Somehow, a man who many thought would end up Prime Minister, couldn't figure out how to get off track, so that when first train started towards him -- he stood there and got run over, thereby becoming first well-known person to succumb to dawning Railway Age.

Predictably there was an uproar with hotter heads feeling sure that banning railroads was only solution to such fatalities. The fact that Huskisson was notoriously near-sighted was lost sight of. The fact that casualty was himself responsible for result wasn't nearly as good copy as calling for a ban on hottest transportation development of 19th century.

Hmmm. It all looks familiar to me, as daily more members of Chicken Little League cackle to high heaven that e-commerce sky is falling.

My, my how they cluck. But you know, two centuries from now Internet will still be here, working its wonders, just as (the last time I checked) there were trains.

The real issue is keeping your head while all about you people are losing theirs. Hence these recommendations on how you can profit in current uncertain Web environment and position yourself for absolutely certain future profit to come.

Recommendation #1: You're Going To Have To Work Hard To Achieve Online Success

Far too many people on Internet still have crazy idea that success online is inevitable, effortless, thoughtless, casual. It's not. Far from it. Because Internet is a new environment, it demands extra attention and more work than you'd have to perform if, say, you opened a standard retail shop.

Thus, you must make how to succeed online a subject of continual study. The 'net is still, after all, to a considerable degree a trial and error environment. That's good for people who like to use their wits to solve problems; not so good for people whose goal is to perfect their skills as Couch Potatoes.

The people who will succeed in next phase will be, to a person, energetic go-getters, thinkers, and experimenters. The Internet is a gigantic laboratory, where millions of people are trying this and that. The people who approach task as WORK and not a day in park, are ones who stand best chance of success.

Frankly, I'm appaled by habits of most Internet "marketers" and "business people." Probably because such well-publicized success came to a few online marketers so early (usually through inflated stock prices), idea took root that all you had to do was turn-up to grab your own brass ring.

This comfortable idea, so in tune with prevailing "Take it easy" culture that most people find so appealing, is slow to die. But if YOU want success, you've got to kill it, root and branch. Can you do it?

Recommendation #2: Get The Tools You Need

The sad fact is that millions of people are trying to profit online without having tools they need to do so. It's nuts! These tools include

* your own domain, so you have your own property to develop * a listserver, so you can send unlimited non-spam email to your prospects, customers and subscribers * a sales manager, so you can follow up all your leads personally, automatically * professional website design * guaranteed traffic devices.

Without these absolutely must-have elements, you're toast.

Take a look at tools you're working with now. Have you got each and one of ones you need? Or are you just fooling yourself? The people who make it to next phase of online profit will have these tools, no ifs, ands, or buts. The ones who don't will get Huskisson Award for worst response to new technology.

Recommendation #3: Focus On Value

As I've said often enough, lots of what people are trying to profit from online is stuff nobody will ever need. In a word, they're trying to get rich selling junk. Friend, it ain't gonna happen.

If you want to make money online, you must offer VALUE online. Do you?

Now I realize that people have an unlimited ability to delude themselves about what they're doing, so it may take you a while to be honest with yourself about what you're selling. But PLEASE try!

Ask yourself these key questions:

* Do people really need what you're selling? * Is price fair? * Can they get it elsewhere for less? * Are you offering VALUE, or are you just trying to make a big score off junk, so you can loll on a beach somewhere? Caveat emptor!

Before you let a bad day, or a deal gone sour, fill you with self-doubt - which WILL effect your business eventually, try these sure-fire ways to pick yourself up until next time you're celebrating a sale!

1. Read over your testimonials from past clients.

This will remind you of how valued your business is, and how much you have been appreciated. No testimonials? What are you waiting for? Get some! Get on phone and call people who you know have been satisfied with your service in past - tell them you're 'revamping your approach' (then it's not really even a little white lie!), and wondered if they would consider jotting down a few words about what your company did for them.

Most folks are delighted to oblige!

2. Call a mentor. You probably know lots of seasoned professionals who've been around block a few times more than you. It doesn't matter if they're not in same business - whatever business they're in , they've probably experienced same kinds of 'slumps' that you find yourself in now.