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[Gavin Mountford Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 2]

"Information overload - HELP!"

On of the BIGGEST problems I hear when I'm one-on-one coaching is that building a business on the internet is an absolute minefield...

...it's SO easy for people to get OVERWHELMED by all the info... & go off in multiple different directions...

The problem most people have is LACK of focus! Too many opportunities around...

I remember when I first got started 7 years ago online...



I was just all over the place. I had no discipline and working from home for me way a NIGHTMARE. I loved it, but my life and business all merged into one. It became the grey zone.

When I was supposed to be working I was on Skype, Instant Messenger, checking my emails, browsing Google for more books and courses to help me get through the mess.

I think the reason this happened was because…

I actually didn’t know what to do to build my business.

I bought courses which I hadn’t finished, I was half way through and I was onto the next thing to buy…

I half read books, watched a few minutes of video’s, SNACKED on blog posts and my attention span was rubbish.

I was trying to juggle different traffic generation methods. Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, my blog, mailing list.

Then I had to learn about my company, speak to people on the phone, reply to emails, Instant messages, Facebook and Twitter messages.

How FRUSTRATED was I?

Fortunately after many years of STRUGGLE and failing... I turned it round.. (well, I say... "I turned it round" - it was actually my coach who helped me with #3 things he told me which changed my life...)

So, right now...

[*]Are you overloaded?
[*]Going in too many directions?
[*]Multiple businesses?
[*]Multiple traffic methods?
[*]3-5 websites?
[*]Affiliate opportunities

So, what are your experiences online? Do you see this happening to other people/ team members? Maybe yourself?

What are you doing to deal with it?

Love to hear your thoughts on this MASSIVE challenge...

[Janice Halsall Company: Kleeneze UK Limited Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Gavin - this has prompted my to write my last two blogs. The first is on getting organised and the second on FOCUS.

1. Getting Organised http://janicehalsall.info/?p=212

2. FOCUS http://janicehalsall.info/?p=226

I had a real lightbulb moment today because I was getting distracted, getting invloved with too many groups for the time I have and I realised I had to get bac to basics abd Focus!! Your comments on my blog would be appreciated

[Angus McEwan Company: MyLeadSystemPRO Contribution Level: 3]

Hi Gavin! When I first started with Online Marketing I was finding it hard to focus, but I think it is all coming together now

I have a system and daily plan which I work through which are both helping a lot!

The only thing I am finding hard is deciding yes or no to the new things I am being offered to do!

All your Productivity and Time Management stuff are helping

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

Hi Gavin.
The best way I had not become overwhelmed by all the information was to take each topic and learn it. Practice it until it became a habit before trying another skill.
Focus is crucial in learning just about everything you need and can use online. It is nearly impossible to know everything or even to use everything that is out there. But staying focused and trying one thing at a time until you become proficent at it helps you from becoming overwhelmed.

[Dave Hayes Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

This Is a Great Thread, With Good Contributions By All Concerned. I also suffered from Information Overload at the Beginning, Until I Decided To Focus and Get Organised.

The Major Problem, with Social Media Marketing, as no doubt People are finding, is that, There is a Tendency to get Sucked in By Great Copy and before you know where you are, you have gone right off the track, you started on.

Janice has some great Tools that look useful and Being Online is no Different to Working offline, You need to Be Organised, Disciplined Certainly and Focused. Having Been in This Forum for 3 years, I can vouch that it is a great place to Learn from some great leaders, without doubt. BN is Part of My Online Strategy.

[Dave Hayes Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

Indeed if it helps, I have a Daily Action Plan, that I would be happy to Share with others, if it helps or gives tips and ideas. Just inbox me or Contact me on Skype and I'll Forward a copy.

Hope this is of Value to you.

[Dave Hayes Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

Hi Gavin! When I first started with Online Marketing I was finding it hard to focus, but I think it is all coming together now

I have a system and daily plan which I work through which are both helping a lot!

The only thing I am finding hard is deciding yes or no to the new things I am being offered to do!

All your Productivity and Time Management stuff are helping

I Meant to Add This into My Last Post, so Excuse my Third Thread! But Picking Up on The Point Raised here by Andrew, which I have Highlighted. There are so many New things that are being offered, it is easy to get distracted. I have a General Rule of thumb, having been bitten, several times in the past, that I always Stick With Tried and Trusted Ventures, with Proven Track Records.

Start ups are Notoriously Dangereous to get associated with, as in the main they tend to Fold or Disappear quite Quickly. I have a Fool Proof Checking System, which quickly determines if an Opportunity is Worth Being Given a Go or Not.

As regards Online, Marketing Systems, there are Only Probably 3 Types, which are Safe, Proven and Worth Using. They are

Magnetic Sponsoring,

Your Own Funnel ( as I have Created, as a Result of Using Magnetic Sponsoring)

MLSP ( which is a more Advance Version of Magnetic Sponsoring.

Hope this is of Value to You.

[Michaelangelo Flores Contribution Level: 1]

Yes, the shiny object syndrome. Many of us, including myself have fallen for that too, one time too many.
Try to really scale down to ONE thing, ONE technique, and apply it every day. Then analyze your results and see how it goes. THEN move on to something else.

e.g

I focused on traffic generating method and ONLY that one method for the first few months and I really got good and became better after a while. I did not watch any other video, read any other training or whatever that WASN'T RELATED to it. I focused on ONE method and tried it with 100% focus.

