Up until this point, we’ve essentially been covering the requirements and prerequisite knowledge necessary to increase your chances of building a successful online business.
Today marks a turning point.
It’s time to begin focusing on your personal situation, and to turn our attention to your future business…
(Watch this video…)
Main points:
Without vision, your business probably won’t succeed.
I describe vision as being able to “see” a clear picture of your fulfilled goals in your mind.
It’s like the box cover of a difficult puzzle…
You must begin with the end in mind.
Almost every success in my life has come AFTER having a vision for it. (For example, when I won the state championship, and every time I launch a product)
The successful business owners that I’ve known ALL have vision.
It’s kind of like looking at the world from 30,000 feet. You see the big picture, and not the problems.
If you lose sight of your vision, you lose hope. And if you lose hope, it’s game over.
As we progress in the lessons, we’ll keep moving forward step by step, but if you don’t start by getting a vision, further efforts could be somewhat futile.
If you set your target too low, you may hit it, but there is almost no chance that you will exceed it. On the other hand, if you set your target too high, you may fail, but you will be further along than the “low” target. Therefore it’s better to set your vision higher.
One of the biggest things I see holding people back is a “victim mentality”.
“Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop this picture. Never think of yourself as failing; never doubt the reality of the mental image. That is most dangerous, for the mind always tries to complete what it pictures. So always picture ‘success’ no matter how badly things seem to be going at the moment.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Many of us have taken on a “just get by” mentality.
The size of your vision will dictate the size of the result.
YOU are valuable. Don’t sell yourself short.
Here’s my “disclaimer” that I forgot to include in the video…. “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)
Action steps:
I want you to take a moment to tell me your vision for your business. The vision can involve other areas of your life too, but since we’re working on building your business, it should be focused on your business.
It’s important to write your vision down, so go ahead and post it in the comments below. This is YOUR vision, and there is NO wrong answer.
Focus on the big picture. Don’t worry about the details of how you will get there. We’ll worry about that stuff when we learn about goal setting and business plans, and I’ll be talking about those things in the next lesson.
As always, you are welcome to post your questions and comments below.
Have a great day!
My vision.
My online business will provide me with enough income to give me the things I wish to have in my life, the income is also going to be large enough to help the number of causes I find I can’t fully support now, these causes include individual people and some organizations I find are doing justify my donations and help.
Hello,
My vision is to produce an online business that can produce over $1 million each year, and work less than 30 hours a week. Have at least 2 months of vacation time a year. Travel the world. Grow a healthy and happy family. Help others with my time and money, and give back to the community.
Hi Eric,
My vision is to create an online business that will generate an income stream for my family. With this we will service our debt, travel frequently, help with my charities and have the freedom of time to spend with my family and teach them to excel in this world.
HI Eric, My vision is all the above plus the vision I have is to teach my friends and help them to get there without charging them anything. Thanks.
My Vision is to be able to support at least 10 orphanage’s, build Christian community’s around the globe. Help children that are in the sex industry get out and be able to live a “normal” life. Have the money to travel for all this and be able to live in different country.s will doing this. Think i need at least 1 million a year to get started, the more money i have the more i can do. And it would be nice to pay my house here in the Netherlands so i can always return there. Don’t need much riches for myself would love to be able to give so much.
I have a vision of studying what things are important to people, and that understanding will help me create the best websites, with a following that has progressed beyond communication founded anywhere else.
I am so glad I found this site. I have been silently following Eric’s information for the past few days. Eric, I’m totally impressed by your presentation. I fall right in everything presented even the recommend books to read (already have). I truly believe if I can envision it, I will achieve it. Regardless, the obstacles that are present. -Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich” Keep doing a great job, and I’ll kept listen and applying, all the great information. My vision was written several years ago, I’m just at a differrent stage now. I have seen all the success of my past goals and I’m embarking on my new clearer goals. It appears you are part of my new journey. Thanks for the education.
My vision is to set up a website that helps other people and at the same time generating an income that gets me to financial freedom. I want to be able to continue to financially help the children at aqua viva, my missionary friends in brazil and china who continue to share the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST in a lost and dying world. My vision includes me working from home spending more time with my family and being able to help out people who are struggling financially.
