I owned a construction company for 20 years before I started my own online business. For the first five years, I sweated and struggled, and nearly closed my doors. I came very close to failure, until a good friend offered valuable advice.

When you first start a construction company, you need clients. I found plenty of work, mostly small jobs lasting only two to three days. These smaller jobs paid the bills, but I was running myself ragged. Larger jobs were more profitable, allowing me to stay in one place for longer (which beat setting up my equipment in a new place every day).

As my business grew, I began to get larger jobs. Between myself and my helper, we were busy. Eventually it dawned on me - I had reached my limit. Physically, my helper and I were doing all that we could.

I had another revelation

I hadn’t just reached my physical limit. My earnings had also reached a plateau. Unless we could produce more, we could not earn more. My frustration mounted. While I enjoyed my home based business, I also knew I could earn more money working for someone else. An opening for a building superintendent in Houston was very tempting - higher wages, reduced hours, medical and dental insurance, even a retirement plan. It was appealing.

I had none of these benefits being self-employed. So I had to make a decision. Continue to work 70 hours a week at a fixed income with no benefits…or make a change. Well, I made a change!

The Home Builders Association in San Antonio was offering courses for remodeling contractors. I booked a hotel room for three nights, and made the three-hour drive to San Antonio. The courses were wonderful, informative and entertaining. Even so, I learned more from the other participants. One of the participants, Don Boozer, gave me some valuable advice. He told me I needed to learn to delegate, to stop doing everything and get into general contracting.

“If I don’t do the work, I will need to call others to do the work for me. Why would anyone pay me just to make phone calls?”, I asked.

Don replied, “Oh, they’ll pay you and they’ll pay you well!” And so they did.

I took a chance and followed his advice. Over the next year, my income doubled. The job in Houston wasn’t looking so attractive anymore. In the next year, my income doubled again. And my income has remained at least six figures every year, ever since.

I’m not saying that to brag. Don’s advice helped me, and it can help you too.

Because, the only way to increase your income fast is to increase your business awareness fast. And the fastest way to do that is to start an ez web business or attend a conference that is specific to your industry. If you want to make money online, then go to a conference that is SPECIFIC to making money online and there you can map out a business plan for an online business!

Posted: December 21st, 2007 under Online Marketing.
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