Why the Internet Can Become Even Busier When Economies Go Bad

So it's clear: as I digitally pen these words, economies around the world look like they may be in for some rough times ahead. Let's call it a crisis, or even crises. Yet throughout history, every crisis has also brought opportunities. Nevertheless, in times of turmoil, only the few who "keep their heads" tend to spot and act upon golden opportunities that often present themselves to calm, thoughtful minds. This article explores how you can win amid chaos.

Example: the other day, I read an article on how billionaire American investor, businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffet bought stocks and shares spending billions while most others were selling in panic. I don't really have much interest in the stock market, however, I am interested in how different people react to a variety of circumstances in different ways.

My key point: notice how the winners in life often behave very differently to the swirling mass of humanity. Often, the "lucky people" tend to take actions that are the polar opposite of what most folks might do in the same situation. That's why I suggest to you that the wisdom of crowds is a myth and why you should seek to be the engine of your own dreams. Perhaps, also that's a clue as to how you and I can learn how to sail through any economic rough seas that the world may chose to throw at us during the coming months and years ahead.

Naturally, many of us are influenced by what other people say and do. However, as a genuinely valued reader, visitor and subscriber to InternetTIPS.com, I urge you to stay calm and take the time you need to learn how to do business on the Internet, for that is one area that I think you'll see growth, especially during times of economic downturn.

Why: in times of stress, or upset, or when costs go out of control, the Internet can offer massive savings and present new opportunities to a wide range of companies and organizations. So get set for a boom within certain areas of the web even amid, and perhaps precisely because of, economic turbulence. If you know how to work with the relatively new medium that is the Internet and the web, or are prepared to learn, you can fair well.

Strive to become a lifelong student of human nature and cultivate an ethos of service in whatever you choose to do and you'll automatically stand out - that in itself creates your own advertisement program.

The Programmers and the Programmed: Which Are You? And How to Thrive Amid Chaos

When we think about who and what may have the power to affect us, perhaps one of the biggest sources of influence for most people is: the media. Yet remember, everyone has an agenda. My agenda is simple: I write, build websites and devise personalized road maps that can help others do well on the Internet. My sole focus is client enrichment. A transparent objective, just how I like it. Simple. Clear. Above all: no games. Anyone is free to accept or reject what I may suggest.

The press, media, newspapers and magazines also each have their own, markedly different agenda. Newspaper providers are of course desperate to sell newspapers. Now more than at any time throughout history, the Internet threatens to destroy the traditional media broadcast networks. With that in mind, some time ago, a curious trait of human nature was perhaps accepted and understood: that good news simply doesn't sell sufficient newspapers, or increase viewing figures on television, or encourage greater visitor numbers to websites; and so on.

So, is the argument put forward that when economies go bad, perhaps news providers rub their hands in glee? Why: by predominantly reporting bad news, the primordial human instinct of fear can be exploited "to the max", ensuring that sales and opportunities for applicable products and services, go up - maybe even rocket! What's more, perhaps if not enough bad news is available, sufficient bad tidings can be manufactured. Remedy: get to know the game, then for you, change the rules. How: why not opt out using the steps below for starters?

A Financial Meltdown Survival Blueprint: 17 Steps to a Better Quality of Life

Here are some guidelines that I recommend you consider especially when financial pressures emerge:

• Limit how much time and attention you choose to give to the mainstream news. While keeping an eye on economic conditions is certainly a good idea in order to at least know what is going on around the world, I suggest that 5 minutes every day is more than sufficient. To keep abreast of what's happening in the world, rather than watch television or scour a newspaper, you can probably find what you need from a website such as the BBC.
• Spend sufficient time relaxing every day using low-cost or no-cost props such as carefully selected websites, books and libraries.
• Don't let irrational fear that seems to pervade everywhere overwhelm you. Illogical fear results when we imagine what we think may happen but which yet hasn't happened. Sometimes, consistently fearing an outcome that may or may not happen in the future can actually help bring about into our lives the very thing we fear. Why: curiously, we tend to get closer to, or experience more of, those things we think about most. That means, good news: if we tend to genuinely think about uplifting, positive outcomes, guess what is more likely to happen? And yes, vice versa: works the other way too.
  
  If a pessimist only sees a glass of water as half empty and an optimist sees the same glass as half full, choose half full and you're mid-way to your goal. Optimism generates it's own infectious form of self-fulfilling energy. Strive to be happy for its own sake.
  
