Comments on: The Best Way to Succeed Online is to Fail http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/ Smart Ways to Live a Passive Income Lifestyle On the Internet with SmartPassiveIncome.com Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:09:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Carl @make money online http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-15235 Carl @make money online Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:56:23 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-15235 Great post, I started pretty much the same way, floating from one idea to the next and never really getting anywhere. Even now I still have websites that aren't optimized for particular keywords. Frankly if I knew then what I know now I'd be a lot more successful. The wqay I started was by thinking if I could find a niche where I was an expert then get traffic from forums, SU, Technorati I'd be a made man. Trouble is what I know about doesn't pay well. Eventually I got sick of working hard for nothing. Now I own sites in dozens of niches and just write whenever I feel lije it, but they each get around 100 visitors per day and with so many sites I'm guaranteed of making money every month Great post, I started pretty much the same way, floating from one idea to the next and never really getting anywhere. Even now I still have websites that aren’t optimized for particular keywords. Frankly if I knew then what I know now I’d be a lot more successful.

The wqay I started was by thinking if I could find a niche where I was an expert then get traffic from forums, SU, Technorati I’d be a made man. Trouble is what I know about doesn’t pay well.

Eventually I got sick of working hard for nothing. Now I own sites in dozens of niches and just write whenever I feel lije it, but they each get around 100 visitors per day and with so many sites I’m guaranteed of making money every month

]]> By: Matt Belcher http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-13323 Matt Belcher Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:30:56 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-13323 Hi Pat, This is a great post. Although I am just getting started online really, the concept of failing to success is so right. When you mentioned the school comment I smiled as that is what I talk about all the time (ask my wife!). We are taught, or should I say the system teaches us NOT to fail. It says "You fail and it's bad". Rather than "Failing is part of winning, keep going and try again" Can you imagine if someone had told Edison that failing was bad? Would he have laughed? Yeah I am sure he would have done. What if they had taught him this when he was younger? Perhaps he may never have created so many inventions! Failing is part of the way we win. It's how the human success mechanism actually works. We fail, we learn and we improve. Trouble is some say that this is a mistake. The crazy thing is it's a failure NOT to fail. You HAVE to fail to succeed. If what you have said in this post is not true....then how did you and I learn to walk? Great content and site. I heard your story from Yaro Mastermind group. See you soon. Matt Hi Pat,

This is a great post. Although I am just getting started online really, the concept of failing to success is so right.

When you mentioned the school comment I smiled as that is what I talk about all the time (ask my wife!).

We are taught, or should I say the system teaches us NOT to fail. It says “You fail and it’s bad”. Rather than “Failing is part of winning, keep going and try again”

Can you imagine if someone had told Edison that failing was bad? Would he have laughed? Yeah I am sure he would have done. What if they had taught him this when he was younger? Perhaps he may never have created so many inventions!

Failing is part of the way we win. It’s how the human success mechanism actually works. We fail, we learn and we improve.

Trouble is some say that this is a mistake. The crazy thing is it’s a failure NOT to fail. You HAVE to fail to succeed.

If what you have said in this post is not true….then how did you and I learn to walk?

Great content and site. I heard your story from Yaro Mastermind group.

See you soon.

Matt

]]> By: Carol McKenzie http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-9248 Carol McKenzie Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:02:42 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-9248 One cannot know what one will succeed at until one fails at something else...if you don't try, and then fail, you won't be motivated to try, and then succeed. Also, if you stop at just one success, you miss the chance to succeed at other things. I tell my 15 year old son this all the time: failing is sometimes the best thing you can do. Learning what you're good at is great, but learning what you're not good at is just as important. And I think we all need to learn how to accept failure, and realize that if we fail at a task, we are not failures as individuals. Thanks for the thought provoking post. from another eHowian :) One cannot know what one will succeed at until one fails at something else…if you don’t try, and then fail, you won’t be motivated to try, and then succeed.

Also, if you stop at just one success, you miss the chance to succeed at other things.

I tell my 15 year old son this all the time: failing is sometimes the best thing you can do. Learning what you’re good at is great, but learning what you’re not good at is just as important. And I think we all need to learn how to accept failure, and realize that if we fail at a task, we are not failures as individuals. Thanks for the thought provoking post.

from another eHowian :)

]]> By: Big truck trader http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1348 Big truck trader Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:03:16 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1348 @DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com, a very good example u hv given frd ... i don't think anyone hv succeed directly without any failures ... as it makes a person perfect for the next time. and yea there should be passion for our work ... i think without passion we could not get our business to the level which we think at. @DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com, a very good example u hv given frd …

i don’t think anyone hv succeed directly without any failures … as it makes a person perfect for the next time.
and yea there should be passion for our work … i think without passion we could not get our business to the level which we think at.

