Category Archives: The Ugly
My Drive Ran Out of Gas
…and I’ve been running on Empty ever since.
Do I really want to admit this? Thing is I know that I am not alone in the way I’ve been feeling lately. Many I know have been there before, and I’m sure there are many who have been there, just never admitted it. 
At the end of 2009 –
I went into December with my tank half full. Got done what I felt needed to be done, but didn’t put any extra effort into my work online. Thoughts of “the ideal holiday”, plus theories that I wanted to put to the test (like trying a new type of gas) didn’t quite have the results I expected. Because of that I left my tank less than a quarter of the way full. Then it got really cold, and my tank froze and my drive wouldn’t start. Really, right after Christmas it got deep freeze cold here! lol But honestly I took the week after Christmas off from any real efforts online (stayed on top of email, etc., did what had to be done – so not completely away).
Have I confused anyone yet?
Start of 2010 –
Had to thaw out my drive to get it started. I’ve spent the first month of this year reflecting on where things went last year with my websites, businesses and the blown theories. See, I had 2 weeks of guest posts to cover the holidays. It was great to have the content there, but it also lessened my motivation with that site. I’m finding I’m not good at having things fully automated. That may be a downfall, definitely a control issue, but if I’m not actively working it, to me the personal side of it is gone. I forget about the automated stuff – again something I know can be corrected with a little planning.
So, here I am looking at February. Ran the tank dry with household health issues. By the way, has anyone determined yet who takes care of Mom when she, AND the kids are sick? We are all healthy now, I’ve got a fresh tank of gas and my drive is almost back to normal! I rode it out, spent the time I didn’t feel like being online to focus with paper and pen (always my fallback, but it’s fail safe!).
Here’s the catch…I’m still trying to figure out how to jump back into the race! Seems some obstacles may have to be removed from the track, get them out of my way! Talking about domain names that may have to go, websites that are going nowhere that may have to be scrapped, streamlining. A play on “my plate is too full” I’m finding the more I have to do, the less gas I’ve got for my drive. Too much drag.
Forgive the analogy, just the way I have been able to look at it myself.
Maintaining My Principles
When is enough, enough? Staying with a company because I’ve put 2.5+ years into promoting and selling their products. Sticking with them through the sudden business decisions, made with no warning. Making adjustments to my business and marketing plans as they change theirs. Keeping up with the sales, promotions, efforts to generate income – all in an attempt to generate income of my own…and for what?
When do you decide that your efforts are all for naught? When the company starts lagging on sending out commission checks? When they change their business structure? When they change the name, and tell anyone who the old company owed money to that they need to contact their attorney to file a claim? When they say that they are under new ownership, yet a knowledgable person finds out that the only thing that has changed is the name? When they sensor their blog comments all of a sudden because they are being called on the carpet for all of the lies? When you discover that your new “Referral” page contains misdirected links so that even if someone wanted to shop with you, or join you under the new company name – the company has made it next to impossible for them to do that. OR is it when you go to use up the last $13 in coupons that you have and get an error message everytime you go to place the order?
How in good conscience can one continue to promote that company – despite the products? How does one know that the products are actually going to be sent out – esp. when orders can’t even be completed? How can I be enthusiastic about the products when I now how the company is floundering behind the scenes?
The internal conversations I’ve had with myself, the online conversations I’ve had with other former consultants, and my online support system have all lead me to this answer…
The loyalty, promoting, believing in with blind faith – it all ends here. Final word is coming down the pipe and it’s only a matter of time. 
Dial-up Dilemmas
Warning: This may turn into more of a vent, and at times it may seems like I’m whining and feeling sorry for myself. Just a warning if you’re not in the mood for that right now, but I’ve complained enough about it to others, and I just need to get some thoughts out of my head once and for all – make it a goal that I’m still aspiring to — to upgrade my ISP ASAP!
As a matter of fact, after being able to make enough money to cover the phone bill it’s the next thing on y list of $$ bills I want to take over. A little at a time, because I truly believe I will be making more $$ here soon. And when I do – then maybe I can justify the expense!
If you’ve read my blog before you’ve already read about my forced downtime when my phone was “being checked for problems” – LOL! That has all been resolved, and at least I have a way to connect! But I’m wondering how much control the phone company has on DSL service. It’s not like I haven’t tried upgrading to DSL – its that for some unknown reason, the system wouldn’t work. And when I think back, it may be that the phone company wouldn’t allow it!
Well, I’m back to wanting to look into doing it again, going through the risk of having another hassle and having to talk to some tech rep in India to find out if they can figure out what the problem is. Yes, I know that may not happen this time with a different company, but I’m just having to psych myself back up to it! Just in case!
I have always had reliable service with People PC, and their DSL seems pretty affordable, the $10.95/mo. is only for 3 months (a savings though over my dial-up now) then it jumps to $21.95. I guess that’s not unreasonable – just still a little out of my price range. So much I could go on about here, but it’s not the lace or time for that.
So, it has to be done! I know for a fact it will be an improvement that will allow me to get more done online thus that should make project completion go quicker! More productivity hopefully results in more traffic, more customers, more sales! I have so many plans for things I want to get done, and sometimes the lack of progress caused by the lack of internet speed has hurt my business. Besides all of the audios and videos I’m missing out on – the internet business world is full of them! Imagine how much smarter I’d be! LOL!
So, I’ll post my progress back here – hopefully very soon!
