Up until the last two years, I spent a lot of time kvetching with my friends and family about how the Internet was going to morph people into anti-social, glazed over automatons.
I was sure nothing good could come from spending hours on the computer, connecting with people online, and socializing without the benefit of an actual human being in the room.
I am now eating my words.
- Because of the Internet, I now have a career that I absolutely love.
- Because of the Internet, I now have new friends all over the world, several of whom I have or will visit in the next few months.
- Because of the Internet, I have grown as a coach and a writer.
- Because of the Internet, I have challenged myself to do things I never thought I could do, including creating a blog.
- Because of the Internet, I have helped thousands of people with my words, people who would never known about my writing otherwise.
- Because of the Internet, I have built a great entrepreneurial business and make a livable income.
- Because of the Internet, I have joint venture partners, mentors, and peers who have helped me build my business.
- Because of the Internet, my life is more exciting, more fulfilling, more interesting than it has ever been.
Do I think that Internet connections should replace human interaction? Absolutely not. Do I think we should spend our entire day, every day, hunched over a computer without a break for exercise, socializing, and recharging? No, those things are essential.
But I can say without a doubt that the Internet, when used for good and productive purposes, can provide life-altering opportunities.
How It All Started
Two years ago, as the result of a chance encounter with the blog Zen Habits, I learned about the blogger (Leo Babauta) and his blogging course called A-List Blogging Bootcamps. I wanted to start a blog to promote my coaching work, so I signed up for the Bootcamp. Leo’s partner, Mary Jaksch, was setting up the Bootcamp, and I connected with her to ask some questions. Mary sent me the most encouraging and thoughtful reply, and her words set me off on a new direction for my life.
I took the Bootcamp and became hooked on blogging. I wanted to learn everything I could about it, so I offered my assistance to Mary at every turn in order to soak up more. As a result, Mary saw me as a trusted resource and eager learner. She offered me many opportunities which opened a variety doors for me.
As a result of that one connection, I became editor of The Daily Brainstorm, an aggregate blog featuring the top bloggers on the Internet. I also got to know many other bloggers with whom I shared ideas, joint venture partnerships, and guest posts. And I got to know Leo Babauta as a friend and kindred spirit.
Leo is the biggest personal development blogger on the Internet and has been named as one of Time Magazine’s top 25 bloggers. I have since joined Leo and Katie Tallo (of Momentum Gathering) to present The Habit Course, a program to help people create life-long, sustainable positive habits. The course has been extremely successful — in fact, we plan to offer another one in October.
A New Adventure
Today, along with my partner Mary Jaksch, we are launching a brand new blog called:
A-List Blog Marketing: The Good Karma Path to Online Income.
This new blog is the culmination of a lot of interests and passions that Mary and I share, as well as our commitment to purpose-driven blogging and marketing. We strongly believe that passion, integrity, and trust should be the driving factor for our online businesses. We believe that what you put out to the world reflects what you will get back from it. In fact, we will be donating a portion of any proceeds from A-List Blog Marketing to charity.
A-Listing Blog Marketing is a sister site to A-List Blogging Bootcamps, where we share information, techniques, and tutorials on how to market and monetize a blog. Both Mary and I know how to teach this, because we’ve done it ourselves. And we have a great network of blogging experts who will share ideas on the blog as well.
As a valued follower of Live Bold and Bloom, you would do me a great honor if you’d visit my new blog, say hello in the comments, and maybe even subscribe. If you do, you’ll get access to free video course called The Heart of Successful Online Marketing. You might even discover that you are interested in building your own online business the “Good Karma” way!
If you are wondering what to do with your life; if you are looking to make more money; if you want to create a lifestyle of freedom and flexibility; if you want to do something you love and get paid for it — why don’t you consider building an online business? Mary and I will welcome you with open arms!
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Congrats Barrie! Just saw your new site and ready to read more about building an online business.
Cathy | Treatment Talk recently posted…5 Powerful Ways to Break Bad Habits
Thank you Cathy! Can’t wait to work with you over there.
Barrie,
The marketing blog is a great idea. I’m a huge student of marketing principles. You can apply what
you learn to any profession or business. This information is invaluable. I wish you the best of luck
although, I’m sure you don’t need it! The new blog is going to be hugely successful.
Angela Artemis/Poweredbyintuition recently posted…When the Universe Speaks – Pay Attention
Thank you dear friend. You are the best!
Quit interesting. Will like to learn more
Hi Minerva,
Please visit the blog and you will learn tons!
How do I start an online business? I’d love to but where do I start?
