Hi JDB,

I can tell you about our beginning here at Sowpub. Perhaps some will find it enlightening. :)

I approached Gordon about a possible JV some time in early 2000. In late May of 2000 Gordon and I met, and spent a weekend in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, talking. Gordon drove me around, showed me some of the local "entrepreneurial sights" - like SCI, Ben Suarez's mansion (we could only see it from a distance), Rick Suarez's mansion, Gary Halbert's old house when he still lived in the area in his early days. To me - a wide-eyed novice - it was amazing stuff! :)

From there, we started setting up the Sowpub web site. Gordon was the "architect" and I was the "builder" - we have benefited greatly from Gordon's vision! We started the forum going here in July 2000.

Gordon also wrote Remote Influence (aka Remote Hypnosis). We "officially" launched on Sept. 1, 2000.

So you can see that, while it didn't take us 30 days but a few months, we got it done - I think that's the MOST IMPORTANT part. If you don't get it done - you can't get started! Getting started is often the hardest part!

I know that there are many people who have ummed and ahhed about starting some sort of business activity - but you don't have to wait. You can do something part-time. Even if it doesn't make a ton of money for you, you will learn something by doing it. Often, it's probably a good idea to make those early mistakes while you have the "cushion" of a regular salary - because you WILL make mistakes!

Anyhow, starting Sowpub was a fantastic time. :)

Can you start faster than we did? Sure! Joe Kumar is one guy who's shown how to do it fast - all credit to him. I'm impressed. :)

You can also create a product quite quickly if you know what you're writing about - if it's based on your own expertise. If you have to learn all about it first, then it will take a bit longer. But you don't really need your own product to succeed - many people make great money as affiliates. Or you can do JVs.

Since then, I've also teamed up with Michael Ross for The Entrepreneur's Hotsheet and The Great Ideas Letter. That's a whole other story. :)

But I would say, the hardest part is GETTING STARTED. Then, after that, the hardest part is KEEPING GOING - in my opinion, too many people never start, or they quit too soon! Mistakes are guaranteed - you will make them, and they will lose you money. It's a fact. Of course, try to minimize your mistakes... But don't let a few mistakes stop your progress. It's just the cost of an education. :)

Anyhow, I hope that helps some, JDB! :)

Best wishes,

Dien Rice


You can read more of Gordon's wisdom here...