]]> By: PFI Weekly Updates - February 24 (2009) — Passive Family Income http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 PFI Weekly Updates - February 24 (2009) — Passive Family Income Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:26:43 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1224 [...] - Pat from Smart Passive Income tells us why it is important to fail in order to succeed at making money online. I couldn’t agree more with this point. I think it is extremely important lesson to learn [...] [...] – Pat from Smart Passive Income tells us why it is important to fail in order to succeed at making money online. I couldn’t agree more with this point. I think it is extremely important lesson to learn [...]

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1170 Pat Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:47:23 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1170 @DollarDream$, For now, yes - I am earning about $20k per month online. See my monthly report from Janurary: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/my-monthly-report-january-2009/ I feel very fortunate to be in the position I am today. @DollarDream$, For now, yes – I am earning about $20k per month online. See my monthly report from Janurary: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/my-monthly-report-january-2009/

I feel very fortunate to be in the position I am today.

]]> By: DollarDream$ http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1169 DollarDream$ Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:39:25 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1169 Please tell me you are using $20K per month earning as an example. Are you really earning that much?! Please tell me you are using $20K per month earning as an example.

Are you really earning that much?!

]]> By: Passive Income Online - Lis http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Passive Income Online - Lis Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:07:11 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1133 I'm new to this site but I like your attitude - you are so right that we are taught at school not to fail and then in business to avoid admitting failure and preferably blame someone else! One of the big lessons of being in business for yourself is that you have to be totally honest with yourself and understand your own strengths and weaknesses. The hardest thing Ive found with being online is finding a business model that I was comfortable with - its taken like a year but I think I have got it now! I’m new to this site but I like your attitude – you are so right that we are taught at school not to fail and then in business to avoid admitting failure and preferably blame someone else! One of the big lessons of being in business for yourself is that you have to be totally honest with yourself and understand your own strengths and weaknesses.
The hardest thing Ive found with being online is finding a business model that I was comfortable with – its taken like a year but I think I have got it now!

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1130 Pat Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:54:21 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1130 @Start-Up, Hey, I'm a huge fantasy football player (looks a little less nerdy than MTG, lol) @Start-Up, Hey, I’m a huge fantasy football player (looks a little less nerdy than MTG, lol)

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1129 Pat Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:35:28 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1129 @bdcblogs, If your blog is teaching you to learn, it is not a complete failure. From the looks of it, you have a great start and you are on your way to success. Don't think about how long it will take for you to get there, just always worry about your next step :) @bdcblogs, If your blog is teaching you to learn, it is not a complete failure. From the looks of it, you have a great start and you are on your way to success. Don’t think about how long it will take for you to get there, just always worry about your next step :)

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1128 Pat Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:33:01 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1128 @Sarah H., if you can do it right the first time, that's awesome - but yes, almost everyone fails, but it is those who keep on trying who succeed, and I know you're one of them. Cheers Sarah! @Sarah H., if you can do it right the first time, that’s awesome – but yes, almost everyone fails, but it is those who keep on trying who succeed, and I know you’re one of them. Cheers Sarah!

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1127 Pat Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:31:53 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1127 @Camille, exactly! It's all about trial and error - experimentation :) Well said. @Camille, exactly! It’s all about trial and error – experimentation :) Well said.

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1126 Pat Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:31:07 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1126 @Jennifer, I'm sorry to hear about your lay off, but I think your attitude about it is a great example of how we should always keep our head up, and even though we get knocked down sometimes, we should always get back up and fight back. Good luck with everything, and as someone said to me before, thank your previous employer for taking away your ball and chain. :) @Jennifer, I’m sorry to hear about your lay off, but I think your attitude about it is a great example of how we should always keep our head up, and even though we get knocked down sometimes, we should always get back up and fight back. Good luck with everything, and as someone said to me before, thank your previous employer for taking away your ball and chain. :)

