Immediate Edge vs Challenge Plus advice

[Bill Thomson]

Hi Isabella

Don't get too concerned - it may seem confusing but you need to remember that not all IM members entered via The Challenge & many that did may have come in a few years before the current Challenge method. Some already had an Adwords account, many not - At that stage of the Adwords blueprint Dan didn't want people jumping ahead & creating errors & confusion for themselves so he advised those who had no accounts to wait a bit

Those that already had an existing Adwords account just needed to wait until Dan advised it was the right time in the blueprint process to utilise them - no need for a duplicate account. Hope that helps reduce the confusion.

Bill

[cyberking]

It was announced on the challenge plus site that it will be closing.

[kath314]

I'm glad someone has posted a question regarding the immediate edge. In the hopes of not violating forum rules, I'm posting my question under this thread, because its highly related. While I know there is no longer a challenge plus. I'm struggling with a timing decision as to when I need to sign up for the immediate edge. I know it is something I'm interested in the future. I'm just wanting to know when might be the best time. Here's my situation:

Currently I"m working on a master's degree to become a licensed therapist. I also work full time & have a family. Don't have energy or time to invest in much more than what is required for something like the challenge itself. I have always had a love of writing and a strong creative streak. Additionally, I enjoy connecting with and helping others, (thus the therapy degree). At any rate, the therapy degree is a practical route, yet not my first choice. Also it needs to be kept in mind, I'm technologically challenged. I'm currently learning the basics with the challenge, and trying to adjust to my new macbook pro and ipad 2....

At an rate, this licensed therapy career isn't a first choice. For this reason, I'm realizing I may need to give the masters a second thought, and put it on hold after this year. As I work through the challenge I'm sitting here considering what may be the best timing for me to purchase immediate edge. I am truly pumped by the idea of making money doing what I enjoy. I am struggling with the idea of finishin this masters and waiting for an opportunity to start internet marketing.

I've decided to finish up this year with one final summer class which I've already signed up and paid for. I will take a semester off, and put as much effort and work as I am into school, into my internet marketing. This will be a full force effort, that involves getting my feet wet. Before I begin the internship phase of my education, I want to give the possibility of my "dream" one last shot. I'm sure its probable I may not see much sucess in this time frame, but hopefully it can be a period in which I decide the remaining course of my life....

On the one hand, you have me being practical, giving up my dream, and finishing my masters. On the other hand, you have me throwing caution to the wind, and using the endless well of passion within me, to begin working on this dream of mine.

While I know you can't in the end make this decision for me, I need additional information from those with perspective. In addition to whatever relevant factors, and thoughts that may help me, I have two specific questions. Firstly, when I read the immediate edge, I realize its something I want to do. What pre-existing educational base do I need to have when entering. They say its not for beginners. what exactly does this mean? Where do I need to be knowledge-wise to make the most of it? Second question: How much time investment is needed to really "make a go" of this? Your honesty and candor is much appreciated....

[DeanRichards]

you have me throwing caution to the wind, and using the endless well of passion within me, to begin working on this dream of mine.

This is a very romantic notion but it doesn't work. Passion is rocket fuel, for sure, no question about it. But unless you own a rocket to put it in, it's not going to get you far.

What you're trying to do here is learn a new career and that isn't easy. In point of fact, it is literally impossible for most people. In essence, you're trying to build yourself a rocket from scratch and you have to teach yourself rocket science along the way. Definitely not easy or fast.

As for the Immediate Edge, I'd sign up for the $1 trial if I were you and then see for yourself exactly what they offer. Then you can make an informed decision about where it fits in with you.

Now let's go shoot off some rockets!

[kath314]

Thank's for the thoughts Dean. I guess your response has me asking more questions. Is there a middle ground within this that I can be practical while hoping to hang onto a dream? What is in involved in developing this path into a career? What is it that I need to know about developing this into a career that makes most it an impossible path for most? What knowledge and/or skill and/or inherent personal characteristics are needed to succeed? Why is it not possible for many?

Again thank's for the response. Just trying to wrap my head around things....

[DeanRichards]

Why is it not possible for many?

I believe the main thing most people don't really understand is that owning your own internet marketing business isn't like having a job. When you have a job, you show up, you do the work, and you get paid. When you own the company, you show up, you do the work, and maybe you get paid... and maybe you don't get paid. And if you don't get paid, then it's totally up to you to figure out why and change it.

