I get to meet and hang out with a bunch of people who are teetering on the edge of the entrepreneurial dream.

They know that they want the freedom, wealth and happiness that small business success can bring. Some of them are keen to build an empire!

They also have read books that drill in the “be passionate about what you do” message.

Problem is, these people still end up utterly stuck and frustrated. Sound like someone you know (perhaps really well)?

If you feel like you’ve been there, it’s probably because you don’t know what you’re passionate about!

For me, this is one of the areas the inspirational authors skim over too quick. Not everyone knows their passion as well as Gary Vaynerchuk or Chris Guillebeau – nevertheless, both links are worth clicking to take a look.

A psychologist, when asked to help a patient discover “their passion” would probably try to analyse the activities that created the most pleasure for the patient. They’d figure out what gave your brain the biggest shot of dopamine.

My solution is simpler:

Turn procrastination into a business

You know that thing you do when you procrastinate?

That thing that you love to do – even when you know you don’t have the time (or money) to do it.

That’s your passion. Now just figure out a way to make money from it. It won’t be easy, but you’ll love every minute of it.

A good place to start is by asking a question in the comment section (below). I’ll happily answer any queries (no matter how broad) about turning your passion into a profitable business.

Occasionally we stumble across the phenomenal.

An artist’s vision realized, a revolutionary product, music that changes you or perhaps coffee really worth talking about.

In this instance, it’s an extraordinary video that inspires. Take a two minute and seventeen second break to watch something that will change your entire day:

Told you…

Why do so many people say they’re interested in becoming “successful” entrepreneurs and do nothing about it?

How many folks are committed to financial freedom, yet consistently offer up twenty-seven reasons they haven’t “got-it-together” yet?

I’m sick of it and it’s time to have a rant.

Read on to find out what holds these wannabes back and what you can do to get results FAST…

I was having dinner with a great friend and client of mine last week, when these questions came up during conversation.

Like a responding to a super-market checkout operator who asks “how’s your day?”… I dismissed the questions with a standard, out-of-the-box answer.

Why do so few people achieve real success? Simple: Only a very tiny group get their head in the place that creates big success.

But like a super-market operator who follows you home and spies through your windows, the question continued to prey on my mind.

Making money

I’ve witnessed the simple recipe for biz success – actioned by total amateurs to produce astounding piles of cash (in record time). Sometimes, the folks driving all the money-making are also rewarded with freedom and control over their time as well!

So what is the simple formula – that most people need in order to quit making excuses and make money?

1. Get ignorant

2. Find a strategy that works

3. Mindlessly copy it

First off, embracing your inner idiot is important. Give up the notions that you have about how to be successful.

I’m sorry, but if they were valid, correct or useful ideas then you’d already be a millionaire right?!

The harsh truth: All those ideas you’ve got – and the reasons why you can’t action them – are just an advanced form of excuse making.

Get ignorant by admitting you’ve got everything to learn. The knowledge you currently possess has produced the results you’re enjoying today… right?

It’s time to learn something new – start by realising you don’t already know it all.

Finding a strategy that works happens when you realise you’re ignorant.

You’ve cut through the bull$&%# and you’re not making excuses. Now you have to find someone who has done what you’re wanting to do.

In Neuro Linguistic Programming (an entire field devoted to this process of “copying for success”) there are libraries full of books on how to copy genius strategies – no matter what industry or weird field they’re from.

Mindlessly copying the experts is something 99% of the wanna-bes miss.

Many believe their years of intellectualising and non-action give them a license to “do things differently” yet get the same results as the millionaire guru who they’re copying.

I see this all the time with businesses with proven cold-calling marketing strategies.

Franchise owners freak out about making the calls and convince themselves that since they’re so special, they’ll be successful super-stars without ever picking up a phone.

Again, I call bull$%#*

There is a reason Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump have become ultra tycoons – thinking you can do it different and somehow “better” is at best, woefully ignorant.

In Rich Dad Poor Dad, Kiyosaki talks about his background.

This guy spent years working for Xerox developing “sales skills” and learning how to consistently perform, despite being outside his comfort zone.

Why then do so many dreaming entrepreneurs think they can launch their idea into a big business without any sales and marketing experience?

Ultimately, it’s a tough learning curve building your own business.

Any one else who tells you otherwise is either lying, or trying to sell you something.

Quit making excuses and follow the simple formula.

It’s worked for hundreds of people (who are now probably lying on a beach somewhere) and it sure beats sitting around trying to think of reasons to explain why you’re not producing results.

Rant over.

My internet activity has taken a back seat in the last few days.

Unfortunately, this happens from time to time – due to the reality of “real world” business.

The cool thing is, real world busy-ness usually means there are some big profits around the corner.

Why?

