Browse > Home / Strategy / 3 Characteristics of Winners

3 Characteristics of Winners

October 24, 2007

Do you really want to succeed online? Most people will immediately jump up and say yes, but the real truth is a majority really don’t want success. They want to be tickled in their emotions where they feel good about doing something. They’re just not doing the right thing.

For example, some people claim they’re working on their Internet business. But you talk to them after a year of “working on their business” and they’ll tell you they’re still just getting started. I heard this recently. The conversation went kind of like this…

Them: “Hi, I’ve been working on my business for the past year.”
Me: “Really? That’s great. What do you sell?”
Them: “Oh I don’t sell anything yet. I’ve only been at this for about 11 months.”
Me: “Well, what have you been doing for the past 11 months?”
Them: “Oh you know…I’ve been studying, researching my niche, creating a business plan.”
Me: “When are you going to really start your business?”
Them: “Huh?”

All the time I just want to smack them upside the head. And this is gentle. I’ve talked to people where that 11 months was 2 or 3 years. If all you’re doing is studying Internet marketing products, visiting forums, and planning a business…you’re not in a business. All of that takes less than a month. Let’s say you start your business with a survey. That takes several days. You then create the product based off the survey. That’s another 2 to 3 days at most. Then you write a “good” sales letter (it doesn’t have to be great because you will be testing and improving it). We have you in business in 10 days.

Let’s say you’re really slow because you’re busy at your job at the same time. Your survey takes a whole week. Your product development takes a whole week. And your sales copy takes a whole week. Then it takes you a whole week to generate traffic (man you are slow). That’s still only 4 weeks or less than a month. What in the world are these people doing that takes them 11 months just getting started?

They’re not in business. They’re in the “tickle me” phase of just buying every Internet marketing product and feeling good about what they’ll accomplish…some day.

Below are the 3 characteristics of winners…

1. Study

You start off with study. Successful people are constant learners. I spend thousands of dollars on education every year (often it’s in the 5 figures). If you’re not teachable, you will not reach the levels of success you want. The key here is limiting your study to ONLY what you’ll take action on immediately. A head full of knowledge is not your goal. Actions that improve your results by increasing your profits, decreasing your work time, or improving your enjoyment are the goals. If there is no immediate action, there was nothing learned.

2. Action

Take action immediately. Every single product I study or read must result in at least one action I take to produce results. At times I even have to stop myself from buying any new products. For example, if I get to where I have 10 books on my shelf that haven’t been read yet (reading is my favorite method of learning), then I quit buying them. Period. No more products until that whole collection is finished. And each product must produce at least 1 action I take. Otherwise it was just a waste of time.

3. Persistent Testing

There is only one real expert in your business. It’s not you. It’s not me. It’s the test results produced by your customers. Every day you’re testing something new. Every product you study above produces a new action and a new test. If it works, you use it. If it doesn’t, you refine it.

Notice I called it “persistent” testing. Too many people jump from project to project. If something doesn’t work for them immediately, they give up. Let’s take Adwords for example. Almost everyone I know who is very successful with Adwords (meaning it produces at least $100,000 or more income to them yearly), lost money on their projects at first. They had to get started…and then they learned how to refine their keywords, test different ads, and improve their landing page conversion. It wasn’t just handed into their laps. They studied constantly. Took action on what they learned in each area. Then they tested constantly until they found what worked for them.

These same rules apply to every aspect of your business. What most Internet marketers need to do is quit buying so many products! Start taking action on the ones you already have. Then persistently test different approaches till you find what works in your market.

If you're a new visitor here, you can subscribe to receive notices whenever a new post is made. Plus receive My Free Report:
"10 Key Strategies for Any Business Owner to Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life!"

Email:
Name:

Written by Terry · Filed Under Strategy 

Related Entries:

Comments

21 Responses to “3 Characteristics of Winners”

  1. Katarina Simons on October 24th, 2007 12:54 pm

    Dean, thank you for the advises.`
    Most of the stuff you wrote it`s exactly what I am doing.Lots of book, lots of reading,lots of studying to know everything I possibly can and results are any.I will try to act.Ones again, thank you.

  2. James D. Brausch on October 25th, 2007 2:04 pm

    Katarina,

    Act or don´t act. There is no ¨try.¨

    Terry: Excellent post!

