I’m writing this to anyone who’s read about a cool program or course and genuinely could not afford it.
I’ve received a few emails as a result of offering mentoring for the first time.
YouTube - Is Ed Dale Finally Doing A Mentor Program?
Admit it, your reaction will sit on a spectrum of zen like acceptance to “Rage against the machine”
But before I get into this.
A little bit about location.
I’m writing this on a Macbook Air (don’t get fixated on the machine, a netbook would do…) in the waiting room at learningland, at 11 o’clock (that’s cool Jack Bauer location speak , not time) Annabelle is belting out the Annie Apple song.
At 10.00 o’clock some of the kids who have “older” siblings in the class are trying to recreate the epic 1987 WWF cagematch between a returning Hulk Hogan and a young up and comer.
Bless their little cotton socks.
My Chair is “Mommy Bear” soft and it’s bloody hot.
BUT
I’m still typing.
Trust me - I still struggle at this every day. EVERY DAY!
However, the difference between people who are a success in their on-line business and those that fail is, for somewhere between 30 mins and two hours each day, they sit on their ass in a chair and type (or write, or record, or photograph etc, etc, etc)
If by some miracle you’re still here, dear reader who can’t afford that rocking course, the past paragraph contains the key to success.
Now, let’s go back in time, to the dawn of the nineties. A near bankrupt and paying back to the people he owed money to, Ed Dale, had managed to scrape together 90 bucks to spend a day with this new motivational speaker on the scene.
A guy called Tony Robbins.
I’d read “awaken the giant within” and it had really turned me around. I HAD NO IDEA that you could actually do courses outside of school to better yourself!!!
I know, IRONIC.
So I rock up to the Melbourne Entertainment centre with 4000 or so of my closest friends and do this one day training on Sales.
It was brilliant.
Then the thing before lunch happened…
Just as we were winding up the session, Tony launched into a brilliant presentation on this three day course - the Unlimited Power Weekend.
It just sounded AWESOME!!!
But not two minutes into the pitch, my stomach started to knot, “unless this thing is free, I can’t go, It’s in Sydney and I’m worse than broke”
When (the magnificently price justified) amount of $397 was written out on the laminex projector with removable pen I was screwed.
It may as well have been a million dollars.
I didn’t have it, was not going to have it, it was not going to happen.
Now, if you’re expecting one of those “if you believe enough “secret” style, things happened” and I manifested the $397
You’re not at the right blog.
Check out www.disney.com - much more your style.
Nope, there was no happy ending. I tried to figure out a way (and I was pretty resourceful) but I was snookered.
“No, UPW for you.” said the Seminar Nazi.
BUT
I didn’t take it personally, it wasn’t Tony’s fault. I didn’t rage against the machine (Nowadays people can “socialmedia” their upset and bitterness and wallow with fellow rejectees)
I learn’t a lot from that day and I started to apply it, not with laser like precision, you wouldn’t see my work efforts over the 90’s featured in some action movie montage.
BUT
By the end of the decade, I’d achieved some success.
I did that by doing the bare minimum of work which actually creates something. BARE MINIMUM. If I was like, disciplined - who knows where I could go!!
I’m not.
The cool thing is, most of the super successful people I know are also in the “barely disciplined” category.
The difference is they spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours doing stuff that matters.
Every Day….
Well, at least five days a week…
With some Holidays…..
The difference between you and someone is the number of “stuff That Matters” hours they do compared to you.
Another cool thing.
It doesn’t cost money to do it, it’s not about the gear!
I still use a pen and a yellow legal pad (which has the side benefit of reminding me of Halbert every time I write P.T.O) to do my brainstorming and design.
Yes, I’m using a Macbook Air now and damn straight I’ll be using an iPad in 45 days from now.
But it would be no better (or worse depending on how well I edit this) if I wrote it on stolen photocopier paper from the church photocopier at nine o’clock and then walked down to the Moonee Ponds Library, typed it up and posted it on the blog - Using free google docs for storage.
(Please don’t steal from your church photocopier - I’m sure the pastor would not only give you the paper but probably throw in a pen as well just like that priest did in the opening scene of Les Miserable)
When your broke you have one valuable resource and decision. How you spend your time.