It is still enormously easier to make money as an entrepreneur in the “real world”. If you’re struggling, then use these three tactics to bring in more profits:

1. Find a new reason to have a chat with your customers and their friends/colleagues

This could be anything from a new mail or email campaign… or simply phoning them up for a chat. The “excuse” for the “point of contact” is simple – you’ve just made a “development” that you think they need to know about.

In the world of consulting, this tactic is worth thousands. I regularly use it to meet new people connected to my existing clients.

The phone call goes like this:

“Hey client! How’s things?

I know you weren’t expecting to hear from me for a while, but I’ve just had something come up that I wanted to talk to you about first.

I’m developing a new sales programme and I need some real world expertise… I was hoping I could schedule a coffee with the Sales Manager in your business and pick his brain.

In return for the favour, I thought it’d be cool to do a psychological assessment of the Sales Teams core capabilities and strategies… all for free, as a thank you.

Do you think it’d be appropriate for me to give him a call? What was his number?”

… and just like that, I meet a new potential client. By doing a bit of stuff for free, I’ll have the opportunity to sell them something else.

2. Ask for testimonials

Some people think this is weird – because asking for a testimonial usually signifies the END of a customer relationship.

WRONG!

Giving a testimonial is the thing that happens right before you get some juicy referrals.

While you’re asking your client all about what they loved and didn’t like, you can start to get a clear picture of the kind of people they believe your product is perfect for.

Then ask them if they know any other people like that. Start writing down numbers, business names or emails!

3. Do research and give people cool facts

So you’ve got some spare time.

Why not go on an enormous google mission and put together a “swipe file” of hot resources that will help your customers?

If you’re in the business of helping businesses, this article could be in that swipe file.

If you’re in the cafe business, find a really cool article about how coffee is made and email it out to all the people on your database. (you’ve got a database right?!)

People love information – so long as it is relevant and they’ve given you permission to contact them.

This is just another little trick that makes you look good, while keeping you “top of mind” with your customers.

Difficult to measure, but my experience is that this technique can result in a instant 10% increase in referrals.

Hope these help – if you’re struggling to apply these tactics to your unique industry/niche/business then speak up in the comment section below for some tailored advice!

Starting a home business is something that everyone dreams about, usually when we’re stuck in a distressing 9-to-5 rut.

Wishes of making money at home usually happen around 3pm on Tuesday afternoon. Sigh.

The grim reality of home-based business opportunities is this: Only a tiny percentage of home entrepreneurs ever achieve financial freedom!

Want a guaranteed method for money-making? Get a job. Read on to discover the truth about why home businesses don’t work…

Multi level marketing, Coaching Franchises and Internet marketing packages all make irresistible offers of wealth, freedom and happiness coupled with an intense sense of urgency that convinces you to “buy-in” today.

The confusing thing is the testimonials you’ve all seen (“I tripled my corporate salary in three months and was able to retire!”)…are usually true!

This means that somewhere out there, people are making a whole boat-load of cash with these home business programs.

This promise of easy money is what convinces normal people to invest huge amounts of up-front cash to get the “opportunity” to make more.

What the salesman doesn’t tell you:

Only a fraction of program participants actually make money using these models.

What differentiates these success-story individuals from the rest of the “punters” is psychology.

There are three crucial criteria/skills that most home business owners lack

Number 1: Coach-ability

Most people who buy into home business opportunities believe they already “have-what-it-takes” to be a successful entrepreneur.

Instead of paying attention to the guru’s specific instructions, formulas or strategies… they do things their own way.

Funnily enough, gurus become gurus because they make a ton of cash and then systematize the formula to sell to others (to make even more cash). My point? They know what they’re doing.

It’s easier to make money in home business if you can simply, mindlessly follow the formula laid out for you. Make the cold calls, use the scripts, build the sales pages etc.

Do this, and success happens just as soon as you funnel enough numbers (prospects, site-visitors etc) through your system.

Most people think they know better and fail because they can’t be taught. Spot the irony.

Number 2: Sales skills

“Uh-oh, I didn’t realise I’d have to sell to people!”

- Famous home-biz owner’s last words

Wake-up call people. Being successful as an entrepreneur, in business of any kind, requires sales skills.

Most home business owners fail because they’ve never been taught simple sales skills or been conditioned to accept, for example, that 80-90% of your multi-level-marketing interviews will not work.

Without the built in, hard-as-nails toughness of a seasoned sales person… your home business will fail.

AND, part of being “un-coachable” is saying to yourself “… well, I’ll succeed despite my lack of sales skills”.

Sorry, you won’t. It’s an absolute, un-deniable necessity of ANY kind of business success.

Home business start-ups fail because they lack these two essential, mental skills. There is an additional, all important third skill (as my headline suggests), but I’m not going to reveal it now.

Instead, let me know what you think it is, by hitting “reply” and leaving a comment below.