Once I got to a certain level and got a decent amount of traffic and sales - I reinvested in outsourcing this so I can...

FOCUS ON SOMETHING ELSE... and only that.
For example, next I only focused on the next technique (while the other is being done - outsourced using the money I earned from the previous method to keep the ball rolling) for the next few weeks and see how I go there.
Sometimes, you don't see results over night, or even over a few weeks. Just keep going and re-assess after about a month or two and see if anything's working.

Rinse and repeat.

Instead of...

Having MULTIPLE TABS, checking emails, chatting on Skype/Facebook/whatever, drinking tea, listening to music, posting on forums, writing blog posts and pulling my hair out all at once... and got nothing done after so many hours...

Try just having ONE tab (I like to limit a maximum of THREE tabs) and only focus on whatever is there.
You'll get so much done because you only focus ONE at a time, and ONLY move on once the previous task is done. I don't mean to offend anyone or come across bluntly, but in reality, I don't believe in multi-tasking. There is only division of focus.

Also, GOAL-SETTING is also important in this regard. In fact, it is THE most important. If you're not clear on your goal or target for the day/month/year then you will be lost. You will be chasing different rabbits because of lack of clarity.

I was the same way. Until I really broke everything down to a science, e.g how much traffic, how many leads, how many sales all the way down to how many minutes/hours I need to spend doing xyz activity has to be made crystal clear (and written down) and all you need to do is just take each step. That's it, really.

Hope this helped.

[Gavin Mountford Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 2]

Hey guys I recorded this video recently to illustrate what happens in your life and business...

(I also did this in a 30 minute live presentation using something similar recently...- will share soon)



There's actually a 3 step process I teach others to eliminate overload, increase their FOCUS, which helps increase productivity, get more things done...

...and as a result, take make more money and take more time off.

I call it The Ultimate Focus Formula...

Now I'm guessing most people came onto the Internet to create LEVERAGE... and NOT to work 24/7/365?

So, if I can share with you just a few things that have HELPED my clients... and it helps you... then it's worth it.

I'm sure this thread will become a FANTASTIC resource for people who are struggling through Information Overload... to help them get stuff done and focus 100%.

Indeed if it helps, I have a Daily Action Plan, that I would be happy to Share with others, if it helps or gives tips and ideas. Just inbox me or Contact me on Skype and I'll Forward a copy.

Hope this is of Value to you.

Yes Dave, that would be fantastic to help others... is there a way you can link to it here in this thread?

I have a General Rule of thumb, having been bitten, several times in the past, that I always Stick With Tried and Trusted Ventures, with Proven Track Records.

I agree Dave... stick with proven strategies which have worked for other people. People have done this ALL before, so why reinvent the wheel?

It's amazing how much time people WASTE by trying to do new things all the time... only to find it doesn't work in the first place.

Why not just learn from a proven strategy and follow it 100%?

Having MULTIPLE TABS, checking emails, chatting on Skype/Facebook/whatever, drinking tea, listening to music, posting on forums, writing blog posts and pulling my hair out all at once... and got nothing done after so many hours...

Thanks Michaelangelo...

Try just having ONE tab (I like to limit a maximum of THREE tabs) and only focus on whatever is there.
You'll get so much done because you only focus ONE at a time, and ONLY move on once the previous task is done. I don't mean to offend anyone or come across bluntly, but in reality, I don't believe in multi-tasking. There is only division of focus.

Perfectly put... and one massive thing I recommend is SHUT off Facebook, Gmail and Skype...

Why?

Because when you're working away on a blog post, or a piece of content or something you're FOCUSED on and you see a little flash in your browser (notifications or messages), or hear a ding ding noise...

It pulls your attention away, and it triggers your nosey gene doesn't it, lol.

There's a little thing inside of you that wants to know what it is... so you go over and look at Facebook, or check the message in gmail or Skype...

Only to be suckedinto the time VORTEX!

In fact, that's the VERY reason I created this popular blog post training recently...

To GIVE Internet Business Owners a quick and easy STRATEGY to get in and out of Facebook with 10-15 minute chunks, get twice as much done and then get back to your main FOCUS!

The post has got a lot of comments and shares because it's a PROBLEM that most people seem to have...

Loving where this thread is going... keep the ideas and suggestions coming...

Resources, tips, tricks, strategies, plans... whatever you use.

I've been teaching Internet Entrepreneurs how to eliminate the noise, focus and double their productivity for close to 5 years now... but I still LOVE to LEARN new things...

So, I appreciate you sharing and contributing...

[Charles Holmes Company: ViSalus Sciences Contribution Level: 3]

Information overload is a big problem for many people, especially in the IM world.

The key to success is to:

1. Find a mentor who knows what they are doing and get their guidance
2. Create a written game-plan for success outlining what steps must be followed
3. Put on your blinders, roll up your sleeves and take massive action doing the exact steps mentioned in your plan and never deviate.

It also helps to "ignore the noise and gurus" while you do it.

Good luck!