Have you ever played Monopoly? This classic board game is based on the acquisition of wealth through buying, renting, and trading real estate property using play money.
Have a go at it, and you'll be surprised how much itcan teach you about running a successful businessonline. I discovered eight helpful pointers for you tostart with.
Let's get started…GO!
Everybody begins on a level plain. You get the choiceof token to mark your place on the board. Usually Ipick either the wheelbarrow, terrier, or ship. Not asurprise if you know that I enjoy gardening, dogs, andthe sea.
Whether it's based on aesthetic appeal or affinity forwhat is being represented, your personal choice is oneinitial triumph an essential 1st step into the game!
Lesson #1 Start With Something You Like
This simple technique creates a winning combination foryour business. You have firsthand knowledge andexperience in a niche that fascinates you, and youimpart this with so much excitement that you'reaudience can't help feeling the same!
Interesting people are people who are interested, asthe saying goes. Furthermore, your passion for thesubject will drive and motivate you through the dailyroutine of running and growing your business.
With the roll of the dice, the race begins! Whether ornot you have an idea on how to proceed, your biggestchallenge will involve skill and a bit of luck.
Lesson #2 A Little Luck Never Hurt Anyone
With the dice, many say it's in the wrist. But whichever way you put it, everybody could use a bit of it every now and then. Some are luckier than others, landing on squares of opportunity and free cash. Others land on rent after bill.
It's not altogether different in internet marketing.I've landed on losing squares because I didn't use myhead. And sometimes I happen to sign up for anewsletter just when they launch a pre-release discountfor a product I just happened to need at the time.
Lesson #3 Lay Out Your Game Plan
You can tackle this game in many different ways, butyou need to establish a game plan. If you're theindependent type, you might want to learn from scratchby playing around with ideas. All systematically, ofcourse.
Focus on the small groups and move up from there, luckwith the dice notwithstanding. Or make a beeline forprime properties and keep building houses and hotelsfor long-term profit.
You can choose any number of combinations with which toproceed and have a go with it, but be prepared to playmany times over! It is the only way you'll know whatworks for sure.
And sometimes, the smarter way to go is by askingsomeone who has played the game and always come out on top. You will still have to play it yourself, of course, to make little improvements until it works right for you.
No matter how you develop your game plan, be sure tofollow it through. Persistently. Consistently. Systematically. Don't get easily distracted if something new happens to land on your lap. If it's consistent with your plan, you've struck on luck!
The same goes for running your business. You can saveyourself plenty of time and heartache by adaptingproven methods from those already successful beforeyou. They've been around the block enough times to knowwhat works and what doesn't. All the same, blend in your own personal twist until it works for you.
Lesson #4 You Gotta Spend Money to Make Money
What do you do once you land on an opportunitysquare…pass? I would be hard-pressed to name anyonewho hops around the board without buying a singleproperty!
Maybe the first few rounds won't be as rough since thegame has just begun. Nobody has yet put up houses orexpensive hotels on their properties. Rents are not yetso high. Maybe you'll get lucky on the Community Chestor Chance cards. And you'll even make it to GO. That'sanother $4000 in the bag. With time, however, you'llfind your wallet empty as you hop from house to hotel.
At this point, you might begin to regret all the passedopportunities you let slip through your fingers.Monopoly is about investment and return! Lest youforget, your wallet will remain empty.
In online business, a free ride is alright. Many peoplehave started out this way. But bear in mind that yourbusiness will need prime web real estate and a marker(www.yourbusiness.com) to go with it, if you're at allto be taken seriously. Else your credibility, image,or reputation will suffer before you have the chance toeven build it.
You don't have to spend on everything right away. Justthe essential tools that your market sees: website,autoresponder messages, list management, etc.
Lesson #5 Jail Time Does Not Pay
Other players get ahead and beat you to the primesquares. You'll waste what little resources you have,trying to get out.
The internet is no different. While nothing compares tolearning your lessons the hard way, you'd be muchbetter off learning from other people's mistakes. Atsuch a critical stage when you're just starting out,your reputation cannot easily be repaired onceshattered, whether by SPAM or other unethical businesspractice. Establish a code of ethics and faithfully stand by it!
Lesson #6 Give Back to the Community
The Community Chest card usually collects donations,taxes, and other related fees to keep the monopolycommunity (a.k.a. the Bank) intact and progressive.
The internet community requires no different. While youdo have bills to pay — we all need to make a living!– the mechanics of buying and selling exists as awell-oiled machine because of the interaction andexchange of information without constant thought forpersonal profit.
Go pro bono once in a while. Help for the sake ofhelping. Answer questions and offer practical advice inthe forums and discussion groups. Write articlesoffering valuable information from your own knowledgeand experience. How about some free products?
Lesson #7 There's Always a Chance to Start Over:Pass GO, and Collect $$$
GO is a place of refuge. Passing it always comes with asigh of relief! An excellent time to examine property cards and glance at the status on the board. Assess your progress. Make necessary adjustments in yourplan: acquire properties to prevent others' monopolyor add to yours?
Going back to square one is also ideal in internetmarketing. It is an opportunity for you to re-group.Assess your progress, based on your plan. Are youkeeping your time-schedule? Are you accomplishing thetasks you've set out to do?
Where does your business stand at this point in time?Step back for a moment and look at the big picture. Youcan then make the necessary improvements. You can also modify your game plan for better results.
Lesson #8 Your Attitude Makes Your Game
How do you deal with bad luck on the dice, when you'reconstantly landing on properties that demandstaggering prices for rent? Do you resign before youeven try to get back up? Or do you give yourself thatlittle pep-talk and play on?
What is your business attitude? It's important to makea stand. How you choose to deal with the demands ofyour business and its problems, determines your chancesfor success.
Even in its varying degrees, success ultimately lieswith you. It is in your hands. If that is what you want, you have little choice but to develop the attitude for running a successful business.
Identify your capabilities and compensate for your weaknesses by improving on your strengths. And always, always always…adapt accordingly!
The stakes are high. And your only opponent in the end,is yourself. What's your game plan?
Go ahead. Roll the dice. Opportunities await. And GO is never far from sight.
Often lucky with the dice, Margaux Alhanen doesn't mind giving discounted rent. Off the board, she gathers toolsand compiles notes for internet marketing beginners at http://www.imnotebook.com Download your free eNotebook entitled “Starting Ahead: How to Develop a Winning Attitude in Business” today!
Tags: free, era, save, chance cards, internet, online, money, squares, bigg, monopoly, hotels, Board Game, real estate, game
