Long delay..

Wow - it's ages since I last wrote, and it's been an eventful time. I thought I'd be kept fairly busy with freelance work, but one or two things fell through or shrank, leaving me with some time to reflect. As soon as I got off the treadmill, I realised that I was really in need of rest, so I didn't actively look for new work. As a result, I have had plenty of time to think, read, mull or do absolutely nothing. And get reasonably fit - at least fit enough to complete the Argus Cycle Tour earlier this month in a reasonable time, considering the gale-force wind. I wrote some long tomes on that period of "training" and will transfer those here [see the screed below].

I also used the time to continue exploring "mindstuff" through high-tech meditation audio tracks from SMES - the Super Mind Evolution System. Google that if you're interested - I find it all quite fascinating and was happy to get the whole lot in a special offer. But no time to go into it all now. Maybe later?

I have continued learning about Internet businesses, though so far it really is just learning rather than earning. I do have one business that has been ticking over comfortably for a few years, bringing in regular injections of welcome pocket money for minimal effort. That's GDI, and you're welcome to take a look. A new venture, aimed particularly at Southern Africans, is BeMotivatedToday. It offers good value in personal development resources while also providing a business - pocket money or more, depending on how much effort one puts in. I like the down-to-earth style of the founder, who is easy to contact and often responds personally to queries or comments. I haven't done much in the way of promoting this, but intend to, as I agree with what it's all about.

For anyone looking to make a living from Internet marketing of any sort, my top recommendation, without a doubt, is ProfitLance - an online system that teaches the entire gamut of skills needed to make money online. This is a solid no-hype product, excellent value for money, and provides real and practical know-how, which you can apply to any internet business you like – or you can choose to focus on the ones offered there. There's a very reasonable once-off payment, with no further stuff to buy or monthly subscriptions or other nasty surprises. In fact, I've been very surprised to get so much for so little. It will take me months (at least) to work though the course, but it's definitey worthwhile. I just wish I had done this years ago - or even stuck with it at the beginning of last year, when I first mentioned it in this blog.
But I didn't, so I'm also still editing as a way of bringing in bread-&-butter money. Or homeloan and policy money. I actually enjoy editing and proof-reading, but somehow when it's a job I have to do, something in me says I'd rather be reading a magazine, book, advertising leaflet, cereal carton – anything but the job in hand. (And yet I'll be marking up corrections in those very magazines as I go along.) Right now I have a case study to write, so I'd better get on with that.

Bt while I'm making recommendations etc, let me add an observation. Any genuine business must provide value to the market, be it through info products (e-books, audio tracks, e-zines, articles on any topic under - or beyond - the sun), physical products like books, healthy potions & lotions, solar heaters, aloe chutney, polar bear kennels or whatever, or services (yes,including editing), seminars, tours, training, website hosting ... whatever.

But there's a host of very clever get-rich schemes that are based entirely on subscribing and getting other people to subscribe to get other people to subscribe... ad infinitum. These obviously work, at least for a while, and run entirely on hype and enthusiasm. Some people seem to spend their entire day persuading other people to join up; some kind souls do a lot of mentoring and hand-holding of newcomers. But in the end no actual product or service is offered - only a position in the team or matrix or whatever, with the promise of money according to the number of people you (or the team as a whole) can recruit. Been there, done that, lost several t-shirts! My advice (in case anyone's asking): don't go there. There's nothing wrong with multi-level marketing systems, as long as they are selling an actual product or service that would be worth the same price if bought from the neighbourhood supermarket, school or artisan.

How did I get onto this tangent? Guess I'm just postponing the work I'm supposed to be doing today. Which I will now do! I'm attending a talk by Patricia Schonstein at the Centre for Christian Spirituality tonight - should be interesting. Even more reason to get to work - the day has almost vanished!

[Note to self: Sometime I must blog about the reindeer, the octopus and the … um, I forget right now, but it did sound quite catchy at the time.]