Hi Eric,My vision is to learn as much as I can,about this business,so eventually it can make me successful,and one day financially secure.With what I learn,in the future I hope to teach it,or pass it on to other people,about the business I am in.The internet marketing business,is very interesting,and I vision being a success,if I apply what I learned the right way.I believe by following people such as Eric,and other excellent marketers,the future as a internet marketer,will be excellent.I was told that knowledge,and never stopping to learn,would prevent anyone from failing.Thanks Eric
Hi Eric,
My vision is to be a successful business owner. And to make a million dollars before i am 60 ,i am 52 now so that only leaves me eight yrs to achieve that part of it.
I would like to be debt free and be able to be able to give my family the best of everything,and be able to go on exotic vacations i have always wanted to go to Europe particularily Paris,France.
Hopefully following your lessons will make this possible
Hello Eric
My work and passion is psychotherapy, working with my clients I see so many common problems that I have taken note of.
I would like to bring this knowledge to a wider audience in addition to one-on-one consultations.
My personal needs are modest, but my vision is wide.
Thank you Eric for sharing ‘your’ passion with us
Warm Regards
Meegan
I am starting this internet business to supplement my budding freelance creative business and envision being able to work freely without the stress of making enough money to support myself and my family. I see us taking vacations regularly and living a less stressful and healthier lifestyle. I envision working from home for myself and not having to ever look for a job again as I have been unemployed for two years. I envision making a 6 figure income from multiple streams and purchasing a building in my community to create an art center and help others live a more creative life.
My vision is to start small and build big. I plan to carefully grow my business and learn from successful individuals like yourself who are gratefully giving back. I will eventually become financially successful enough to quit my day job, provide for my four children and live my life giving back. You reap what you sow. Focus on the important things in life, the rest will take care of itself.
My goal is to achieve financial freedom so that I can be a “tentmaking” church-planter to people in need of Jesus Christ.
Hello Eric
David here from South Africa.
Here is my Vision.
Firstly: To get an online Business that will enable me to get closer to Yahweh, My heavenly Father, by this I mean to be able to spend time in the word and go stronger in my Faith.
I see myself spending more time with my Family and watching my Girls Grow up, to discover their own Visions and Dreams and to help them achieve these visions and dreams.
I see myself and my loving wife, spending more precious time together and as the girls leave home, being able to travel and see the world.
Being a website hosting company, I would like to see if not all than most of my clients website flourish into their dreams. And to help each and everyone of them achieve this.
This is my main vision; I do have micro visions as you put it in the lesson. They are to be Debt free, own my own house, and be able to get away when I want to (take a break from the hustle and bustle). I know that realistically this is going to take a few years and that is why I have created a few small Goals to measure my progress, but I won’t get into that now.
Thanks you for lesson and I am looking forward to the ones that follow.
Take care.
Regards,
David
I will have a successful online business helping other stay at home moms to save money and stay more organized within the business of their home, showing them it is okay to be at home with their babies! I will be able to spend the days with my family and work for a short time after the babies go to bed. My business will make at least a million a year, helping my husband to be able to be with his kids more. Thank you for your time and help Eric, and thank you for always referring back to Biblical principles! You are much appreciated!
Hi,
Here is my commitment and vision: I have a small standalone house with small private lake – live with my wife and in the neighbourhood of my and her parents. $1M per year of netto income from two streams: my company which I started a year ago and from internet marketing and selling. Before I build my house I’d like to make some small surgery of my both eyes(about $3000 per eye) to correct my sight. Every year I learn languages like Spanish, Italian and I take part in dance courses. Only two cars are needed one for me and the second for my wife. I work only 10-20h/week and have fun during my vacations(3-5 times a year). After two following year of $1M income I will support charity as much as I can. Of course my parents will not have to work – they sponsored my education and I would like to help them now! That’s all for now I think. My vision will develop for sure!
hey kathy that sounds AMAZING!!!good luck with every thing its goona be tough but if its gods will youlle succeed like crazy!!good luck.
Hi Eric,
I hope you had a great time in the jungle!
MY VISION
To create a recurring income of 500GBP per year from multiple income streams, primarily through internet marketing. My partner will be doing online share trading and we’ll have a joint property (real estate) portfolio contributing to the pot as well. The aim is to achieve financial and geographical freedom and we’re aiming for this within 3 years.
