Photo by Jayme Barr
What the heck is wrong with me? Am I stupid? I’m certainly not lazy….so why did it just take me a whole day to figure out how to upload an application to my blog? Why did it take me a week to establish a marketing funnel that my mentor said would take an evening?
Is anybody out there feelin’ me here???? Am I the only one?
Some days, although I never feel alone in my marketing efforts, I sure feel alone in my ability to implement the technical details. Some online buddy will tell me, “Oh, just put a TweetMeme on your blog, it’s easy!”
Well, what the bleep-bleep-bleep…..I can follow directions; I am good with detail, but I am blown away when I try to do this techie stuff. I often feel inept and at least once a day, I think, maybe, I’m just too old for this. Or, maybe, at this stage in my life, it’s just not worth all the hard work. . . . .
‘Cause, oh yeah, starting a new business is a lot of WORK! Oh, sorry, did someone promise you that you would buy their system and in two days, you’d be making thousands of dollars? YOU FELL FOR THAT? Yeah, me, too.
Well, here’s the bottom line. No matter how smart, well-educated, or street smart we are, most people would like to believe that there really is a “get rich quick” scheme out there. I do believe that the internet provides opportunity beyond all expectations and that its full potential has not even begun to be tapped; however, some truths remain true throughout the generations. The truth is, “I never promised you a rose garden!”
Change is really hard, so shifting careers or starting a new business will push you to your limits, exhausting and frustrating you to the point of wanting to quit. There is no rose garden, but I do promise you that the exhilaration you will feel when you have pushed through the obstacles will breathe new life into your attitude, giving you a zest for your career that you have been missing for quite some time.
I am still new to the online marketing community, yet, despite being a “tender foot”, I bring a great deal to the table. Much to my amazement, my traditional values and acquired wisdom are really paying off. I still may not know how to upload a widget (Frankly, I don’t really get what a widget is!), but, I am progressing, adding followers on Twitter, making real friends on Facebook, and, “LOOK MOM, I’m blogging!”
Each morning, I wake up excited to get online and see what’s going on with all my friends and business partners. Despite the frustrations, I haven’t been this motivated in years. Having tackled each challenge and come out on the other side has invigorated me and given me a sense of youthful vitality that I thought was lost.
No, I never promised you a rose garden, but what lies beyond all those thorny bushes is worth a few scratches.
February 5th, 2010 at 4:10 am
Nancy! You are awesome! So true, people do want a “get rich scheme” but to be frank they simply don’t exist! It takes worth as well as personal growth. Self education as well as being properly coached, all at the same time! But that’s where Mentor Mama comes in right!
Keep rockin it!
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February 5th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Well said Nancy,
Your determination to stick to it and learn is exactly what people need to take away from this. It is a long and arduous hike to the top of Everest, but oh the view from the top is amazing (at least that’s what they tell me…lol).
The good news for those that follow your lead is that they’ll have the benefit of Mentor Mama’s hard work, experience and coaching. Your perseverance is inspiring Nancy. Keep chuggin’ away
Rock on and remember…oh crap I forgot
-E
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February 5th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Nancy …. I LOVE YOUR VOICE and your style! Your down-to-earth approach is
so refreshing and fun to read…. and your combination of determination and healthy self-confidence and respect for all the work involved is a winning recipe for sure.
Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading more.
-B
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February 5th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Hi Everybody,
I am so excited that you have read my post and commented! Clay, Eric and Buff, I appreciate the encouragement and positive words. Hope that you’ll come back often, so we can learn from each other! See you on your blogs!
Fondly,
Nancy
“Mentor Mama”
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February 10th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Great post and info! Absolute joy to read! I really enjoyed…
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February 10th, 2010 at 3:43 am
I can really relate to this post, Nancy! I am new to blogging in the past 2 months and there is definitely a learning curve. I just keep putting one foot in front of the other….trusting, connecting, growing and remembering to celebrate my small successes along the way!
The funny thing is, I started blogging and said “I’m too young to NOT do this” ~ and still have the same challenges. It’s all about growth and pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone every single day!
So happy to have connected with you Nancy!
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February 10th, 2010 at 3:59 am
Nancy,
I absolutely love this post! And no, it’s never too late for any of us to start something new.
When I started blogging I had quite a bit of Internet, HTML, and graphics knowledge, yet I often felt the frustrations you’ve expressed here. You’re doing a great job and should know that even as a new blogger you have much more knowledge than a huge majority of marketers. So many people let fear keep them from moving forward into something new that will ultimately be of great value.
Congratulations for stepping up, and thanks for the reminder that this IS hard work – but well worth every second!
