Can money realy be made in this business?

[TightTeela]

is there money to be made? of course, by you or me? that depends. i've wondered for almost 3 years (can't believe its been that long already) if it wasnt all just a carrot on a string. i've had some short stretches of decent money, and longer ones of little. of course people make money, but you should make sure you prepare to not make any or little to start off with. but i could be wrong and maybe everyone else started off a bit different and were rich in days.

[virgohippy]

Originally Posted by TightTeela

...but i could be wrong and maybe everyone else started off a bit different and were rich in days.

For me, it's been nothing but an uphill struggle to gain space in the market, and to figure out how to capitalize on that tiny space in the market I have carved out.

I can say that I have noticed a strong connection between steady growth in sales and time/energy spent working towards long-term goals.

[TightTeela]

Originally Posted by virgohippy

I can say that I have noticed a strong connection between steady growth in sales and time/energy spent working towards long-term goals.

agreed and i should have added that in my post as well and to add to that, for me at least, it is the hardest to stay motivated and focused when you are struggling to start out, so be prepared for that as well.

[SheepGuy]

Originally Posted by TightTeela

maybe everyone else started off a bit different and were rich in days.

It was possible back in the day, but I don't think so now. When I started I was completly broke with a shitty job as an office cleaner, part time. I'd just spent a year in a 'puter school that tried to teach me how to behave and dress for a business environment. I was very lucky, I emailed a guy who had a string of porn sites I was frequenting, and asked him if there was any money in it. Not only did he say yes, but he told me in about 4 paragraphs the basics of how to get me some
I followed his advice and within six months I had so much dough I never thought I'd be able to spend it all, so I kept buying content (well over 100K worth per year) and putting up more and bigger sites, hired a bunch of people to do most of the grunt work for me while I worked on ideas and deals mostly.
Sales started dropping around early 2002, just when I started taking a ton of time off and getting involved in politics. The Biz coasted until early 2005 when my accountant advised me to go bankrupt, so I did. That was very good for me, because my income was no longer going to credit cards and tax people, and I coasted a bit more, as sales kept dropping.
I hit bottom a year ago and got my ass in gear again, then I got sick for 3 freakin' months. My Doc told me afterwards that he thought I was a dead man walking, but I surprised him and beat it.
So I really didn't start going full steam and working the maniac hours that made me successful the first time until May of this year.
My income started rising again, but very slowly, and very slowly it started to snowball, slowly. No where near as fast as the first time around, but it is happening again, and I'm confident that this time around will be better than last time, because I've had the big bucks before, and know how I spent them. Also, I've got over 1,000 CD's of content, so I only buy what I really like now, I'm not buying for filler like I used to. Content was my biggest expense, now I really don't have any expense other than bandwidth so I'm running a much tighter ship.

Man, did I ever buy some useless shit when I thought I was rich I'm sitting here looking at a shortwave radio I paid 3K for and listen to every 2 or 3 months, got a top notch TV I very rarely watch, a stereo in the living room I never listen to, just crap. I did buy a house though, smartest thing I did.

Starting out fresh, though, would be very difficult indeed, still doable but difficult. I've had the good fortune to have dealt with and known a lot of solid honest players in this biz, a lot of them on this board, some on other boards, and have kept my reputation as a solid guy who doesn't dick people around. I've also been burned before, but the good outnumber the bad in this biz by a higher ratio than most businesses I'm sure.

It is a very rewarding, fun, biz to be in, but like all good things, work is the key, and diversifying saves your ass.

[LowryBigwood]

Good post Sheep,

I will be better prepared to spend my riches. Of course, that is after I get them!

But your post inspired me, thank you.