WHY?
To give back to parents and selected friends and also to set our parent’s minds at rest once they see that we’re financially free forever. We’d also love to fund or set up societies to save classic aeroplanes, boats, cars and motorbikes!…and there’s the animal rescue home as well.
And then there’s the fact that we currently live on a canal boat in the UK and want to finish our cruise around our home country before buying a sea going boat. Our next major adventure will be around the inland waterways of Europe, then the coastal waters and then into the proper sea going stuff.
HOW?
Phase 1:
The target is to create a recurring internet marketing income of 100GBP per month in 3 months time. My partner has a day job and will be online share trading part time.
Phase 2:
In 12 months time, the recurring internet marketing income will be covering our monthly expenses. My partner can then quit the day job and continue share trading.
Phase 3:
We continue to build the recurring income and start building the property portfolio with the excess funds.
Phase 4:
Geographical and financial freedom!
Thanks so much for this lesson Eric! We’d already gone a long way towards creating our vision using Brian Mayne’s Goal Mapping technique which I can highly recommend. We created our goal maps at New Year 2010 and we have never been more focused and ‘on purpose'(more info at http://www.goalmapping.com).
Your lesson has helped me to refine the vision and goals even further and helped me to reconnect with our ‘why?’.
Thanks so much,
Julie Baker
Obviously 500GBP should read 500,000GBP recurring income per year! Just shows how keen I was to comment 😀
Thanks again,
Julie Baker
Hi Eric,
My vision is to be debt free & help my friends & family achieve the same thing. I will create several avenues of income with my online business that would generate a 5-6 figure monthly income, not including any products launches I decide to do. I figure 5-7 million dollars a year out to do it. However I wouldn’t say no to more, :). I would also create a training/assistance program for veterans that would include education, shelter, & food assistance for them & their families. I myself am a disabled vet & I don’t believe enough is being done to help those that have given up so much for all of us to continue enjoying our way of life. Thank you for the opportunity to share my vision with you & may all of us achieve success!
my vission is to be an internet marketing guru making over $1m a month using my huge income to support the work of the gospel of our lord jesus christ.
My vision is to have a successful and very well known site that serves as an interactive community of music fans. I want to be in the top 100 on YouTube’s most subscribed while making a lot of music fans feel like they can be themselves within the WreckedRadio community.
I will be fulfilled, satisfied and challenged by my work online. I will contribute to the wellness and health of people by providing sound science based research for nutrition around food, and supplementation. I am able to help people make the changes needed to prevent debilitating lifestyle disease. In this process I will also find freedom of time to travel, enjoy life and money to do it with. I will generate income in several ways, from affiliates, from my own label eventually, from informational books that I either endorse (from my own perspective), or write myself. I will have a nutrition and wellness blog provide online coaching/counseling services. My loved ones and I will never want for money and I will be able to travel whenever I wish. I have a vision of a seven figure income and financial freedom. I make money while I sleep and am proud of my contribution. I don’t feel guilty about making a lot of money. I am worth it.
Hi Eric,
I first got involved in Internet marketing to supplement my income. I currently run and operate a Irrigation and low voltage lighting company in NYC. I do most of my installations on roof top gardens. I do pretty good during the spring and summer season but I need some thing to bring in more income the rest of the year.
I now have a new visions that include several streams of income on-line and off line. I will market information and affiliate products, websites selling electronics,and as I learn more in this program I will have more ideas for on-line income. I also want to use the Internet to expand my irrigation business customer base. Get involved in real estate investing. Make millions yearly so I can share with multiple charities. Progress in my spirituality. And most of all marry the love of my life and travel the world with her.
Nelson Santiago
My vision is grainy but there are aspects that stand out in stark relief! I will be (in fact already have been for 5 yrs), carer to my Mother-in-law (84yrs with alzheimers) and share carer of my Mum (77yrs with dementia). The grainy part of my vision is of myself as a successful on-line marketer whose business allows me ample time to care for those dependant on me and yet have financial freedom. It will allow me time for myself and my husband to enjoy life together as well as opportunities to enjoy our grandchildren.
