We’ve hit a ceiling.
It happens. In fact, I find it happens regularly along the entrepreneur’s journey.
It’s one of those moments when you realize that you’re not going to rise to the next level without a leap of faith.
It happened when I realized that the 9-to-5 was taking up so much time and energy that my business aspirations were severely limited.
The leap of faith was quitting my job.
It happened when I realized that my podcast consulting gigs were keeping me from building a business that was not based on trading dollars for hours.
The leap of faith was letting my clients go.
It happened when we launched the Academy and I realized that 20 hours a week was not enough to make it a successful resource and dependable stream of income.
The leap of faith was putting my other businesses on hold to concentrate on the Academy full-time.
And now it’s happening again. Internet Business Mastery has reach yest another point where we won’t grow anymore if we stay with the current mode of operations.
Last week we had an annual strategy meeting in Salt Lake City. We set goals and planned what needed to happen to reach them.
We saw great growth in 2009. In 2010 we want to double it. It’s clear that will require more resources, specifically a larger team.
We’ve done a lot in four years with just two guys, a virtual assistant and a handful of freelancers. But the time has come to invest in more talent.
So we looked over the books, chose to make some personal sacrifices and set money aside to hire more people — an article writer, a programmer, an InfusionSoft consultant, a marketing manager and a sales manager.
Our team is rapidly expanding and we’re fortunate to work with some very talented people.
It’s a bit scary to give things up and make new investments, but based on the past we know that…
Every time you take that leap of faith, the ceiling shatters and you rise to the next level.
What was a time when you hit a ceiling (or one that you are facing now)? How did you break through it?
Share your comments below.
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Last year at this time I broke through a ceiling in my life and I have hit another this year. Last year I was living in Boston, working two jobs that totaled more than 70 hours per week plus the commute. I made the choice to move to Nashville and I now only work one 9-5 job and I have more time for my business. Though I am in a better place now than I was a year ago, I have reached the next ceiling. I’m currently working on finding a part-time job with a higher dollar-per-hour wage to allow more time to develop my business. It’s seems slow, but the progress is there. There’s no doubt it takes leaps of faith to reach the next level. It comes down to guts and executing a plan you think could work, even though you’re filled with fear.
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Jay (Jason Van Orden) Reply:
@Jeff,
Well out. Best of luck on your continued progress. It sounds like you have the right attitude and approach. I’m sure things will work out for the best.
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Guys,
Congratulations on your leap of faith! Each one gets a little easier but they’re still stressful. I’m excited to see that you’re investing in Infusionsoft. I use them and refer them often. Are you planning on attending their convention in March? I will be like an excited super-fan meeting you two if you are. I’ve been listening to your podcast for awhile. It’s one I look forward to. I look forward to following your growth.
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Jay (Jason Van Orden) Reply:
@Melissa,
Thanks for your comment and support! We don’t have plans to be at the Infusion event right now. We have a lot to implement right now.
We’ve brought on Infused Systems and Micah and Bob with InfusionWP to help. We’re very excited to get these new systems into place.
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After listening to the most recent podcast I could tell that you guys were about to put your noses to the virtual grindstone. I am looking forward to what you come up with, especially anything evolving the video version of your podcast. You guys are a true inspiration and a welcome change to all of the spammy, irritating, internet marketers out there.
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My experience has been that when Emile and I have reached a plateau in anything (traffic, revenue, etc), the gut reaction is to sometimes decide to try to branch off into a new direction to gather a new segment of audience. The trouble is that you inevitably start to deviate from the core audience and core niche you originally excelled with. The end result can be that you end up serving both audiences weakly.
Instead, re-doubling efforts on providing excellent content to the original audiences and finding creative ways to bring in more of those same folks to you is a better choice. It keeps you laser-focused on the end result.
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@Eric,
Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad the show is inspiring for you.
The video show is still on the way. We are figuring out a few technical details that will allow to switch between the two of us live and show our screens as well if we choose.
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@Tim,
Great advice. I’ve fallen into the same trap before — in fact, even recently.
It’s yet another reason why it’s so important to have a Definite Major Purpose to refer to along the way in making such choices.
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Holy smokes! Sounds like you guys are going to be super prolific in 2010. And I thought you guys didn’t want employees. I guess that’s going to change ;-) Are they all going to be virtual?
Sounds like it’s going to be an exciting year for you guys. May as well add a new baby into the mix too… advice from a father of four who never seems to have enough time to spend working on an online business. ha!
Keep up the great work!
ps- out of curiosity, are you going to turf MNM? or is it just on “hiatus”?
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Jay (Jason Van Orden) Reply:
@Craig,
The employee thing could change. Sometimes you have to re-evaluate what you thought you wanted.
However, for now all those people are still virtual/remote.
RE: Mastering New Media…it will indeed return soon…this time under the umbrella of Internet Business Mastery.
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Just over a year and a half ago, 8 months into my first job, I decided that working a full-time job, trying to focus on building a business and having time for life, friends and family responsibilities just wasn’t possible. Leaving my job back then wasn’t an option as I had bills to pay and other financial responsibilities that relied on a stable income. Doing the near unthinkable, I decided that I was going to ask my company to let me work from home full-time. With no precedence of any employee doing it in the company and barely having spent a year working there after spending nearly a year before that looking for a full-time professional job, I may as well have been out of my mind. I was not without a plan though and did everything I could for 3 months to turn the tide in my favor before asking. The day I asked was the day I packed up my office and headed home. They had agreed to let me telecommute full-time and for days after that, I still couldn’t believe it. It’s been almost 2 years since that day, and with a new house and a wedding plans in the works, I broke through my second ceiling a few months ago by putting down the money to get some real coaching and mentorship to fast track my original goal of building an online business that would allow me to live a lifestyle that would let me always be there for my family in future. I still have a ways to go, though I’m committed to breaking that third ceiling of leaving my job for good in the near future. Thanks for everything guys.
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Jay (Jason Van Orden) Reply:
@Yasuo,
I love that story ever time I hear it. That’s a great example of bold and creative action to break through a ceiling.
I also love that you are now dedicated to helping other workers do the same thing.
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Guys, I’m so excited to be following you as you take things to the next level, especially with adding people to your team. You guys helped inspire me to move here to Manila to grow my team and its been a life-changing experience for me and for my business (which grew 100% last year).
Also– I can’t wait to see the live video!
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@Dan,
Congrats on all the business growth!
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Hey Guys, congrats on the bold moves. Sometimes you have to re-evaluate and act to get the ball rolling again.
Personally, I’m about to jump from running my own traditional business so that I can concentrate on my online opportunities starting with http://www.2minutebusinesstips.com
I haven’t made a dime online yet but just know its what I want to do.
I’m putting things in place now so that I can go full-time in the next 3 months.
Oddly not scared at all just excited for now.
Keep up the good work.
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Jay (Jason Van Orden) Reply:
Jewels,
Very exciting! Keep us informed about your continued progress.
Here’s to making your first dime online and many, many more :).
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