I used to think building an online business was complicated, mysterious and reserved for people who knew “the secret.”
Turns out it’s not complicated.
It’s noisy.
Every time you search for:
- affiliate marketing
- blogging
- email marketing
- online business
- making money online
You’re buried under thousands of opinions, strategies, systems, courses, software tools, and gurus who have all the answers and the one missing piece to the puzzle you need.
“Do SEO!”
“Start a YouTube channel!”
“Run Facebook ads!”
“It’s your funnel!”
“Get on TikTok!”
“Use AI!”
“Buy my course!”
The noise was intense, frustrating and confusing. I thought my head would explode.
Only one way out of this noise. I either walk away from building an online business or burn it to the ground and start again from scorched earth. I chose the latter.
I stopped trying to learn SEO, YouTube, TikTok, paid ads, AI prompts, Amazon FBA, and whatever the latest guru was selling.
I deleted and unsubscribed from emails, offers and newsletters. I kept three.
The noise stopped. My brain no longer hurt from overwhelm. I breathed easier.
Over the past few months I’ve focused on building a foundation I own:
- Rebuilt my LinkedIn profile to reflect what I’m doing today
- Started this blog
- Created a content calendar so I don’t stare at a blinking cursor every morning.
- Learned how to fix my email deliverability issues using TXT, DMARC and DKIM records. This alone taught me more than several courses combined. Now my emails avoid spam folders and are read by humans.
- Joined ClickBank Profit Club so I could follow a framework instead of constantly guessing and second guessing what comes next. Check it out here.
- Building under less-than-perfect conditions, including intermittent phone Wi-Fi and bouncing files between two computers and two homes.
- Learned how to test before recommending products I genuinely believe in instead of throwing affiliate links around like confetti on New Year’s Eve.
None of this is glamorous. But it’s real without the noise.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far? Focus.
Measurable progress requires focus.The fewer things I do, the faster I move.
Once I stopped listening to the noise, one belief became my compass:
I’d rather build a small group of engaged email subscribers, people I think of as partners in success, than rack up millions of views and a mountain of heart emojis on a borrowed platform.
An email list is an asset with real people I want to help.
An algorithm is a landlord.
And landlords change the rules whenever clouds may pass overhead.
I’m building something I own.
Now It’s Your Turn
Make a list of everything you’re currently trying to learn or things you think you should learn.
Everything.
Then cross off half of it.
Pick one or two things that will move your business forward and laser-focus on these for the next 30 days. If you’re not sure, look at my list above. It helped me immensely.
You might be surprised how much progress happens when the noise finally quiets.
If you’re stuck or overwhelmed by the noise, consider joining the Click Bank Profit Club. It will give you direction and focus. It’s free to join.
