Thanks to this episodes sponsor, ContentSnare, Get Website Content From Clients Without The Hassle   Feel like No One Is Listening? I've been there. And I'm going to warn you, this might be a bit of a rant, but it needs to be addressed. It seems like lately, I'm having a lot of conversations about people feeling frustrated with their business, or wondering "what to do?"  I don't think this is a coincidence since I feel like I've finally gotten clarity around all of this myself. The thing that boggles my mind (and this isn't a judgment because I did the exact same thing), is that when we're TOLD what will change things and make the difference, we do nothing about it. Even if the person who is guiding us or helping us is walking the walk, has actual REAL LIFE evidence that what they're telling us works. We still don't listen! We are crazy creatures. Before I dive into this any further, let's dispell the myth once and for all: Building an online business takes time and work, just like any other business. Exciting, isn't it? NO! That's the problem with us... the basic, boring response of doing the work is NOT what we want to hear. This is the internet, after all, things are supposed to be MAGICAL here, right? It's all supposed to be easy. The problem with easy is that it's subjective. First, let me tell you that I will take building an online business over working a job any day. After having spent 20+ years in retail management, where I was on my feet all day (in dress shoes mind you, dressed up since I was the manager yet I still had the pleasure of being an extra pair of hands on a daily basis), and two bunion surgeries and plantar fasciitis later, that this beats doing that all day long (and now that I've stopped doing service work it's that much better). I get it that not all jobs are physically laborious, but we're not digging ditches or sitting in traffic for 2-3 hours a day (another reason I need to move out of the Bay Area in a couple years). I get that some of you may have day jobs too, so I'm not poking at you here, I'm simply pointing out to people that don't appreciate how much easier it is to work for themselves. Yes, there are struggles, challenges, money stress... I'm not negating that. But there's like this idea that this is all smooth sailing. This rant was brought on by an email I read this morning about someone feeling unhappy about their business. They had debated even continuing (this is a successful marketer), then realized they wanted to do things their way. They were tired of launches, fancy sales copy, marketing tactics, etc. Before I tell you why I think this is hogwash, let me say that what came through loud and clear in this email to me was that this person was TIRED. More than anything, they need a break. Some time off, a little space, and probably some simplification in their business (see what 14 years of therapy with an amazing therapist can do for you?). Now let's get into why this is hogwash... No-one is making you do ANYTHING you don't want to do! Don't want to do a 'launch'? Great. Don't. Don't want to write 'fancy copy'? Cool, write whatever you want. Want to be more authentic and do things your own way? Sweet, no one is stopping you. BUT... and you knew this was coming... You STILL have to market your business! If you had a brick & mortar store, would you be whining about having to market it? You better be good at writing copy (fancy or otherwise) if you're going to do any marketing. You're going to have to SELL... that's all marketing is, selling. The methods used for marketing online are obviously different (can you imagine trying to do a 4 series video launch for a product offline?), but they work. The frustrating (and kind of exciting) thing about the internet is that things change so fast. Just when you think you've figured something out they change the game on you. Or have they?