December 28, 1998 will always be a day I remember for as long as I live.
It was the day I decided I wanted my own website and built GeoCities.com/sportsfan_13, my first website.
At the time I knew nothing about developing websites. I had never had a HTML class nor did I know the first thing about making a graphic or coding software.
Fast forward 18 years later, I’ve not only launched and built numerous websites from the ground up, I’ve also founded multiple multi-million dollar organizations, and am proud to say I’ve never had “a real job.”
I’ve always worked online; it’s all I know!
Now, I’m not sitting here trying to toot my own horn, rather inspire others, that anything is possible with hard work!
I’m no one special. I wasn’t the “smartest” person in school and I haven’t had any fancy training.
I’m just a simple guy from West Virginia that loves to learn and won’t accept failure.
Always Be Learning
The moment you stop learning is the moment you start falling behind.
I learn new stuff everyday from everyone I come in contact to!
If you’re a customer at NameHero, you know I’m no stranger to the support helpdesk.
I spend at least two hours a day answering tickets so I can learn how we can serve you better as an organization.
In my free time, I find myself reading books on marketing, business, investing, productivity, etc.
Knowing there is always room for improvement, I’ll pick books / research on areas I can get better and focus on accomplishing it.
Learning is one of the biggest keys to becoming successful working online.
You Only Fail If You Quit
Establishing a business takes a lot of time and a lot of patience, but you only fail the second you stop trying.
Every single one of my successful companies came only after I put the leg work into them and worked through the valleys to reach the top.
I’ve lost money. I’ve lost time. I’ve lost friends. But I’ve never given up.
Success comes in many different forms and it’s not always in profit. Of course, that’s always important when running a business, but if you’re working solely for the money you’re going to find it very frustrating.
Small goals should be rewarded such as launching your business or getting your first 100 sales.
I feel like a lot of the “newer generation” feels like just because you work online, it’s overnight millions. The millions will come, but there is a lot that comes before that!
The Key To Success
You’ve heard this before. The key to success is very simple: Hard Work
I saw something on social media this week that said, “Not working? Get a job. Quit being so picky and just get a job. Arrive early and stay late.”
I’m a firm believer that you will get out of something what you put into it.
Sure, I’ve made some lazy profits pushing affiliate offers/products, but I’ve never been afraid to pull the long nights, get up in the middle of the night, and sacrifice personal time.
Arrive early, stay late.
Working a day job but want to quit? Wake up early to work on your own stuff, stay up late!
New Years Resolutions
As we race towards the New Year one of the top resolutions is going to be to “make more money in 2017.”
If you want to make more, if you want to start your own business, it’s very possible! Actually, based on my opinion, there really hasn’t been a better time in history than there is right now!
The Internet is still a baby, now growing to the reach of our pockets with our smartphones.
The number of business opportunities are almost endless! The only “bad” one is the one you don’t start!
Throw out the excuses and focus on getting it done! Set a goal and don’t let anything get in your way until it’s accomplished!
Simple Formula
18 years later, I’m still that same curious boy at heart, and am still absorbing as much information as I can retain daily.
I practice a healthy lifestyle that includes working out and eating clean to give my body the best possible chance to be competitive.
Tomorrow, next month, and in 2018, I’ll still be the same way as long as I’m on this earth.
The formula is simple and I’ve proven it to work:
Keep learning. Don’t Give Up. Work Your Butt Off.
If you want to learn more about my businesses and how I’ve adapted through the years, make sure to subscribe to The Startup Hero Podcast on iTunes!
Ryan Gray is the founder and CEO of NameHero, one of the fastest growing independent web hosts in the United States. Ryan has been working online since 1998 and has over two-decades experience in Internet Entrepreneurship.
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