Hi Mits,
You start by doing some research. I would strongly suggest you join the A-List Blogger Club and Blogging Bootcamps (or another online group and course) because that’s the place to learn from experts. You can learn everything for free by searching the internet, but the Blogger Club helps you focus on what’s most important and in the right order. There are specific ways of beginning a blog to ensure its success, and to save you time and frustration! You can link to the Club and Bootcamps by going here:
http://www.alistbloggingbootcamps.com/get-leo-babautas-free-report/
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
I totally agree Barrie. I used to fret about the “de-humanizing” effects of the Internet, especially social media. Now I count people I’ve met online among my most cherished friends. Not “connections” – real friends, many of whom I’ve now met in “real life.”
Thanks for this post. It’s a message long overdue!
P.S. SO glad to have met you via the Internet!
Linda Gabriel recently posted…5 Things You Can Do Today to Lose Weight – Without Dieting
Forgot to add my amen to the benefits of A-list Blogging Bootcamps… and can’t wait to see what you and Mary will be offering at http://alistblogmarketing.com/
Linda Gabriel recently posted…5 Things You Can Do Today to Lose Weight – Without Dieting
Thank you Linda!
I do too Linda — including you! What a joy it is to have expanded my network of friends all over the world!
I am confused what to do with my life; I want to do something interesting and giving satisfaction and also looking for to make more money; Iwant to create a lifestyle of freedom and flexibility. I want to do something I love .I am in a state of confusion.I open internet,read blogs, write blogs,make friends and appreciate blogs of others but donot get satisfaction.would you please show me the right path.How can I make the best use of Internet.Please guide me.
Hi Sushma,
Thank you so much for writing to me about this. It is confusing because there is so much information on the Internet. It’s hard to know what is legitimate and where to start. I would recommend to you to start with the A-List Blogging Bootcamps to learn how to create and build a blog. Here’s the link: http://www.alistbloggingbootcamps.com/get-leo-babautas-free-report/
This is where I (and many other top bloggers) learned to blog. Then keep in touch with me through A-List Blog Marketing to learn more skills on how to make money from your blog once you’ve created it.
Look forward to checking this out. Thanks for yet another post chock-full of stuff I can use!
winsomebella recently posted…Where I’m From
Wonderful! I’m so glad it is useful for you.
Hi Barrie,
Good for you! Keep up the great work. Will check out new site.
be good to yourself
David
David recently posted…The Positivity Effect….. essentials to survive in a negative world
Thank you David. Please visit and comment when you have time!
Perfect timing! Just getting ready to start.
That’s great Jeanne! Don’t you love it when things are timed like that??
Congratulations Barrie and Mary on your new endeavor. You don’t know it but you are like my vocational guardian angels. Last night I realized for sure I want to write a blog/column and contribute to Kiva and this morning I awoke to the news of your new blog! By generously sharing your expertise you are paving the way for people like me. Thank you.
Anita
Wow Anita, that is amazing. I am humbled to be your “vocational guardian angel” but it’s a job I take seriously! Hope to see you at A-List Blog Marketing regularly.
Hi Barrie, you and Mary really are an inspiration and it’s great to see how far you have come in such a short space of time. I wish you well with your new project,you’re doing brilliant.
Steven Aitchison recently posted…How to Govern Your World Through Your Imagination
Thank you Steve! Back at you.
It’s so nice to have friends and partners out there like you.
Hi Barrie,
Great post! It reminds me about my own story. I resented the internet as yet one more asocial new medium, but I have eaten my words as well
Your story inspire me
3 months ago I started my brand new own personal development blog which is truly changing my life. I hope it becomes a profitable online business and an opportunity for an offline teaching business.
Thanks for your inspiration!
marc van der Linden recently posted…The four stages of learning anything in life
That’s wonderful Marc — congratulations! I will check out your new blog. I hope you visit us at A-List Blog Marketing.
congratulations on your new blog!
“passion, integrity, and trust should be the driving factor for our online businesses.”
Me&google think the same:
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/seo-advice-writing-useful-articles-that-readers-will-love/
good luck my friends
barak recently posted…Dog back pain!
Internet did the opposite of morphing people into antisocial behavior. we found a new way of deep connection and with people we never could meet before
dovev recently posted…Mountain bike 26 inch wheel
GREAT content, pay attention everybody. If you are in Local Marketing you can rank a video in 4 hours sometimes I’ve gotten a YouTube ranked in a obscure niche in under 60 minutes so this is pretty powerful extreme money stuff …
Wennilou recently posted…free download angry birds
I have had a look at blogging boot-camp but at the minute I cannot afford it as I am only working part-time. As soon as I get a full-time job I will try to join but I have a few questions: How long did it take you to build your online business and if you don’t mind how much money do you generate from it? I do have a free blog but it’s hosted on Blogger – I tried using ad-sense but it really does not seem to work?
What does kvetching mean?? can you please explain in normal English what that actually means..other than that,interesting article
thank you
It’s a Yiddish word that means complaining. It’s an idiom that’s become part of American vernacular. Sorry to confuse you!