Most broke people confuse reading about cool techniques that make you money or make you a better photographer or a better dancer in the Touring Thai Man Boy troupe with DOING something.
And all affirmation bust-a-moving aside - that’s the difference between broke and not broke - we are talking NO MORE than a couple of PRODUCTIVE hours a day.
EASY FOR YOU TO SAY - YOU”VE MADE IT AND HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF STUNNING GOOD LOOKS TO GET YOU THROUGH.
It’s true, I’m totally beautiful.
BUT
Beauty is no substitute for a couple hours a day of regularly taking action on stuff that matters.
You can choose to be bitter about it - broke people still have the power of choice, you can “socialmedia” yourself into a frenzy of jealousy and blame.
Or.
You can sit on your but, “borrow” the paper from the church photocopier. Write something. Put it in your pocket. Take it out the next day. Correct the obvious stuff, walk down to the local library, type it into your free google docs account. Open a free posterous blog. Post your article and then spend twenty minutes, bookmarking it and participating in the forums.
Then you do it again the next day.
And the next.
Wax On
Wax Off
Or you can watch “Jersey Shore”
It’s YOUR choice.
Ed
You hit the nail on the head with this one Ed.
Best blog post of 2010 so far IMHO.
It’s been amazing to watch your writing of these blog posts progress over the past few months. You really are setting a great example and “walking the walk” with your writing because you are doing exactly what you are teaching.
This post has made me decide to start with 30 minutes of timed, focused production a day.
It’s like you said in your recent interview. It’s like exercise… We know we should do it, it’s just getting your butt out the door and walking for 30 minutes. Same thing except with this we get to sit on our butts and work!
Thank you for being a true inspiration.
- Tom
Tom - That really means something to me - Thanks Heaps
If you look at the blog, you will not see much now, but if I can follow your advice, in a few weeks, it will begin to take shape. Thanks for the pep talk and sound advice.
Great post Ed. It is about making a decision, a quick decision without thinking about it. If you think about it you will talk yourself out of immediate action and the window of opportunity will slam in your face.
Looking forward to the seminar.
TIMELY post Ed! Just what I need - it’s like you wrote this with ME in mind. I’m totally broke, late for rent by 2 weeks, have the landlords hounding me, can barely afford to get to work… etc etc.
I know I can get myself out of this situation, and once I do I’ll be laughing all the way to the bank, but it’s tough going.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Hey Ed,
I don’t always agree with everything you write, but you’ve been a straight talker since I started following you years ago when Stompernet started.
I reckon (for what that’s worth!) that this is the best post you’ve ever written. Reminded me of something that I teach all of my staff and seem to have forgotten myself…
thanks for writing it!
John
WOW - I have followed you awhile now and find your insight excellent but your delivery even more enticing. Keep up the good (30 minutes to 2 hours a day) work my man!
I cant tell you how much your post means to me. What you reminded me, and I hear in my heart, is that no matter if I feel like I am not in control of anything around me right now, what I AM in control of, is how I react, and how I spend my time. Giving myself the gift of an hour or so a day to rebuild a life, is such a small price to pay for so much to be gained - both for me, and those I love. Thanks.
Ed,
I have been guilty of sitting at the computer staring at the screen, answering countless numbers of emails, chatting in Skype with any one who would listen.
I realized one day while flying the flight attendant said “Although we never anticipate a change in cabin pressure, should one occur, four oxygen masks will fall from the compartment above. Place the mask over your nose and mouth and breathe normally. If you are traveling with small children please secure yourself first and then assist the child.
After hearing this I realized the same thing applies to building your business. I need to help myself first before I can help others.
This is one post I will print out and tape to my bathroom mirror to remind me to take that first hour of the day and make it mine.
You have been an awesome mentor. I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t take you up on your offer to coach them.
Mike
You couldn’t have timed this post better if you tried Ed. I am struggling to get through my daily online work session after a long JOB session today and this is what I needed to get through it. Thanks Coach.