I need to be at home to care for others but see myself as a competent individual who does not need to be limited by the circumstances in which I live. I envision an on-line business which incorporates some of the things in life I am passionate about e.g. art, reading, writing, sharing experiences, helping others, music; and somehow finding a niche to do so and make $10,000 a month which would make us financially free.
This is the first time I have commented but felt compelled to do so at your direct invitation to actually put my vision into words. What an interesting experience…and one which serves to show me that perhaps my vision needs to be sharperned somewhat.
Thankyou Eric for your help so far…
My long term vision is to help 100,000 people find and thrive in a job/career that they love and that meets all their financial needs.
As a result, I will be able to live debt free, give generously to others and pursue my own personal and professional passions.
Thank God for vision – that’s what keeps me going. My vision is to generate a minimum of $250K per month within 90 days. Then, in addition to my tithes, I will be able to support special projects like church planting, ministries for orphans, the homeless and neglected/forgotten veterans as well as music promotion and production. In addition, I will provide money-making opportunities to my family, friends, and others so they, too, can be debt-free.
i want to see myself making $200 per month.
My vision is to build an online business that is centered around my passion, which is golf. I will make over $20,000 within the next 6 months so that I can spend more time with my wife enjoying life. Part of my business will be traveling around the country and the world to golf tournaments to tell my followers about the experience.
Within 1 year I want to be making $50,000 a month based on this business and other business ventures that will involve working with others to achieve their goals in life.
I will work with my church to help those in my community improve their lives through education, support and financial assistance.
Hi Eric and all fellow Eric’s tips users!
I am Liz, i’m 34 and live in the UK.
First of all, I just have to say that Eric, you are a direct answer to prayer and have played a big part in helping me to have the inspiration and direction to succeed financially and independently 🙂
Here is my vision:
In 6 months: To be earning a net profit of £500 per month (i’m focusing mainly on reseller hosting as well as other internet ventures)
In 1 year: To be earning a net profit of £1000 per month
In 5 years: Earning a N.P of £60,000 per year.
To have purchased our ideal home and a nice car of my own! (we currently share a beaten up old van 🙂 )
In 10 years: Earning a N.P of £120,000 p year through internet business.
My husband and i to be property millionaires.
To be giving back to family and community.
To be fitter than ever and enjoying 3 or more holidays a year.
In 20 years: To be retired multi millionaires.
To enjoy spending most of my time giving back to people and communities all over the world!
Hi Eric:
I am a Nurse. Although I can visualize what I want to do with my earnings, I don’t really know specifically what business I want to focus on. I do know that I love to teach others about health and illness prevention. I also want to educate teen girls on many girl’s issues from a Christian perspecive. I want to have an internet business where I generate at least $500,000 a year so that I can use this money partly to teach, help the homeless and others who need to be lifted up financially so that they do not end up homeless. Of Course I will pay off my mortgage and help my family. I want to achieve this within the first year after I start my business. I will continue to work part-time at first and then dedicate those part-time hours to missions.
My vision is to become a successfull online buisnessman that the internet world had never see. I have the feeling I just can make it,my mind is made up! Yes I’ll be the besssssst MARKETER!
I went to check out your website and it says it has been suspended for violating WP’s terms of agreement.
So what happened? Do you know why it’s been archived?
Hi Eric
When I first decided on IM I had the vision of just making enough to live really comfortably, give up my day job, (I`m self – employed anyway) be in a position where my partner could retire earlier.
After going through your lessons I have moved the goalposts and set my targets much higher. I have three daughters and one grandson at present and I am now looking to set them up for the rest of their lives – Not just by giving them money but by getting them involved in IM ASAP. As the title of the James Bond movie says “The World is not Enough” (I think). Let us get into hyperspace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Vision is to have a Successful online Business
centered around my passion and helping people to
become Successful and their online business becaused I being help and build my business.
I will work from home, and spend a lot more time
with my family and friend. Will not have to work for someone. My Business will bring in a
100,000 a month, and go on several vacation with family and friend each year.
I have a vision of making a success out of my on line business, enough that I can better help my sons to perhaps follow on my foot steps and build a fantastic income for them so they want for nothing material and on the way attain all that is good spiritually.
