Have You Achieved *Real* Independence Yet?

Jim Edwards here with an update…

Tomorrow, in the U.S., we celebrate "Independence Day"… a day that commemorates independence from oppression and liberation from those who would seek to keep you from setting your own course and controlling your own destiny.

Have you had your own personal "Independence Day" yet?

Since you’re a subscriber of mine, I sure hope so… but if not, what can you do to gain independence using the power of the Internet?

First, let’s talk about what "independence" really means…

To me, "Independence" means:

- You don’t punch a clock for someone else…

- Your time is your own and you spend it how you want…

- You don’t trade time for dollars! But rather you have a business that makes you money whether you show up or not… (The Web makes this easier than ever before in history!)

- Your business is a "means to an end" that enables you to pursue your passions and dreams instead of being a "wage slave"…

- Your business and income grows every year without forcing you to work more hours…

- Properly structured, your business becomes an asset that provides for your family if, God forbid, something happens to you and you’re not able to take care of them…

By the way, if you’re spending all your time answering support emails, answering the phone, putting up mini-sites, writing copy, creating products, and "DOING" what it takes to run your business… you have a JOB, NOT a business!

It’s important at this time of year that you take a step back and take a look at what’s distracting you from the big picture of your TRUE "independence!"

A lot of people get into an online business with the hopes of killing their "day" job, but all they do is trade one job for another (often working MORE HOURS at the online business "job" than they ever did on their original job)!

If you want true independence, you NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

#1 You need your OWN product!

The people telling you that you can get by and grow JUST by selling as an affiliate are FULL OF IT!

(In fact, look at their business and see how many of their own products they sell – including the course you bought from them on how to make it big as an affiliate!)

The main problem with operating strictly as an affiliate is that you don’t have an asset!

You don’t own the customer list… you don’t own the product… and if the people you’re referring sales to disappear or don’t pay, you’re @#$% out of luck!

BOTTOM LINE: Get control of your OWN product if you want true online independence.

#2 You need to BUILD a LIST!

You actually need to build 2 lists if you want to make money, whether you want to make money selling your own product or as an affiliate.

The first list you build is a prospect list – people who are interested in your niche in general.

The second list you build is a customer list – the people who BUY YOUR PRODUCT (see #1 above).

#3 You need to put SYSTEMS to work in your business.

Why?

So you can remove YOU from the processes that actually drive your business!

In other words… ultimately your business can’t depend on you to DO much of ANYTHING if you want to have a business that is a "real" business.

You can start things.

You can figure things out.

You can get the whole ball rolling.

But after that, get out of YOUR OWN WAY!

You need people, teams, software, and systems in place so that your business can run without your day-to-day interaction or input.

That’s a REAL business!

Now, one of the people we know who has mastered these 3 areas and has really come on strong in the last few years is Mike Filsaime.

In fact, this past January, Mike put on a Live event on how to build a "Seven Figure Business" (which Mike has done over the last few years to come out of nowhere and reach incredible heights).

In honor of our "Independence Day" theme, we’re nailing down Mike for a special "Closed Door" webinar this week where we will grill him for his:

"TOP 5 Mistakes People Make When Building 
a Multi-Million Dollar Business … 
and how to AVOID THEM!"

So keep your eyes peeled on Thursday or Friday for that red-hot exclusive content!

So here’s what you do next to have a TRUE "Independence Day" this week.

- Take some time AWAY from your business to THINK about what you REALLY want from it… if your business is a vehicle, WHERE do you want it to take you?

- If you had a "perfect" business, what would it look like and what would it do for YOU?

- Describe your "perfect" day!

What would you do? Who would you see? How would you make money if there were NO limitations placed on you?

Do this exercise in the next 24-48 hours and then keep your eyes open for that "closed door" webinar replay later on this week.

Happy Independence Day!

Jim