This is even more critical for those of us who fear being trapped by numbers. We usually prefer to 'go with flow' or 'fly by seat of our pants'. If this is your natural style, as it is mine, idea of getting intimate with numbers that make up our lives can be a little scary.

So often, we feel that 'what we don't know can't hurt us'. This is simply not true. Not knowing that your blood sugar levels are over 400 doesn't mean that you can't go into a coma or have some other life-threatening complication. The trick is to embrace your current numbers, identify your ideal or goal numbers, and work from there.

Here are some examples of 'numbers' in our lives. Embrace them!! So often fear associated with them just goes away once we admit to ourselves what they are. (This is very similar to another fear I frequently see with my clients who are afraid to go to doctor because they might find out that something is wrong. And is also related to relief they feel, once they do go, when they find out what it is, regardless of seriousness of illness involved.) We have a very strong 'need' to know. Get yours met!

(c) 2004 Charles Kangethe

* Once Upon A Time --------------------

Many people set out on their Internet Marketing careers full of hope and enthusiasm.

However, within a year or two reality sets in and hope turns to disappointment and enthusiasm wears off.

What goes wrong and how can you get back on track ?

* The Wheels Start To Come Off -------------------------------

Ironically, trouble starts with one of Internet's greatest strengths.

Information.

Or more precisely information overload.

As you research opportunities, so called "experts" tell you "how to do it", "when to do it", "where to do it" and offer you expensive tools and resources to help you do it.

You get confused from widely available advice and your progress suffers from lack of a consistent easy to follow plan.

Then just as you're getting your head around information, your family jump in telling you how you are no longer any fun.

They tell you that you spend far too much time at computer, and they want to know why you aren't earning any money.

Feeling their doubts, you start to doubt yourself.

But you struggle on, produce your first web site and ask a favourite forum to review it. Back come opinions and advice on hundreds of things you must do to improve it.

You write your first e-zine, but being your own harshest critic you know it stands improvement so you delay publicising it and getting subscribers until it is just right.

It has now been a year or more since you started and you still haven't made any "real" money.

Your early hopes and enthusiasm are being seriously tested. You are losing focus and your desire to carry on, to take action seems low.

If you recognise this person, start with basics, and use following four steps to get back on track.

* Go Back To Basics And Answer The Fundamental Question ---------------------------------------------------------

Success as an online marketer starts with a simple belief.

You must believe in yourself, your talents and know your destiny.

It is this belief that will sustain you when wheels seem to be falling off.

From very beginning you must have goals that drive you onwards. Your goals are derived from answer to this fundamental question.

"What do you want to achieve as an Online Marketer ?"

You must find one answer to this question, that is :

* Simple - Can be explained in three or less short sentences.

* Clear - Well defined, and unambiguous

* Personal - It must satisfy a deep personal desire and you must strongly believe that you will achieve it.

* Set SMART Goals and Plans ----------------------------

Once you have answer, you must set long, medium and short-term goals.

Your short term goals must be detailed and explicit, your longer term goals can be less detailed , but they must all be SMART.

* Specific - Each goal addresses a single, clear issue.

* Measurable - How will achieving goal change anything.

* Achievable - Each goal must stretch your abilities, as you reach for it

* Realistic - Each goal must be rooted in real life which is why starting point is to find answer above