Hi Eric
Please advise me what to do if I don’t have credit card and Zimbabwe (where I live)is not accepted by PayPal.And I really have to succeed fast(before December)
Hi Eric
Thanks, am really enjoying the journey so far!
My vision is to have a really successful online business to be proud of. I will be earning upwards of $500,000pa and growing each and every year. I will help my family achieve financial freedom. My husband will be able to retire from his stressful job and we will be able to travel extensively every year. We will also build a real estate portfolio without putting stress on the finances.
HI ERIC
My vision is to build a successful online business, from being a newby with no money and being on benifit, to becoming a successful marketer and making a load of money each year, so I can have the freedom to travel the world and make sure my children have a worthwhile and a better lifestyle than I had. If I made a million or more a year i would give to needy charities and I would move to Florida and run my business from their. Thanks Eric for being honest and this chance to get myself out of debt and live a lifestyle I could only dream of before and make my dream come true.
Thanks Again Eric;
Yours Steven
After all the promises from marketers that say you will get rich quick, I was a fool and spent money I never realy could afford on products that you can’t follow.
All I can say is I have spent about £400 to £500 on products that I could not work with or follow the steps given to me, as they seemed to have a different type of computer to mine.
My combined companies gross over $1 Trillion Annually. Through the stated methods my combined companies make up the largest employers in the world. By using my business system I am able to easily develop another company and build it into a success as my other companies enjoy.
I myself only work 8 to 16 hours a week leaving the day to day operations to corporate executives.
I enjoy my free time doing what I enjoy the most and that’s participating in gaming competitions, traveling, participating in recreational fishing competitions and of course spending time with my kids providing them the best home education that any kid could wish for.
As far as charitable works go, I have several non-profit organizations established to help educate people about becoming producers and not consumers and the difference between the two concepts, providing technology to educational institutions and the last one which is closest to me is to further the study into Autism and develop new technologies to help combat the external stimuli experienced by Autistics.
I envision my successful online business centered on my passion for energy healing and overall good mental health. I will work hard to get this business up and running and continue to search for ways my customers can learn, grow, prosper, and be happy. I will bring in enough income to soon be able to dedicate myself to it full time. It will become a million dollar business if not better. I will continue to donate, tithe, and volunteer in order to assist my community and the world at large. I will be able to take time to be with my family and friends and I will travel and share my good positive energy with others.
My goal is to develop a marketing framework populated with the best automating software available, in the process generating $500,000 in sales within 2 years
I consider this tip one of the best so far although all of your tips are valuable. As a newbie, it has given me the inspiration I need to visualize and realize that I can accomplish the goals I have in mind. Thanks so much for sharing.
A diversified model which consists of several online and offline businesses that set the global-international standard for affordable top-quality informational, educational and physical products, resources and client services with a strong focus on the successful development, production or manufacturing and global marketing and distribution of high-end, original interactive media, software and related physical products. The primary areas of interest are music and entertainment, art and photography, wealth building, and international trade. In all areas, my secondary goal is to maximize profitability by honestly and faithfully creating tools and resources that empower small businesses and individuals to reach and surpass their professional and financial goals; ultimately enhancing and improving their lives. In addition, a minimum 10% of net profits shall be donated to charitable causes and organizations. The end result is a unified hierarchical business structure which serves as a centralized control center, linking all of the businesses together under one multi-billion dollar corporate umbrella serving international markets globally and over which I shall retain complete control and ownership.
Much food for thought today Eric. At 74 I am still extremely ambitious and you have reminded me that there is atill a world ahead. My aim is to reach a 6 figure income within the next year primarily to secure my family before I depart these shores. After working for a large part of my life overseas surrounded by conditions of extreme poverty I intend to use any additional money available to help those so much worse off
The short answer is find a way. Don’t stop until you find an alternative. I’m not familiar with Zimbabwe so I do not know the specifics, but there is always a way. Read this for some inspiration:
My vision is to learn all that I can to enable myself to start and grow my online business so that I can quit my day job, and help my husband to grow his current off line business. And looking forward to living life the way many of us only dream of, and help my kids and there kids to fulfill there dreams too.
Hi! The video stalled minutes after the start. Please rectify the proble. Very informative video, as always. Thanks.