]]> By: Steve http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1122 Steve Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:06:16 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1122 Great post! I have failed at least: (let me count) six times. However, as the founder of IBM stated, if you want to succeed you need to double your failure rate. So, I guess I have 12 more failed attempts to go! The key, however, is whether I am learning from my failures, versus just doing the same dumb things over and over :) <abbr><em>Steve´s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/SuccessFactors/~3/e8nAHVIkv8w/guaranteed-formula-to-turn-failure-into.html" rel="nofollow">Guaranteed Formula to Turn Failure Into Success</a></abbr></em> Great post! I have failed at least: (let me count) six times. However, as the founder of IBM stated, if you want to succeed you need to double your failure rate. So, I guess I have 12 more failed attempts to go! The key, however, is whether I am learning from my failures, versus just doing the same dumb things over and over :)

Steve´s last blog post..Guaranteed Formula to Turn Failure Into Success

]]> By: Jeff http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1121 Jeff Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:30:07 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1121 @Pat, Haha, no worries... you are indeed starting to think like the internet greats. :) Thanks for the support on the eBook, when I get it finished I will get a free copy into your 'internet hands'. <abbr><em>Jeff´s last blog post..<a href="http://thehowtoworld.blogspot.com/2009/02/urgent-update-regarding-how-to-world.html" rel="nofollow">URGENT UPDATE REGARDING The How-To World</a></abbr></em> @Pat, Haha, no worries… you are indeed starting to think like the internet greats. :)
Thanks for the support on the eBook, when I get it finished I will get a free copy into your ‘internet hands’.

Jeff´s last blog post..URGENT UPDATE REGARDING The How-To World

]]> By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1119 DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:53:09 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1119 Failing is how we learn . . . If you doubt that, think about how you learned to walk-- by falling down and by getting back up! <abbr><em>DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com´s last blog post..<a href="http://divorceddadfrugaldad.com/2009/02/16/words-of-wisdom-washington-and-lincoln.aspx?ref=rss" rel="nofollow">Words of Wisdom: Washington and Lincoln</a></abbr></em> Failing is how we learn . . .

If you doubt that, think about how you learned to walk– by falling down and by getting back up!

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com´s last blog post..Words of Wisdom: Washington and Lincoln

]]> By: The Passive Dad http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1116 The Passive Dad Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:05:04 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1116 This is a very motivating post and it makes me not want to repeat my failures. I've failed on many auctions on ebay as it's not easy to sell items that have high competition. I thought I could purchase closeouts from a wholesale distributor and sell them for a profit. I failed. <abbr><em>The Passive Dad´s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thepassivedad/BEqd/~3/gDP7wcuZ1wA/" rel="nofollow">Money Saving Tips From ehow Friends</a></abbr></em> This is a very motivating post and it makes me not want to repeat my failures.
I’ve failed on many auctions on ebay as it’s not easy to sell items that have high competition. I thought I could purchase closeouts from a wholesale distributor and sell them for a profit. I failed.

The Passive Dad´s last blog post..Money Saving Tips From ehow Friends

]]> By: Start-Up http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1114 Start-Up Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:33:41 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1114 MAGIC!!! AHHH! you are a nerd. Although, I'm for sure a nerd as well. Mostly with my ridiculous fantasy sports passion (baseball season!!!). It's always nice to succeed right off the bat, but you have to learn from your mistakes when you fail. <abbr><em>Start-Up´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.personalfinancestartup.com/2009/02/12/my-favorite-blog-articles-of-the-week-3/" rel="nofollow">My Favorite Blog Articles of the Week</a></abbr></em> MAGIC!!! AHHH! you are a nerd. Although, I’m for sure a nerd as well. Mostly with my ridiculous fantasy sports passion (baseball season!!!). It’s always nice to succeed right off the bat, but you have to learn from your mistakes when you fail.

Start-Up´s last blog post..My Favorite Blog Articles of the Week

]]> By: bdcblogs http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 bdcblogs Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:07:38 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1109 Hi Pat- This post really spoke to me. As it stands right now, my blog is a complete failure... except in one regard. It's forcing me to learn. This may not translate into success for my current venture, but it keeps me on the road to success. I just don't know how long the journey is going to be. <abbr><em>bdcblogs´s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/accelerateyourwealth/EuAJ/~3/2QJiwfUGcKM/" rel="nofollow">Passive Income from CashCrate Leaps Up</a></abbr></em> Hi Pat-
This post really spoke to me. As it stands right now, my blog is a complete failure… except in one regard. It’s forcing me to learn. This may not translate into success for my current venture, but it keeps me on the road to success. I just don’t know how long the journey is going to be.