PS: Deep down most of us know this but we are looking for a magic wand that will make is work while we watch TV. If we (me) spent the time we use on Facebook or in forums doing productive things we would get so much more done.
Ed
you are a bit good aren’t you!
Thank you
it’s finally got through my thick skull: 30 mins a day!
That’s it
not complicated (& not easy) but so simple
I committ publically my 30 mins (at least) per day. Starting today. But not on valentine’s day
let’s make this a huge 2010
mike
Hi Ed
Never a truer word & thank you for sharing your human weaknesses.
Some of us tend to beat ourselves up over ‘procrastination’
My issue was NOISE - I would get so incredibly angry if noise interfered with my ‘intentions’ of working.
If only they would stop that… loud music; partying - I have to get up early to do my online work; kids (being kids); TV too loud; talking..+++
I realised that what I was really angry about was with myself, and that the other issues were extraneous because when I really did apply myself, I didn’t notice the noise as I was absorbed in what I was doing.
Thanks for reminding me of that!
Good post
from a fellow Aussie
Ed,
You are inspiring.
“How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money”—David Norris
it’s something I have to work on everyday!
Yup. Nailed it.
Truly believe that if just 1% did what we needed to do, the world we be at a different place.
Be that 1%. It is much easier than you might think and a heckalot more fun.
P
I read your post. I don’t think you wrote this post in 30 minutes. However, I know from experience that when you write your passion then the words flow. I think these words are the result of passion and are inspiring. I appreciate it.
A great post!
Thanks
Good post Ed. Truly inspirational, I just like it.
Cheers.
Thanks Ed, I needed those words exactly then.
Smack… right along side of the head. Thanks Ed!
Thanks Ed. I’m one of those that would love to say “pick me”, but the honest truth is that getting into a focussed 30 minutes per day habit we be much more beneficial. Hopefully one day I can also say “it’s not magic, just do it”.
Great post, Ed. This is exactly the kind if thing I’ve been fighting with. I’m taking it to heart, and I appreciate your input.
Nice one Ed. Spot on buddy. As a great sales trainer once said ‘if you cant afford this product then thats exactly why you need it’. Keep on rocking.
Cheers
Cheyne
Outstanding post! It’s reassuring to know that standard “discipline” is ‘required’ to be successful. The challenge seems to be clearly determining what is “the stuff that matters.” This is a great post! Thanks.
“most of the…people I know are also in the barely disciplined category.”
So then, I’m in good company.
“The difference is they spend 30 minutes to a couple of hours doing stuff that matters.
Every Day….”
I can do that.
You’re the man.
Thanks
Ed…great post. I enjoyed reading it for sure!
Hey Ed. I detect a bit of Tony in that blog. Nice job. You’ve learned well, and yes, you were inspirational. Can’t let that ADD handicap stop me. Thanks, Jack
Great post Ed, and right on target.
It is so easy to blame the lack of money for one’s lack of success. Taking responsibility for our success is the first step to getting there, the next step is putting in the time as you say so well. It is so easy to get distracted but what we can’t do, instead of doing what we can.
I’ve spend a lot of time this last week with a friend who is fighting brain cancer after already surviving a bout with breast cancer last year. This is giving me an even greater appreciation of courage to survive, to success, to live and to live well.
May we all find our paths to a healthy and successful future, helping each other as we go along.
Betty
I started to write one of those emails too..
Mostly what I wanted to say in it was Thank You for what you have already done.
You gave me a good start and far more than I had before. There is a quote I remember a friend using often…”If it’s meant to be, It’s up to me”
I will continue to blog, and link, and ping, and whatever I have to do until I can afford to do more. I’ll get there and it will be in large part thanks to you. Save me a spot in the next course.
Thanks ED
and thanks for the tip about the photocopier too
ps., I know you guys like the ps thingy. I will see you on the other side. It will take a little while, but we’ll get there. Thanks, Jack
Wow. You are changing my life. Here I was discouraged because I’m basically in the “barely disciplined category” and I thought you and the really successful bloggers are in the brilliant, organized, motivated category. (and the good looking category) But I can handle short periods of disciplined activity. Thanks, Ed!