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February 11th, 2010 at 3:48 am
Hi Nancy,
Great post! It is so true that people think that simple things are easy! It is through overcoming these simple but great challenges before us that we open the door to possibilities of creating and experiencing the amazing life that is waiting for us to arrive to.
Make it a great day!
God Bless,
-ed
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February 11th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Hi Nancy,
I really enjoyed this post because I think that many people feel this way when first starting in this industry, including me. I consider myself a pretty tech oriented person and have a decent grasp on most things computer related, however I still found it difficult sometimes to figure out all kinds of things.
Took me forever to get the hang of wordpress for example. Though I think the key is to learn one thing at a time before moving on to something else, and that way you keep from becoming overwhelmed.
You’ve got a really wonderful blog here and I look forward to getting to know you better and to coming back for more
~Angel
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February 12th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
LOL! Nancy, I was shaking my head yes, yes and yes again all the way through your post. No doubt, being brand spanking new to IM, blogging and social media will stretch you way beyond your belief but the benefits are sooooooooooo worth the initial discomfort. You have done an incredible job branding yourself and are a huge giver!
Thank you,
Brandy
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February 14th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Nancy,
I tried to learn Chinese once and felt the same way. It is a whole new vernacular…. hello wikopedia. Excellent point about what it takes to succeed in any endeavor…hard work..strong ethics… and adding value, you may be able to get rich quick but it still takes all the above, it ain’t easy, and no one can really promise you a rose garden.
Jan
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February 16th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Nancy,
Becoming successful at anything, we do have to go through the “thorns” first, don’t we. You have a great perspective on what it’s going to take to “make it” and I’m very impressed with you drive and motivation!
Eddie
Eddie Espiritu´s last blog ..Cheap MLM Leads – How to Generate PPC Leads for Pennies on the Dollar
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February 24th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Thanks! There is nothing about this that is easy for me or is making me rich quick. But I hold fast, stay the course and keep planting roses. Cause they’re gonna come up some day! Thanks again.
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February 26th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Thank you Nancy, you make me feel ok. Didn’t really think I was the only one in space stumbling around, picking herself up, looking for more stumbling blocks to attack and conquer, and loving every minute of it. The exhilaration of “I’m Blogging” and the new friends I’m making, are all worth it. A business doesn’t have the word magic in it, but it does contain the word busy. Adding common sense to it will bring out some magic. My new friend John Counsel puts it this way: “do all the right things for all the right reasons”.
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February 26th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Hi Nancy,
Yes I fell for it too but now I can say there is no such thing than a get rich quick scheme and I only can advise all beginners not to buy all that crap whats out there. I´m not sure what is the right way but there will be a lot of trial and error and a lot of work
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February 26th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
Nancy,
You are my new hero. I love your writing: you’ve captured what many of us new entrepreneurs are feeling (adding those widgets may help, but oh what frustrations to learn the tech side of being online). In the last few months, I have been amazed at meeting dynamic people who I now call friends. I never would’ve imagined what my venture into online business would bring, but you definitely epitomize the positive connections that can be made when someone sticks to their goals, determination, and keeps learning. I’m so happy our paths have crossed.
Best,
Jennifer
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March 3rd, 2010 at 6:39 am
Nancy,
I can so relate to this. I am still juggling all the terminology and techy stuff! You have such a great sense of humor over all this. I love it!
Thanks for giving me a smile today,
Val
Val Wilcox´s last blog ..Meet Malin Berdette, World Traveler Extraordinaire
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March 4th, 2010 at 3:36 am
A week to set up a marketing funnel, I’ve been working on it for a month and it’s still not done!! LOL
I love your analogy with the rose garden and the thorns here. This is a fun post and sadly, we can all relate too well to it.
Thanks for the advice and entertainment all rolled up into one. It’s a good writer that can combine the two.
Keep up the good work!!
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March 4th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Hi Nancy
Nice to meet you! I love they way you write, you say it the way you mean it. I’m also a mom of 7 kids working on the internet, I’ve had my tech challenges…HTML…blah! (-: However the first time I could make some HTML coding work I was so excited! I now know enough to get me through without to much pain. It’s really about personal growth and keeping a cool mind. Shoot we both have raised a Hugh family…this techy stuff is nothing!
Cheers!
Debby Beachy
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March 4th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Hi Everybody!
Wow, I really appreciate your uplifting comments!
Julianna, Beth and Brandy, you ladies are so amazing and I will miss you this month! I’m glad that I gave you a giggle….sometimes they are hard to come by.
Jan, Ed, and Eddie….happy that you dropped by! You are all so right! Overcoming is the key!
Kathy, Angel, and Bill….Yes, it is all going to pay off some day! We’ll all get to the top together.
Monika, Jennifer, and Debbie, you are all so sweet and make me feel so empowered to keep writing!