  Imagine you're an observer watching the ripples that appear in a pond when you toss a small pebble into the water. Sure, you can watch and enjoy the ripples, but they're not part of you. In the same way, as "bad news" impacts your life, you can simply choose to understand and accept the agenda of the fear-mongers with a similar kind of detachment.
• Practice more self-consideration. Understand that you are responsible only for what you can directly control: you and sometimes, yours too. The most important people in your life are those with whom you have a direct connection or relationship: family, friends, work colleagues, business associates, clients, customers, your website subscribers and visitors: these are the core drivers for successful Internet entrepreneurs.
• Apply the wisdom of "If it is to be, it is up to me". If you're concerned about job security, accept that, ultimately, you are the answer and solution to the level of income generation you seek. Strive to understand that no-one else: not your boss, your work colleagues, the government, your family or friends owe any obligation to you. Then apply the following point.
  
• Welcome to You Inc. Appreciate that in one sense, everyone who works is actually self-employed. How so: the only difference between an employee and someone who is self-employed as most of us understand the meaning, is that as an employee, we have only one customer: our employer. If we have a "good" employer, we are wise to take the decision - and the steps necessary - to be the best employee we can be. If we're not so lucky with having a considerate employer, we may benefit much from thinking through and implementing a practical exit plan.
• Or we can opt to start a low-cost Internet business to supplement our income as an employee. Or we can use unsettling times as the essential springboard to become truly self-employed and work full-time on building an Internet business that pays us directly from multiple sources (affiliate income is fine as a supplement to main income, but I don't recommend this route as a full-time endeavor, since it relies on too many outside influences over which you have no direct control - always a bad idea).
• Focus on direct, measurable income generators, not "wishy-washy" hype schemes. Consider practical, "doable" ways in which you can take direct, full control in order to earn sufficient money that meets your needs. Why: so that you're not so dependent on external influences for your livelihood.
• Reduce waste and explore ways to save. Whatever path you choose, explore methods that truly cut costs.
• Manage debt or the debt will own you. Reduce or avoid the tendency to amass personal debt as much as possible. Even small reductions in personal debt are "a win" and help create impetus and encouragement. Imagine debt as a kind of monster that likes you to live a life of quiet desperation. Our goal here is to slay the dragon of debt.
  
• Strive to apply the larger income minus lower cost = greater profit rule. The numbers have to add up - in your favor. How: live within your means first and foremost.
• Put your credit cards in a straight jacket. Plan to use only one or two credit cards only as a convenient means to pay bills in full, rather than to loan money. Strive to pay in full immediately when the credit card bill arrives. Understand that credit cards are not real money and have the capacity to enslave you. Seek freedom by using credit cards to your advantage rather than having them use you.
• Invest in practical education and training. Many valuable activities are either low cost or no cost. Yet never let that blind you to underestimate the value of "right learning" - mastering the kinds of "real world" skills that pay back handsomely. Example: paying to truly learn the skills of persuasion, selling and zero hype Internet business building can offer an investment that pays back many times over.
• Immerse yourself in the art of simplification. Explore how you can simplify your life. For many, modern life is way too complicated. Freeing up time with the sole purpose to do absolutely nothing, should you choose that option, is a great luxury today and offers a wonderful way to recharge your mental batteries in times of stress and help put your life into some kind of perspective. Often, your best ideas and "seeds to wealth" can only emerge when you mind is freed from what many experience as "the day to day grind".
• Sleep more. Determine how much restful sleep you need, then add an hour or two. If you can't increase the amount of sleep you get, simply chill out.
• Curb your exposure to TV. If you're an avid television watcher and feel that you may be susceptible to its negative influences, consider reducing the number of hours watching "the box". More creative alternative: consider using the Internet further or reading books that uplift your mood.
• Know that the end to bad times will come eventually. Appreciate that economic turmoil, like the weather, works in cycles: in the fullness of time, storms end, lightning stops, clouds dissolve and the sun appears. Sometimes, there is no fix for a problem right now. Sometimes, the storm must simply have its time and run its course. Sometimes, the best way to fix a flawed model is to allow it to break first, in order to re-build and create a new and better version later.
• Combine personal dreams with related practical steps aimed in the direction of your goals. Have a dream. Enclose yourself in motivational, inspirational and uplifting thoughts, words and images. How: with your mind "eyes open", they're everywhere, especially on the Internet. Positive personal goals are good, yet even better are the little steps you take daily that get you closer. Combine the two and you magnify the results.

InternetTIPS.com is a unique, plain English "How to" resource designed to help you create a profitable interactive Web 2.0 website rich in content, community and commerce. We can work with you to design, create and populate a "ready-to-go" website for individuals, small- and medium-sized businesses and organizations. Clients can tap into over 20,000 hours of web design and writing experience for no additional cost. To discuss your project, in the first instance, please contact Brian Austin using our web Contact form.