I read the first few paragraphs then lost interest, then read the first comment, and that is where the magic began. From there I decided that there is more to this than my first impression absorbed… So I started again and read the whole post.
Ed you give me the kick in the arse that I need… Thank you!
A little that matters everyday is really the determining factor. Time to put that into use. No magic bullet, just do it.
There’s a bit of the dragon scroll in there, for sure!
An hour or two everyday, from now on.
Thanks Ed
Steve
Brisbane
My mentors keep telling me that. I keep telling my clients that. I know that. Now, if I could just remember to do that.
Thanks Ed,
Success really is that simple.
Please email me tomorrow and remind me.
Thank you Ed. It is so easy to get distracted with the idea of the “right training” or right “biz opp” and that is not the prerequisite for reaching our goals. The real prerequisite will always be “doing something the matters”…doing something that counts towards reaching whatever goal we have for ourselves.
Thanks again Ed!
Olan
This is just what I needed right now, late at night while I’m writing articles and feeling a bit spent. I know it just takes a little consistent work, but it’s good to be validated by the big guys once in awhile. Back to work, thanks for sharing Ed-san.
YOU’re dead on correct… if you do something consistently you will get there…
It is way to easy to goof off and waste one’s time cruzin’ the net.. and 3 hours later nothing positive was done…
I have been helping my sister learn how to correctly earn money online… the thing i noticed is how little she gets done… I have been telling her the exact thing you talk about in this post.. 30 mins to 1 hour everyday.. will reap huge rewards over time…
Joe
no comment!
Ed, you have that wonderful human ability to deliver a sage message while hitting the point head on! What I have loved about you is that you deliver your messages from where every you are. I have seen car videos, studio and many other locations. What we see is that you are in perpetual motion and have the freedom of not only “working from home” but also living your life fully. You are someone who works hard yet, you do this showing how much you LOVE the work you do too.
Discipline is much easier when we wrap our work into our lives. With our wonderful world of technology we are able to travel with an iphone, ipad, ibook, and just plain old I! It is not hard work but it does require the word I love ACTION.
Thank you for always making me smile, and helping the many. GREAT blog post!
Hi Ed,
The previous 27 comments above mine pretty much sum up my sentiments.
Like yourself I started with very little as a migrant boy coming to OZ but using my 24hrs a day a bit more productively I believe I have achieved better than average results… albeit not in Internet Marketing yet but I know that every day i’m one step closer.
For all those nay sayers all i can say is THIS DOES WORK and not only in internet marketing…
Invest your time or spend it, you choose!
Ed, Great advice, I went to a seminar once, the speaker asked everyone who read “Think and Grow Rich” to raise their hands, almost 500 did, he then asked anyone to raise their hand who was rich, no one did. As you just so entertainingly pointed out thinking doesn’t get it done, only DOING matters.
Thanks’
Art Schaffer
Thanks. Its good to get a reminder like this every so often. Well written!
Nice kick in the butt Mr Dale. Could you put that on an auto-responder that comes to me every 6 week.
Many successfully people barley disciplined is such music to my ears and the fact that you are almost as bad at spelling as I am. If you ever employ an editor to fix your spelling mistakes I’m leaving.
I sense a bit of a shift in you lately Ed, coming through stronger and clearer than ever before.
Thanks for the post.
Thank you for all that you do, taking the time to share your experiences - which happens to be changing my life!
Yeah yeah yeah!
I was one of the ones who is not cashed up at the mo…this post makes me chuckle. Cos so many of us drive ourselves every day, sit on our arses and work and walk around blocks and work (on blood-stained footpaths to build community aspirations and creativity. In Australia? You bet, it’s closer than you think!)and sing in oncology wards to children, and write and perform for children coming out of trauma….
Now, and please sit down for this, it may REALLY REALLY surprise you but in the world of fiscal priorites this area of work is seen as MUCH LESS valuable work than internet marketing, ebooks, training courses and affiliate programs.
I’m so sorry. I’ve shocked you, darling. Just sit down a minni and catch your breath….