Martin, Val, and Debby…..the work can be overwhelming, but with support from each other, we are doing it! And Debby, yes, after kids, a person can do anything! LOL!
Again, Thanks to all! Sorry that it took me so long to get back to you. My new challenge is keeping up with syndicating!
Love,
Mentor Mama
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March 17th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Hi Nancy,
Boy can I identify with this! I am so very technologically challenged it’s not even funny! I can really identify with all you are experiencing and am going through a lot of the same things myself.
At least you didn’t leave it there and gave me some hope. Thanks for sharing.
Debbie Stevens´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
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March 20th, 2010 at 5:56 am
“I never promised you a rose garden, but what lies beyond all those thorny bushes is worth a few scratches.”
Nancy, don’t sell yourself or us short. If we’re gonna get scratches then why not the roses too? You can’t have one without the other.
I love your new-found drive and enthusiasm that are evident all over your blog and wherever you write on the internet. It encourages us all.
– Stew
PS
Oh and re your claimed widget ignorance, unfortunately your OnlyWire widget thingy isn’t working properly. Take another look at their instructions perhaps.
Stew Shaw´s last blog ..Frank Kern Fail – Toys R Not Us!
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March 25th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Hi Nancy,
It’s great that you can share this with everyone as I think most of us have gone through it too. You can’t just start a new job without training and expect a CEO pay packet. I think people jump into network marketing without that in mind and expect to make a million the first day. It does take a few learning curves and definitely a lot of work but it will pay off if you’re committed and passionate about what you do.
Cheers,
Lynn
Lynn Glaser´s last blog ..A Twitter Tab For Your Facebook Fan Page In 7 Easy Steps
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April 3rd, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Nancy,
Just to offer some empathy, today, for the very first time, I learned something about widgets. I had a tech person set up one link in the right column of my blog. For the past few days I was struggling and struggling to figure out how he created that because I have so many more links and optins to put there. Finally, I succumbed and contacted him, requesting that he do it for me. Then, after installing Skype for the first time (I resisted for over a year now), my friend in France told be “Oh, all you have to do is click on Widgets and create an optin box.” I was always wonderfing what widgets were anyway – but I never bothered to ask anyone or find out, since I have been continually glued to my computer writing articles, emails, autoresponders, blogs, etc., etc.
I would like to offer a new perspective on your post. I believe there IS a rose garden – it’s just filled with thorns and so difficult to get through to the other side, where you can look back at all you have finally accomplished.
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April 8th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Oh, thank goodness, I found you (thanks to Kary Rogney for sending me here!) just in the nick of time!
I always thought a widget was a great name for a generic part made in a factory. That I get. What a generic factory part has to do with the dashboard on my blog construction page, I simply do not know!!
And why I should be required to use such a part just to put a sentence or two together is really beyond me! and yet, sigh — here I am, just as you Nancy, looking forward to every morning so I can get up and try to wrestle it to the ground once more!
Thanks for your grace and joy. I’m definitely going to come over and rub elbows and widgets with you again!
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April 9th, 2010 at 4:08 am
Hey Nancy:
Bob can I relate to that. I even forgot the PW. Well on with the challenge, BLOL. Love your style of writing with such a sense of humor. Your life experiences are great and that’s why we got to listen to mentor mom.
Keep your energy flow coming.
Your friend,
Arlan
Arlan Murata´s last blog ..What is your tribe?
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April 9th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Nancy,
I feel your pain, I’m pretty good at techie stuff and the dumbest things happen. There is something that happens when you decide to take action all kinds of stupid s**t happens. I guess it’s a test to see if we are worthy of the success we seek. Nice post Nancy, keep it up.
Ron Sherwood
Your MLM Success Source
Ron Sherwood´s last blog ..So you Wanna be a Network Marketing Rockstar
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April 15th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
I can relate, I really feel like I am learning a lot some days then some days I feel like I am walking around in circles, but I do know this I love having my own business, I love learning and I will never give up…
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April 22nd, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Hi Nancy
I love that you are able to still find that great sense of playfulness and humour while grappling with all this techie stuff…. I’m sharing your pain Mama!!
I like that you are speaking to a common pain we nearly al have experienced and coming up with some insight and perspective even if there really is no fix it solution other than knowing this is par for the course.
And BTW if anyone find a techie I’m sure there are many of us who could keep them employed for months to come!
Sandhan´s last blog ..Gratitude, Appreciation and the ‘Feel Good Factor’
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February 12th, 2011 at 12:14 am
I love this post, Nancy! So glad you shared your struggles. I’m not new to blogging, but I AM fairly new to using my blog for business purposes. I’m glad I’m not the only one who wants to pull her hair out at times… but the results are definitely worth it!
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling´s last blog ..Two Dimensional to Three
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