I'm going to veer away a little from the normal format and talk a bit about a couple things that helped me get “over the hump” of  treating my “business” as a hobby vs creating an income.

There is a difference.  Believe me, I know.  I've been there.

I've grown more over the last 12 months than I have in the previous 4 years because I finally embraced these few truths.

You Need A Mentor

If you've read the previous posts then you know that I advocate finding a mentor to guide you because while you might be able to make it on your own, it's a lot more fun, not to mention faster, if you're building your business alongside like-minded people that “get” what you're doing.

Having someone by your side is so freeing.  Having a mastermind group is a good thing, too but you'll want to make sure that you have someone that knows more than you do and ideally, is where you want to be or you'll be in virtually the same place you are now this time next year.

Free Is Good But Paying Is Better

I also think that while there is some good free information available to you, I know that the information presented in free ebooks & special reports is just the tip of the iceberg.

Most will give you just enough information to make you excited about the topic but leave you scratching your head trying to figure out how to get to the next step.

To truly succeed, you need to find the right information at the right time and you'll need to pay for it.  Free information will only get you so far.  Invest in your business.

There are many reputable people that don't charge a ton of money so you should be able to invest in your online education without problems.  Ask for recommendations from people you trust whom you know moved forward in their business because of the products/services they paid for.

Networking Is Not Only Important, It's Imperative

I'm about to head off to Atlanta for the Niche Affiliate Marketing Systems Workshop.

The workshops are held twice each year in February & August. This is the 8th Workshop that has been held and I've only missed 2.  These workshops are where I've met fellow bloggers, affiliates, JV partners and dear friends.  I have never attended one where my income hasn't increased after I've come home and implemented the things I've learned there.

Now, there are several conferences out there for bloggers – too many to mention- but I will say this.  Find a couple that fit you and your business model and get there – whatever it takes – Get. There.  You'll become more visible, you'll make more connections and you'll eventually make more money because of it.

Here are some things you need to keep in mind:

• Working online is easy but it's incredibly hard word
• Hard work can be incredibly rewarding
• There are no fast fixes or get rich quick schemes
• The lifestyle you desire & deserve is possible
• You must, must, must fight BSO syndrome (Bright Shiny Object)
• If you aren't going to take the information you've downloaded (free or paid), consume it and put it into immediate action, DON'T get it
• Conference & Workshops are worth every penny you pay (and in some cases are tax deductible)

So, what is it that you have ~a Hobby or a Business?

If you currently have a hobby, what next steps are you going to take to transform it into the business of your dreams?