How to Turn a Paperclip Into a House--and How Is This Relevant to Home Business Success?

 A couple of years ago, there was a story about a young man who took a single red paperclip and through a year-long series of trades and "up-swapping" eventually traded for a home.


Kyle MacDonald was that young man.
He describes his story at his website,
One Red Paperclip
It describes an interesting journey with very humble beginnings---but with very dramatic results.

You can view a video of Kyle's journey here.


If you took the time just now to watch that video, you probably thought:
"I could never do something like that!"  or  "this has nothing to do with me and my online success".

But, wait!
Do you really think you cannot create a similar journey in your business with such a humble beginning?

Now, the message here isn't about swapping up or playing a materialistic game,
it's about possibilities that originate from one idea with a tiny asset as the spark that ignite the whole thing.

Let's back up for a second and look at the possibilities---then analyze them for probabilities.



That one red paperclip was Kyle's asset...all he had to work with.
What small, seemingly insignificant asset do you have to start with?
Is it an idea?  Is it a small task you can "swap" for something else you need?

Look at your Social Networks.
Instead of marketing to everyone you see in the Network, why not look for people who might appreciate or have a need for something you have or something you can do--no matter how small?
These people are looking for value---either ideas, or items, or just communication.
What do have of value that you might find benefit in---by just "bartering" for it?

Could you write an article for them for something of value?
Could you do some outsource work for them?
What could they do with their expertise and connections that could help you?

That's how that paperclip eventually became a home.
Everyone Kyle met in the journey had something of greater value that moved him up
and closer to his end result.

Think about that before you go make some heavy purchases of these new product launches.
Chances are, you already possess something of value that you can use to move upward toward your desired results.
Like Kyle, all you have to do is make some connections---then make deals.
Your assets are your ideas, you personality, your ethics.


What's your idea?
And what tiny seemingly insignificant thing is it that will take you to your level of success
using the "One Red Paperclip" Principle?

My recent blog post about reputation online and outsourcing:http://ping.fm/JGRUz http://amplify.com/u/k1wd

6 ways to go from mediocre to magnificent: http://bit.ly/i91JbP http://amplify.com/u/ji9c

New Internet and Home-Based Marketers----6 Ways to Beat the Odds of Failure

It is said that 97% of people who are new to running a business
from home or new to internet marketing drop out of business within their first year online.  It is estimated that 67% of those abandon all efforts of trying to gain income from their home businesses within 4 months of start up.

If you are new to Internet Marketing or Home-based business operations, you should find comfort in knowing that there are ways to beat the odds of failing, and go on to succeed in earning online income.

Here are 6 ways of beating online business failure:


1.Take no one's word as truth until you perform research

The Internet today is overflowing with untruths, half-baked kooky ideas and teachings---and it is all revealed to you as "truth".  Most of it is slanted toward a point of sale of some sort.  Take time during the week to perform your own research on every matter that is a concern to you.  There are thousands of content sources and databases that are neutral to a product or service sales source---and that neutrality will provide you with an unbiased view of what information you are looking for---and what information is beneficial for you.
There is nothing more powerful as an educational tool than your own diligent research.  Trust no one until they prove themselves to you as honest, ethical, and truthful.

2.Do not become co-dependent

There is a current school of thought that all new marketers and home-based business persons should be "part of a team".  If your intention is to become a successful Entrepreneur online, then your believing that you must be part of a team is far fro the truth.  You are intelligent, you do not need to be a member of any team in order to succeed online.  Entrepreneurs are not team players.  They are independent, make their own ways, and when
success occurs, it is all because they relied on no one else or found it necessary to be dependent on a group of people for that success to be achieved. Be sovereign and independent. The more you work toward independence, the less dependent you will be on anything later in life.

3.Learning the ropes is an on-going, eternal process

There is no way to learn all you need to know in this business.
No one knows it all, despite what you are led to believe.
They just cannot intellectually keep up with the constant movement.
The Internet is in a perpetual state of evolution and you will always be learning something new.  Trends change, market demand changes, algorithms change,so you should be learning and evolving as well.  Take your time learning, be patient with yourself, and understand that you---nor anyone else---will ever know it all.

4.Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Money-making programs drop out of existence every day.  Products and services seem to be here today, then months later cannot be found anywhere on the 'Net.  To keep from being left with no source of income, it is best to diversify your products, services, and program offerings within your business.  Do some research to locate a variety of related offerings, then make determinations how they might fit
within your prospect's needs.  By having an inventory of multiple possible solutions, there is little chance you will fail to make your business profitable.

5.Create your own promotional content

You are quite intelligent enough to create your own promotional
material for any product or service you promote.
"Canned" or pre-written sales material has become one of the most over-used content on the Internet today.  Tens of thousands of people are marketing to prospects using identical marketing material. This means that your prospect has had multiple exposures and there is
nothing to distinguish you from all the other marketers out there.  Analyze, then write your own promotional summaries for your marketing.  Doing so will give your prospect a "fresh look" at the product or service, even after they have viewed dozens of advertisements from other marketers.  It will also help you stand out from the masses of marketers.

6.Work your business like you have no other options

Success is born out of effort.  It takes work--a lot of it to create success and income online. If you consider the income-producing opportunities that exist in your local community during this recession, you will understand that there are not many options open for you.  Conversely, the internet offers more avenues, opportunities, and potential prospects---and there is no end to your possibilities.  Work your business like you have no other way out. Don't believe in the "Plan B" ideology. Work it like there is no Plan B. This mindset will help you place 100% of your focus on the business, and doing so will birth success.

Apply these ideas to your new internet or Home-Based business and your chances of success will far outweigh the obstacles that cause failure in online businesses.


For more educational content and ideas related to home-based business and internet entrepreneurship, please visit Dr. L'Amour's blog

Ways to generate holiday sales from your blog: http://ping.fm/ErbTa http://amplify.com/u/jae9

Cut Out Some of that Holdiay Business Stress http://amplify.com/u/igw8

Blogger introduces new Blogger in Draft....with some cool new templates

Blogger.com recently introduced its new Blogger in Draft.

It offers some nice functionality options that those of you
who like Blogger will really enjoy.
For instance, there are some really sweet templates you can use
that will greatly enhance your blogger blog .
Once you see them, you will want to move from those same-old, same old
13 templates that have been around for ages.

These new templates are easy to work with, can be altered to fit
your color schemes and style, and add a more professional look to your blog.

To check them out, go to http://draft.blogger.com and put it your information.
Then, log into your dashboard, just as you normally do.

On your dashboard, choose the blog where you would like to install 
and check the templates (just to sample the templates, of course).

Go to the "Layout" tab for that blog.
On the far right of the "layout" tab you will see the icon for the new Template Designer.
Click it, and you will be able to view, sample, and easily change to a new,
fresh template for your blog.

Enjoy your new templates...I'm totally digging mine!

Dax L'Amour, Ph.D