bdcblogs´s last blog post..Passive Income from CashCrate Leaps Up

]]> By: Weekend Reads & Mushy Koala Photo :: Steadfast Finances http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1108 Weekend Reads & Mushy Koala Photo :: Steadfast Finances Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:59:20 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1108 [...] from The Smart Passive Income Blog made a great point that failures are often the best way to succeed.  I’ve always said that I learned more from making a well thought out mistake than a [...] [...] from The Smart Passive Income Blog made a great point that failures are often the best way to succeed.  I’ve always said that I learned more from making a well thought out mistake than a [...]

]]> By: Avdi http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1107 Avdi Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:34:32 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1107 A tip from Avdi: a single-minded focus on SEO may damage your rank with actual human beings. Otherwise, great post. My own experience suggest that knowing what I'm failing at is far superior to not being sure what I am trying to succeed at. A tip from Avdi: a single-minded focus on SEO may damage your rank with actual human beings.

Otherwise, great post. My own experience suggest that knowing what I’m failing at is far superior to not being sure what I am trying to succeed at.

]]> By: Sarah H. http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1106 Sarah H. Sun, 15 Feb 2009 23:00:16 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1106 What a motivating post! I can think of several of my ideas that have "failed" during the past few years and it's encouraging to know that I'm not alone. :) It takes several failures before finding a success!! <abbr><em>Sarah H.´s last blog post..<a href="http://lifestylesoftheorganized.com/2009/02/13/mission-appliances-electric-indoor-grill/" rel="nofollow">Mission: Appliances - Electric Indoor Grill</a></abbr></em> What a motivating post! I can think of several of my ideas that have “failed” during the past few years and it’s encouraging to know that I’m not alone. :) It takes several failures before finding a success!!

Sarah H.´s last blog post..Mission: Appliances – Electric Indoor Grill

]]> By: Pat http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1105 Pat Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:56:16 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1105 @Jeff, Hi Jeff, wow, i didn't even see that shoemoney post. I feel bad cause I don't want anyone to think I jacked that blogpost idea. Anyways, at least I know I'm thinking like him, and maybe that's a sign someday I'll get to his level :) Good luck on your eBook, I'm really interested to see it! As always, thanks for your comments, Jeff! @Jeff, Hi Jeff, wow, i didn’t even see that shoemoney post. I feel bad cause I don’t want anyone to think I jacked that blogpost idea. Anyways, at least I know I’m thinking like him, and maybe that’s a sign someday I’ll get to his level :)

Good luck on your eBook, I’m really interested to see it! As always, thanks for your comments, Jeff!

]]> By: Jeff http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1104 Jeff Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:25:26 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1104 This reminds me of ShoeMoney's recent blog post :) Thoroughly enjoyed this post! As a philosopher, I love Edison's Quote on making the Incandescent Light Bulb (paraphrased version): It wasn't finding one way to make it work, it was 1,000 ways it couldn't work. Thats been my life motto since I've heard it :) I have been in the works on an eBook that follows this Édisonian Philosophy... and reading this post keeps me inspired! THANKS! This reminds me of ShoeMoney’s recent blog post :)
Thoroughly enjoyed this post! As a philosopher, I love Edison’s Quote on making the Incandescent Light Bulb (paraphrased version): It wasn’t finding one way to make it work, it was 1,000 ways it couldn’t work. Thats been my life motto since I’ve heard it :)
I have been in the works on an eBook that follows this Édisonian Philosophy… and reading this post keeps me inspired! THANKS!

]]> By: Camille http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/the-best-way-to-succeed-online-is-to-fail/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 Camille Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:08:01 +0000 http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/?p=659#comment-1103 If you do it enough, you don't even notice it as "failure". It's experimenting. I've had a number of blogs, and I've been a writer for decades. Everything I've done is just leverage for stuff I'm going to do. <abbr><em>Camille´s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ReadingChineseMenus/~3/q7XAhuySNsI/yu-something-fishy.html" rel="nofollow">Yu - Something Fishy</a></abbr></em> If you do it enough, you don’t even notice it as “failure”. It’s experimenting. I’ve had a number of blogs, and I’ve been a writer for decades. Everything I’ve done is just leverage for stuff I’m going to do.

Camille´s last blog post..Yu – Something Fishy

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