The Internet has been good to me. No, I\’ll say that differently. The Internet has been fantastic to me. It\’s changed my life, brought me some incredible deals and continues to deliver a reliable and generous revenue stream.
It\’s allowed me to build a successful business and lead the kind of life I\’ve always dreamed of.
I don\’t know where I\’d be without the Web. Still selling encyclopedias probably. Or disc jockeying at weddings. We really are fortunate the Internet came along.
But not everything I\’ve achieved has happened on the Web, and while I\’m on the Internet just about every day, I\’m not online all day.
Sometimes I\’m on the phone.
At other times, I\’m at conferences, running workshops or giving talks and book readings.
Or I could just be sitting in a meeting room or a café, having a chat with a staff member, a partner, a colleague or a friend. All of those things are vital to the growth of my Internet business.
The Internet is so flexible and delivers so much that it can be tempting to believe that it can provide everything you need. Facebook will let you stay in touch with friends without having to meet them. Twitter will let you network and build relationships with customers, clients and partners. Email will allow you to send information and requests without you even having to say a word.
Instead of using those old fashioned business development techniques like shaking hands, looking someone in the eye and swapping news face to face, you could well find yourself staying in front of your computer and imagining that you\’re doing everything you can to build a successful business.
It\’s possible to do that. You can create a successful and profitable website without leaving your bedroom or picking up the phone.
But you can do so much more when you\’re willing to attend conferences and meet people. When instead of writing an email to explain what you\’re offering, you pick up the phone and listen to what the other person needs. And when you meet local entrepreneurs in your local cafes to find ways to work together.
The Internet can be the foundation of a successful business. But you should be looking to develop it in the real world too.