I’ve recently been blowing off some real steam about the somewhat ludicrous “work from home” community of late. Things have jsut reached critical mass after three years of working hard in this sector of the Web.

I’ve made a good living working with amateur Internet marketers but honestly I think some tough love is badly needed in this part of cyberspace. On that note here’s another rant…

There are literally millions of people online who say they want their own “Internet business”. But the truth is most of these individuals are lazy daydreamers who want to win the lottery.

Business and the lottery are two very different things. The Web seems full of people who don’t realize this.

Many people seem hung up on the idea that if they just keep going through the motions, they’ll eventually get the break they’re waiting for. In fact sentiments of “it’s going to happen if I keep trying” are common among wannabe Internet entrepreneurs.

Here’s the thing: Nothing happens for us unless we actively create it.

Another really bizarre phenomenon in the pretend Internet business sector is the huge number of people who have been “working online” for years without ever making their first sale. It’s incredible that such circumstances are accepted as normal.

Consider this:

Have you ever come across a plumber, accountant, dog trainer, landscaper, florist, or restaurant owner who says things like…

“Yeah I’ve been at this for five years and still haven’t made my first sale.”

or…

“I really need this to work out soon before I run out of money.”

Or have you ever heard someone who is about to start a new venture as a commercial cleaner, dentist, real estate investor, or hair stylist say things like…

“There isn’t a lot of work involved is there?”
or…

“Can I do this for two hours a week and still make six figures each year?”

or…

“Will I get my investment back in less than two weeks?”

Statements and questions like these would be considered absurd by any traditional businessperson. And yet such ridiculous sentiments are totally common when talking to people who want their own “Internet business”.

I submit that this kind of mentality (term used loosely) is ludicrous, and closer to the attitude of a lotto card gambling junkie than a real entrepreneur. Anyone who says such things and means them should seriously reconsider this whole “online business” thing.

Too many people seem to be looking for a cookie-cutter system that instantly puts them on track to be wildly successful. Even when offered legitimate coaching services, it’s quite common for people who claim to be Internet marketers to ask things like:

“How fast will I start making money after the coaching is complete?”

and…

“Will I get a refund if I don’t make any money?”

It’s an embarrassment to the whole industry of online commerce that people who claim to be Internet entrepreneurs have this kind of childish attitude about their so-called business. No other business niche breeds so many clueless, lazy, something-for-nothing crackpots.

It may be true that infomercials and manipulative copywriters help perpetuate this kind of get-rich-quick mentality. But the truth is the individual must take responsibility for his or her own expectations and actions.

Any form of business requires creativity, effort, risk, commitment, and time to become profitable. Online ventures are no exception.

Choosing to ignore these words and pursue an Internet marketing business with the something-for-nothing mentality is the fast track to frustration and failure. If you don’t love this business, it will crush you. The world of Internet marketing is no place for the wishy-washy, weak-kneed, or undecided entrepreneur.

Success as an entrepreneur is about being passionate, giving wholly of yourself, busting your ass, falling flat on your face and getting right back up, having a good crying jag from time to time, and reveling in the thrill of complete and total victory at the end of it all. Making real money online doesn’t come with the “I’ll scratch off the blocks and maybe match the icons for the prize” approach.

One thing I hear a lot from people when I tell them I’m an entrepreneur is…

“I don’t see how you can make it without having a guaranteed paycheck waiting on you every week!”

This statement in one form or another is a huge excuse people use for not taking the leap and going into business for themselves. While I’m not suggesting anyone just up and quit their job right now without any sort of game plan, I basically believe the idea of a “guaranteed” check is nonsense.

Why should the word of a corporation be worth more than my own promise to myself?

I just doesn’t make any sense that I should put more stock in the owner of a big company than in my own ability to create cash flow. The fact is I do guarantee myself a paycheck!

And I make good on my promise month after month. The notion that one should put all their faith in other parties is typical, and it’s sad.

People want to rely on others to sign their checks, the same way people want to rely on the government to fix society’s problems. I believe this is evidence of a large fear of responsibility.

The world’s current problems are the result of everyone pointing the finger elsewhere and/or expecting others to pick up the slack. But entrepreneurs are different.

We understand the value of risk. In truth there is no real security so what’s the big deal?

And there’s more than enough money to be made. Your skills and knowledge can likely net you far more if you cut the middle man, i.e. an employer, out of the picture and deal directly with customers and end users.

Guarantee your own paycheck and odds are you’ll be much happier and have a lot more money in the bank.

In our society, there are a lot of “part-time” entrepreneurs, and people who call their venture a hobby. That’s great, and I wouldn’t take the fun of playing business away from anyone, but the big rewards are usually reserved for those who are 100% committed.

This is not to say that if you have a day job and work your business on the side, you aren’t fully committed. Many of us started out that way, and then made the leap to full-time entrepreneur when the money was right.

It’s really just all about your mindset, what you want in terms of success, and how badly you want it. If you want to work your business full-time, or just earn a full-time income from passive work, you’ll create this reality.

But if you see yourself as capable of generating a few hundred extra bucks a month at most, that too is the reality you will manifest.

So even if you have a regular job and just work your business on the side for now, you should think big and be fully committed to your own massive success. Work your plan as if your life depends on it, and big rewards will come your way.