I would also say that a very tough issue for most people is dealing with failure. The only guarantee I can give you about internet marketing is that you will have failures and serious setbacks. You will put serious time and effort and maybe even heart and soul into projects that end up in the toilet. That's something that seems easy to deal with on an intellectual basis, but when you're feeling the pain in your guts, letting it go and moving on isn't as easy as it sounds.

I once read a story about sailors lost at sea whose ship got blown up and they were clinging to pieces of wood to stay afloat. After a few days of this with no water and no food and with no hope of rescue, some of the sailors simply let go and let themselves slip under the water and drown. You never know if you're going to be one of those guys or not, until you find yourself in the sink or swim situation. Internet marketing is definitely a sink or swim situation.

[josephgrobertson]

Why is it not possible for many?You will put serious time and effort and maybe even heart and soul into projects that end up in the toilet. That's something that seems easy to deal with on an intellectual basis, but when you're feeling the pain in your guts, letting it go and moving on isn't as easy as it sounds.

That is the stone cold truth.

You should read Ed's Burn The Ships article: http://www.eddale.co/general/burn-th...and-hail-marys

My take on your situation is that if you can give this a shot while having financial support from elsewhere, then it's worth it. Just don't expect to make a dime (though you can certainly hope for it :P ).

I think you should also not consider it your "one final shot." Ed likes to say that "there's no 'Road to Damascus' moment" in this because it takes consistent work over a long period of time - success will sneak up out of nowhere and bite you, but you can't really pick it out of a crowd and dance with it. Ed often tells the story of one of his mentor students who was working 16 hours a day learning to be a Chef, and still he made 30 minutes each day to work on the side and was able to make that go somewhere.


Also, if you get your expertise on the subject to a point where you are comfortable, you may consider this:
http://www.eddale.co/internetmarketi...ered-by-angels

[kath314]

Joseph.... Thanks for your commentary and the links for further reading. As someone who is working towards a career as a therapist, I do think there is an essential element to success that begins firstly as a mindset. I wish to start from the right mind frame at the outset....I realize there is a clear detriment for a failure to do so in the form of burnout ( but I'll get to that in a minute)

Dean....I appreciate the candor and much needed reality check.....

As for my taking this information in, it may help if I provide a bit of personal history. I come back to Internet marketing after four Years away. I realize, therefore, I am a relative newbie since things have changed a bit since then....

I first learned of the idea of Internet marketing from as friend about four years ago in mid 2009. when a friend told about it and I was very intrigued by the idea. She shared with me her resources and jumped into it.l...

Needless to say, I did a lot of work, but mostly I on the wrong things. I wrote some articles and put up a blog. But after a year I experienced burnout....nonetheless I would have continued with it, if it werent for my oldest sons health. He required several heart surgeries and I had to quit working to care for him. For a while there, we were worried that we may lose him.....

At any rate, in the midst of that I set my I.m. Efforts aside. I kept the idea in mind of getting back to it some day, but realized now I had more important things to tend to. I had about less than one year of education in basic Internet marketing and had to step away...

Fastforwarding to now...My oldest son is now a thriving and healthy eleven year old. My youngest is in kindergarten, i can now do something for myself.....

I have decided to engage in two pursuits. Firstly I will be practical and work towards my masters, to become a licensed therapist. Additionally, I will work on my internet marketing...

As I head into things I need to readjust my mental game. I re enter with a desire to reexamine my efforts and why they hadn't panned out as I wished. I need to understand what was it about my chosen reactions to failure that made it such a crippling blow.

As someone who is working on an advanced degree in psychology, I understand the entire issue intellectually and academically...Still this is nothing without efforts to take this level of understanding deeper. Emotionally, how can one learn to weather the ups and downs of this business? Additionally, how can I learn to develop a steady stream of action from within the very real fact that outcomes are not certain in this business.

At any rate thanks for your response, and allowing me to share. Sorry the response is so long. Just know I do appreciate any commentary....

[DeanRichards]

If you follow Ed on Twitter and Facebook, he is always giving advice and recommending reading that helps us all deal with these issues. A recent gem that I discovered through him is The Flinch. This free kindle book addresses all the issues here and gives you methods to deal with them.

Trust me, this book is right up your alley.

[kath314]

Thanks for that book link.... I have my new iPad and will have to read it....