Have You Seen the Elephant?
By Craig Marshall   ©2004 All Rights Reserved

While doing researching for a new e-book I came across a great phrase. Seems that during the California Gold Rush, the fortune hunters who set out for the gold fields had a phrase for what they were about to experience: they called it "seeing the elephant."

It may have come from an old joke. When an eastern farmer heard a circus was coming, he loaded his farm wagon with produce and hurried to town. On the way, he met the circus parade, led by an elephant. His horses bolted at the strange sight, tipping over the wagon and spilling vegetables all over the road. "I don't give a hang," the farmer said, "for I have seen the elephant!" Many today are searching online for the preferred life style that comes with "seeing the elephant." Here are some guidelines for claiming your dream of a new L*I*F*E* style: L* - Learn everything you can possibly learn about the craft that is Internet marketing. It's funny that folks seem to have different expectations of the online world than the "real" world. In the "real" world laying out $100 and getting rich is called winning the lottery! True online success is not a "get-rich-quick" proposition. Fully 95% of online businesses never make a dime of profit. The remaining 5% of online businesses, however, are run by professionals who have become experts at their craft. They're making huge money. There's no substitute for preparation! I* - Initiate - It takes real initiative to begin an online business. But it takes a tremendous amount of continuing initiative to follow through with your business. Many people will purchase business packages hoping to "see the elephant." Then they quite literally will never look at those materials that could change their lives! Still others will start and give up in 30 to 60 days. Here's the challenge: establish realistic business goals and then take whatever initiative is necessary to reach those goals. Pioneers of the Old West set out at knowing only that they were going west. At some point, they reached a place where they could see mountains hundreds of miles in the distance. Those mountains became the new focal point. The daily grind, the harsh reality of living, was accomplished with those majestic mountains in view. The goal would be realized. They would "see the elephant." Failure was simply not an option! So what is your long-term focal point? What is your short- term focal point? How much money do you plan to make over the next 4 weeks? After careful consideration, write down a number and post it conspicuously at your work place. Do you hope to make enough money to replace an existing income? How soon? In twelve months? Eighteen months? When will you see the elephant? Pause right now and write it down! Write it on a sticky note and stick it to your computer monitor. Stick it to the bathroom mirror. Set a realistic goal for yourself and refresh that goal in your mind at least once a day. Then, give SOME time EACH day to your business. F* - Focus - To begin with, this is perhaps the most important aspect of your business development. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!! I can't stress this enough. You can not accomplish everything at once (ask me how I know!). Trying to do too much too soon is a recipe for frustration and ultimately failure. Work on one or two aspects of your business at a time. Pick one or two promotional methods and work at them systematically. Put 50% of each month's earning into additional advertising. Your business will grow! E* - Expand your exposure to good business ideas. Without forgetting how important it is to stay focused, don't be afraid to spend money on quality resources and tools for your business. Subscribe to business and marketing newsletters and e-zines (most are free!). Buy subscriptions to marketing systems, e-zine directories, "guru" sites and more. Such an investment will pay for itself many times over. Ted Ciuba, founder of Parthenon Marketing and himself a multi- millionaire many times over says that he goes to every marketing seminar, reads every book, listens to every tape, and subscribes to every program he can get his hands on. Why? Because he loves to learn! Each thing he learns contributes something new to his continuing success and L*I*F*E* style. So, have you seen the elephant?

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CRAIG MARSHALL is an ordained minister. He founded Health- Wealth-e and Wise with his wife, Jeanie, to help people with the transition to greater health and financial freedom. He's the author of the brand new web business adventure, "How The Web Was Won!" Visit HWW at: http://www.healthewealtheandwise.com or, say "hi" via email: Craig@healthewealtheandwise.com

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