    -James D. Brausch

  3. Terry on October 25th, 2007 4:44 pm

    Hi Katarina,

    You said, “You’re studying to know everything you possibly can.” As James said, don’t try to act. Take action today. Do something now. Don’t wait. Everything you study must result in immediate action…not more study.

    To James: Thank you for posting with great advice fof Katarina…and thank you for the gift you sent me not too long ago.

    Terry

  4. Adrienne Zurub on October 25th, 2007 5:38 pm

    Your #3 reminds of what Seth Godin speaks of in not diversfying or spreading out because you do not immediately get the results you want and you essentially panic.

    By staying the course, refining and focusing, your other products/business (if necessary and essential) will follow after your persistent attention to your main product/business!

    Adrienne Zurub
    (overachiever,comedian,type-A,moody,actor,disturbed,Bitch!,passive-aggressive,speaker,Prozac-free,iconoclast,pOet,RN,grrl,independent,writer,grown-azzed WOMAN!)

    Author,’Notes From the Mothership The Naked Invisibles

  5. Working at Home on the Internet on October 26th, 2007 6:12 am

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  6. Internet Business 101 » Act Or Don´t Act… There Is No Try on October 26th, 2007 11:32 am

    [...] http://www.terrydean.org/3-characteristics-of-winners [...]

  7. Ask Gina Gaudio-Graves’ … About Internet Marketing & Strategic Alliances » Blog Archive » How can you get someone important to notice you? on October 27th, 2007 2:53 pm

    [...] the past, I’ve talked about other people on my blog.  People like Terry Dean, Larry Benet, and many [...]

  8. Mothers in Business Carnival October. - mydayoff.com.au on October 27th, 2007 5:06 pm

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  9. Take Action TODAY! | Internet Business Coaching by Terry Dean on October 29th, 2007 9:47 am

    [...] 3 Characteristics of Winners [...]

  10. Business Success Link Love - 10/29/07 on October 30th, 2007 3:07 am

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  11. E3 Success Blog » Blog Archive » E-3 Carnival of Success Principles - October 29, 2007 on October 30th, 2007 12:31 pm

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  12. Starting Your Business » Pat B. Doyle on October 31st, 2007 6:41 pm

    [...] great because you will be testing and improving it). We have you in business in 10 days.” - Terry Dean If you liked this article:  Subscribe by RSS    Subscribe by email   [...]

  13. Liz on October 31st, 2007 10:17 pm

    Great article. I found you over at the Carnival of Small Business Issues. (http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/460/carnival-of-small-business-issues-26)

    You’re right - success has a strong bias for action - educated action and responsive course adjustment are the keys to success.

  14. Free Cash & Making Money Online - Edition 9 | Free Cash Quest on November 1st, 2007 8:40 pm

    [...] Terry Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners. [...]

  15. Make money online: Blog Me Cash shows you how on November 3rd, 2007 8:26 am

    [...] 3 Characteristics of Winners posted by Terry Dean. [...]

  16. Othmane MEZIAN on November 8th, 2007 9:13 am

    Quite right Terry!

    The power is in the applied knowledge with all the flexibility needed.. knowledge alone is just like a car without wheels.

    Thanks again for sharing your priceless wisdom :)

  17. Make money blogging - Nov 19, 2007 : SuccessPart2.Com on November 19th, 2007 11:14 am

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  18. carnival of struggling bumbling newbies - Nov 19, 2007 : SuccessPart2.Com on November 19th, 2007 11:26 am

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  19. Venture Files » Blog Archive » Carnival of Entrepreneurs #38: November 9, 2007 on November 26th, 2007 2:24 pm

    [...] Ingham presents Stand up if you like cold calling! posted at Gavin Ingham. Terry Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry Dean. Alex Schoenfeldt presents posted at Advice Network [...]

  20. Mom & Women Entrepreneurs Carnival #3 on November 30th, 2007 6:31 pm

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

  21.   Cultivate Greatness, Success & Passion Blog Carnival #018 | Cultivate Greatness Personal Development, Leadership Training & Life Hacks on February 4th, 2008 10:34 pm

    [...] Dean presents 3 Characteristics of Winners posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry [...]

Got something to say?





Comments will be sent to the moderation queue.