Like most webmasters, I get inundated with offers from Internet marketing gurus and if I am not carefully guarding my time I find myself veering off the course I have set for my own marketing pursuits. Oh! Some of the offers are so tempting!Â

But I have learned to turn a blind eye to the deals I “just can’t miss” and remember my goal. I choose not to undertake another project, another moneymaking venture no matter how enticing if it doesn’t fit into my overall marketing plan, my strategy to grow my own Internet business. It is the difference in being an “opportunist” versus a “strategist”.

Do you understand that difference? Here are my definitions of the two words:

An opportunist is one who is always looking for the next big deal — the person who chases after the dream; the person who is looking for that great big “pie in the sky.”

The strategist is one who examines and chooses an opportunity based on her interests, needs and desires, works out a plan to get the fullest benefit from it and follows it through to the end.

I believe I am a strategist. What about you?

Being a strategist enables you to turn a blind eye to the multitudinous offers that fill your Inbox each day. Sure, you may miss out on a few truly “good deals” but that doesn’t bother you. You have charted your course, you have the goal in mind, and you will keep heading toward the next goal marker as you daily measure your distance.

While in school, did you study Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas? Using a method of navigation called Dead Reckoning, he charted his course and daily adjusted his journey according to the speed and distance traveled that day. Only three times did he depart from the course he charted: once because of contrary winds, and twice to check out signs of land southwest. Using the Dead Reckoning navigational system, Columbus was doggedly determined to reach the new land. He did not watch the stars as other navigators of that day did. Rather, he kept his eyes on his charts and plowed through uncharted waters to successfully reach his goal.

The Dead Reckoning method of navigation is no longer commonly used to plot a journey to ports unknown, but it is a good theory for Internet Marketers to espouse — especially as we daily check our Inboxes and find a truckload of opportunities vying for our attention, begging us to say “yes!” You read the marketing offer, your hand hovers over the mouse and you are just one click away from veering off course.

Stop! Just say NO! Instead, move the mouse to the delete button and get rid of the alluring sales letter. Don’t be lured away from your strategic plan to build your Internet business. Rather, pull out the strategy you’ve developed and stop being carried away by every wind of opportunity. Set your course and stay the course until you reach your goal. It will be the decision that will put you ahead of the pack.

Then afterward - when you’ve reached goal and finished the course - start over.

It’s fun.

~Linda
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