email addresses and I have gotten so sick of seeing the same subject lines and emails for a multitude of unrelated products. I don’t block them or unsubscribe to them because once in every 5 blue moons there may be a valid offer or something new showing up on the horizon. Just my way of letting your student and you know that just because we get slaughtered with emails, don’t panic. We still have two options available to us. One is that we can scroll rapidly through the list looking to make sure that there are none that are important to us and then use the little check box at the top of the column and mass delete the messages that remain. The second is that we can always “unsubscribe” if we feel we really must.

Now why would I say that? It is simple. Grab the free offers if it is something that you can use and will help you. Don’t just grab for the sake of grabbing. But, don’t be in a rush to just opt-out of those lists. They do serve you a purpose that can be more important than just the small “freebie” that you were given to get on those lists. If the list belongs to someone who is considered to be an authority figure, then what better way to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening in the marketing arena?

Just a demented thought from a brain-dead exhausted marketer who has been burning the candle from both ends and through the middle for a few weeks now.

I hope it helps you all.

Mary Kellner Coon (makingmagic)
http://touchmyheart.mobi/wp/
Comment by Merl Avenell on 3 February 2010:

Hello Amin,

I have been in your shoes before and yes I lived in a cold climate with lots of snow. Whenever sales were slow and times were tough I found the best way to beat the blues is to get interested in something new, that you can really believe in and express that enthusiasm to others. The secret of getting back into the grove for me was helping others.

Good luck in your new venture

Merl
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Hi Mary

I know what you mean about getting the same subject lines. There’s only so many times you can read “new system to earn….” before you get fed up with it.

I totally agree with your point about keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s going on. If nothing else, a slew of emails tells you what’s hot and what’s not, which is valuable information. And the freebies are sometimes worth having. In fact it would be possible to get yourself completely kitted out with all the tools you need to start a basic internet marketing business just doing that.

And yes, you got the email from my autoresponder.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Hi Merl, welcome!

“The secret of getting back into the grove for me was helping others.”

There’s a lot to be said for that. A great deal, in fact. I can’t remember who said it, but someone did once say something like:

If you help enough people get what they want, they’ll help you get what you want

I think that was the quote, anyway.

Amin
Comment by John Counsel on 3 February 2010:

Amin,

The quote was “you can anything you want by helping others get what they want”. It was said by Zig Ziglar.

John
Comment by Amin on 3 February 2010:

Ah yes, Zig Ziglar. Thanks, John.

I’ve read a couple of his books. He’s one of the few super salesmen I can actually stand in written form. Some of them are simply hard work, but that particular quote always struck me as having such a fundamental truth to it – a bit like the acronym WIIFM.

Amin

P.S. If anyone doesn’t know what WIIFM means, it stands for What’s In It For Me? It’s said to be everyone’s internal response to just about anything! Sometimes jokingly referred to as “Radio WII-FM”.
Comment by John Counsel on 4 February 2010:

Hi Amin,

Yes, Zig is one of the better sales trainers. It’s the quality of his ideas and his authenticity as a person that set him apart for me.

I first ran into him in 1985 (I’d read some of his stuff prior to this) at a “super” sales event in Melbourne, AU. There were a bunch of speakers, all good, but Zig stood head and shoulders above them — despite being the shortest in physical stature.

In the afternoon session, he talked about the importance of family, and how sales people too often become so engaged in their profession that they disengage from their spouses and children. His advice was so profound and relevant that he won me as a fan for life.

He wasn’t what I call a “sales technician” like most of the others. He was from the Old School, like Charlie “Tremendous” Jones… genuine characters with real integrity and heart.

John
Comment by Peter James Kirkpatrick on 5 February 2010:

Hey Amin
I must say i love the view you had
I can understand being so blue. but with the right feng shui and exercising to keep warmed up in the cold climate and things will brighten.
And you are SOOOO right. There is no better time then NOW. i am just getting into internet marketing so i feel very lucky to have been on your mailing list!!!
lookiing forward to learning more from you
Have a great month
Peter
Comment by Anthony Phillip on 5 February 2010:

Hello,Amin!Anthony here;oh yes,I would like to have a copy.
Comment by Amin on 6 February 2010:

Anthony,

As I said in the post, I was looking for genuine comments, rather than one-liners, but welcome here anyway. I’ll let you have a copy of the script, but next time please think about submitting a more engaging comment. You’ll probably get more clickthroughs to your own site that way, as well.

Amin
Comment by Amin on 6 February 2010:

Hi Peter

Welcome. That view was pretty cool, wasn’t it? I do miss it.

Do you have a website set up yet? What kind of marketing are you trying? How long since you started?

I’m actually closing the comments on this post now, but I’d love to have a look at your site(s) – you can always contact me at my support desk, http://www.sublime-products.com/support/

Amin

Sublime Products

Winter Blues

There Are 65 Responses So Far. »

Newsletter Signup

Popular

Most Comments

Search

Tags

Archives

Recent Comments

Recent posts

Post Archives

Sublime Products

Winter Blues

Other posts

There Are 65 Responses So Far. »

Newsletter Signup

Popular

Most Comments

Search

Tags

Archives

Recent Comments

Recent posts

Post Archives