Look, yeah I’d love to do one of Ed’s courses when the time is right for the bank account. But I’ve also learnt to recognise the taste in my mouth when my greedy bone twangs and my priorities are under threat.
So, with the chuckle still goin’ let’s take some other ways of looking at this outside of the mindset the chattin’ down in this post.
Let’s see…what would your soul rather you do:
1. Be truly present at your family events or be sitting in a corner typing/playing absent?
2. Prioritise your focus in a calm, ethical way and proceed with a warm heart and a cool reserve to build interdependence and congruency within your chosen community or jump at every chance offered to pay in the hope of ‘leveraging’ your independence and breaking out? (see Gamblers’ Anonymous)
3. Be game but not in every game that lobs a ball over your fence?
4. Have an auditing system that scanned across cash flow, authenticity flow and service flow? And be sensitive enough to self monitor if the adrenalin of an offer is throwing one of these out of whack?
Just a few thoughts to throw a spoke in the wheel and share the calm!!!
lots love to you all and, maybe catch you at my next show:
Postcards From Nanna at The Arts Centre March 30 - April 3
by Cha Cha Sam - music for big spirited kids and their grownups!
It’s only $16 and won’t change your life or make you richer. It’ll just make you laugh
and love the person you sit next to!
Great post Ed. The key really is dedication and keeping up the dedication.
Hi five Ed - I was lucky enough to do the 2009 Manchester gig and even now months after all the mind dust has settled I’m still very happy I did - I also did the Anthony Robbins “unleash the power within” London gig in 2001 - All I know is certain things in life only come around once in most folks life spans and certain things that are worth doing are not achieved without tremendous effort - my advice to all is - don’t let the lack of money be the final decision decider stopping you doing what needs to be done when opportunity knocks “Actions You Take” point you in the right direction,
— POSITIVE QUOTES OF THE DAY —
The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions.
William F. Scolavino
If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.
– Isaac Newton (1642-1727) English Scientist
Do it and do it right now - There’s nothing quite like a room full of entrepreneurs to lift one’s Factor in tasks and businesses
Phillip skinner
G’Day Ed,
Very well said. It’s no secret that I have had my fair share of challenges over the last couple of years, but as you rightly say, we all have the same 24 hours and must choose how we spend them. I have sometimes found myself “doing the stuff” only to ask myself 30 mins later, “am I doing what matters of simply goofing around and wasting time”.
Thanks for the reminder lesson
Cheers - Dallas
I like how you put it. Little by little. Just that moment of effort. Like a wave turning into a title wave. That is the steps I will take. The seminar is worth the effort. I am taking steps everyday. And I know I will see more success as time follows, so goes my effort ever more. Or in IM speak classicly said ‘take action’.
Ed,
OUCH. That smarts…but MANY, MANY Thanks for this incredibly enlightening post.
Good post Ed.
Thanks for the reminder!
Wayne.
P.S. Can’t make it to Melbourne even though I am only 100k’s north of Canberra.
Can’t make it to Sydney for the FREE motivational stuff coming up soon either.
Angry? At who? My own internal disagreeing and dissenting demons?…
Guilty on all counts. It is a process to get consistent work done everyday even if it just 2-3 hours. I’ve gotten much better at it since I first started though. I remind myself everyday in some variant way that “Rome was not built in a day” and that in order to build my Rome, I have to persevere in laying one brick at a time until one day I can stand back to admire the cumulation of effort put forth.
Passionate post. I notice a lot of “made” internet marketers have come forth with similar advice especially over the past half year or so. One of the first things a newbie should read is not a $1997 course on how to build traffic, etc; it should instead be something along the lines of this post to prep themselves for the journey ahead.
Well Said Ed!
And the great thing is that when folk start to take consistent action - that has a way of showing it’s self to those people who are in a position to help or mentor. Not only do they become willing to do so but they sense (maybe without knowing it) ones inner resolve and are moved to give just a little bit more than they would normally give.
This has the benefit of accelerating folk along the path of success and rewarding the mentor greatly and in many ways as well.
Without our first taking action - none of this will happen.
Of course being blessed with excessive good looks like you and I obviously helps but not as much as taking action does.
Mark