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After nearly five years of traveling the globe, living the high lifestyle of those that make a massive automated living on the internet, I am settling down. Yes, settling down. Mind you, living in such a beautiful city as San Francisco, it’s not THAT hard, but it is a big step.

Yes, I work every day on my business, but no, I am not constrained by offices, commutes, location, or any sort of time principles. I work because, I WANT to work. I enjoy it.  And for many years, I have taken full advantage of that freedom which this internet lifestyle provides.

I am an internet marketing guru only in so much as I love to teach.  While I probably make more than most, travel more than most, and live the “true” internet lifestyle more than most, it’s the fact that I love to teach that will really set me apart. That, and the fact that I can really “break things down” into systems that people can follow. The challenge charges me.

I have no plans to travel for the next four months. I’m going to concentrate on BUSINESS. Yes, business. But NOT my current automated businesses. It will be hard to turn away from them, but I will. I’m going to focus, and try to come through with what I’ve promised for ages, yet been too busy to deliver on.  I’m going to try to launch my internet marketing business.

Yes, the actual MarketingCrazy launch. The whole game plan, realized, and executed. It’s a pretty heady goal for the end of 2009, and that’s why I’m writing it down.  Now, for better or for worse, I’m accountable. Of course, as the words flow from hands to paper, I already want to hedge my bets, and say 1st quarter 2010, but no … MarketingCrazy will launch in 2009.

What does that mean exactly? What will the launch entail? Well, no doubt we’ll launch our internet business video podcast, and we’ll likely launch our first coaching program shortly thereafter. Stay tuned - it will be a wild ride.

What’s the goal? The goal is to teach internet marketing fundamentals. Those things that don’t change! Not the glossy, glitzy “make a million dollars in a day” type stuff. But the real secrets to internet success. The fundamentals that others simply don’t teach.

In four months, I have a ten day trip through the Panama Canal and Caribbean, but I may cancel it in order to feel that “settled” feeling. It depends how far I get! After that, I have a trip to Hawaii … yeh, I’ll probably go on that one (because if I actually do end up working for the next four months, I’ll need a vacation).

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If you’re a leader, there are people copying you, it’s that simple!

If you do things well, you’ll have people steal your ideas, and, in some cases, entire sites.  It happens. It’s expected, and in at least some cases, can lead to positive, unexpected, results.

A perfect example of a leader is David DeAngelo (Eben Pagen) of DoubleYourDating.com, the most copied squeeze page for obtaining email addressed in the world.  I’ve never seen one idea copied so incredibly often, and improved upon (at times).

I just launched a social network (one of three), and within days, I had two people launch the exact same network (in some cases using the exact same software), and in one case, even in one of my niches. If you’re leading, you have to expect, and even desire, the competition. In all but a few cases, as long as you stay true to yourself and your goals, your competition will fall by the wayside, copying you or not.

In every instance, it is better to be the leader than the follower. In this case, the people following me followed the wrong path, and chose poorly (as I myself did), the wrong community software. Whoops.  This mistake, for me, pretty fixable (as this was just a test). For them, probably a disaster that they’ll not recover from. If you’re going to follow, and copy, make sure you choose wisely. More on that in a second…

Why talk about this? Because, while I prefer to lead, I think copying what works is the easiest way to success online! Let me repeat that, copying what works (not copying other people’s work) for most people, is the quickest most assured way to success online. Find what works, duplicate, add your own spices, and duplicate.

The problem is, what if you attempt to replicate the wrong things? In this case, the person (blindly) followed the worst of my 3 social networks. The one with the least likelyhood of success.  In another case, a seperate person copied my squeeze page (which was being randomized via Google Optimizer), and copied the worst performing one.  So let me be clear…

There is no point in copying, unless you are testing and tracking! Not many people do this, but it is key to success online. In fact, some consider this the true secret that NO ONE talks about. If you are not doing this, you are stumbling around blind, copying random things, and always falling for the next fad.  It’s a necessity!  It also is the fastest guarantee to MORE money, if you are already earning some.

But, I won’t get too sidetracked (this is all covered in my upcoming book). The entrepeneur must walk a thin line between trying what’s worked, and creating new things and ideas. I relish peole copying me!  Let me say that again. I relish when people copy me. NOT  when they try to steal my work mind you, but when they try to take it and Improve it, I can attempt to learn something (and perhaps, will get the chance to replicate their success).

That won’t always be the case. In fact, it will rarely be the case. People who copy other people’s work are not typically the type of people whom are going to add to it in a meaningful way, however, when it happens, both of you get better. You raise the stakes for whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.  However, when we do "copy", let’s follow the rules:

1) Never copy content, and don’t outright steal ideas. That’s not right! In fact, in some cases, it’s downright illegal.

2) Ask permission whenever possible - if someone else is there first, respect it!

3) Don’t copy for the sake of copying! Have clear objectives…Ideas are free (for the most part), it’s implementation and execution that’s important…

4) Read #3 four more times, and then add the words marketing and promotion.

5) Whenever possible, lead!  That doesn’t mean you should follow every crackpot idea you have however. I already told you the easiest way to success is to follow what’s working. However, if you improve on it, your success is that much closer to guaranteed.

6) Don’t copy everything! My god. Everything I do is copied online now SO quickly, it’s staggering (even to me). I fail at over %50 of what I do. Ouch. Yep, I’m coming clean. Maybe it’s not that high (ha - actually it’s higher), but if you’re following my lead (dance talk), copy the right %50.  It’s amazing that I can have huge succcesses that are completely left untouched, and yet my failures are replicated ad-nauseum.

The greatest success will always come to leaders, both in life and in business. The success I want in my life, will come from leading, and partnering with leaders (good people, with good ideas, that are willing to take chances). Which road will you take?

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Ok, it’s true, I’m doing Internet Marketing from the high seas. Managing a team in India and the Philipines, and actually, making some good money as I sail around the Caribbean on my salsa dance cruise (http://www.SalsaCruiseCrazy.com). I’ve fallen behind in writing the book, but the content is stellar. Truly, you’re going to find it does extremely well based on it’s exceptional content and clarity in setting up your own residual income stream, and … let’s not forget life of leisure. ;)  Ha, joking… (a little at least…)

Anyway, just got back from Sydney, then Hawaii, then cruising. I haven’t been home in months!  Crazy as it sounds, this has been the most profitable two months I’ve had in quite some time. There’s no secret here. It’s good planning, good support, and good structure.  I’ll teach it all.

This is a book that’s really going to help a lot of people!  No further updates this month…title announced soon.

Why post from the high seas? Because, I got an email about the conference I’m attending next month, and you should go.  I’ve mentioned it before. It’s Yaniks. Here’s the link:

http://www.clickhere.com

This is looking like it’s really going to be great, and if you’re going, drop me a line and we can grab a cup of coffee!

Hope all’s well, and really looking forward to teaching you this year (and now, back to the beaches…)