I recently took the 10-day JimBoat cruise with 100 other Internet marketers and their spouses and a few of their kids. This is my fourth JimBoat cruise, so I already knew about the quality of the information and networking. But I also learned some new things this year that I wanted to share.
It kind of reminds me of coming back to the office with all of those pink “While you were gone” messages on your desk (for those of you old enough to remember when we got phone messages instead of email!) And I have three “While I was gone” messages for you…
Message 1: Pare down your technology.
I left town with NO computer! That’s right – for the first time in 20 years, I did not roll a computer behind me through the airport, onto the ship, all over the ship, then home again.
Instead, I took my iPad. And it worked beautifully! I added a wireless keyboard – but didn’t even use it. The built-in keyboard worked fine. There was only one time I’d wished I’d had a “full” computer, but we worked around it. (see Message 2)
My advice: If you’re going on vacation/work or even work/vacation ask yourself – do I *really* need my computer or would my smart phone or iPad do? I know my family was thrilled to see I could do “without” a computer for several days. They were of the opinion that we were one and the same before the cruise!
By the way – in day 8 you get a special report about the iPad – you HAVE signed up for this haven’t you?
There are exactly 12 days until Christmas at this point, so it’s the ideal time for you to sign up – and to share it with your list as well!
Message 2: Get a team.
While I was gone I was able to cruise with a clear conscious because I left my team in charge of my business. And while I only have five part-time contractors, it gave me the confidence to only check my emergency email four times during the cruise.
I was particularly pleased when a technical glitch appeared with two of my sites – and they were fixed in less than 24 hours with the team working together. One person spotted the problem, another isolated the error message, and my webmaster did the “fix.”
As I was reading the resolution of the last issue I happily said an emphatic “YES!” The man next to me asked about it and after I explained what had happened and how my team had taken care of it, he said “Wow, you have a REAL business!” (you’ll read an article about that shortly)
If you want to be the CEO of your own business instead of being all of the worker-bees in your business, you need to check out
Outsource Your Membership Site
I’ve just added the full report of who is on my team, how I found each of them, and what they do. It’s a growing source of information for all types of outsourcing – not just membership sites.
Message 3: Attend live events.
If you’ve been on my list for more than six months, then you know this is a recurring theme – you must attend live events. As home-based business owners we live in our own isolated world. Our way of doing things becomes our reality – and that’s dangerous!
You must get out and talk to other people in business. While you can do that through Rotary, a local business networking group and other meetings in your area, I think it is critical that you meet people at events in your industry.
Even though I’ve been in business online for 14 years, I picked up a TON of great ideas this past week that I will be implementing over the next several weeks. These ideas are things that will increase my sales and my profits – and thereby increase my business and my lifestyle.
Could I have learned these same things through online courses, webinars, teleseminars, ebooks, etc? No, I could not.
I could not have picked up that idea that I got sitting in the casino casually visiting with the person next to me as we mindlessly pushed the slot machine button.
Or the tip that someone gave over lunch last Wednesday, without even realizing I needed that specific piece of information.
And I certainly could not replace the new friends I made as we played the slots or had lunch together – or got caught in the rain in Barbados or talked as we snorkeled in the ocean off the Dominican Republic.
These are things that are not planned. They are not part of the “curriculum” of an event – but they are critical to your success. These are the people who become your joint venture partners. These are the people who become your FRIENDS in what is otherwise an isolating business.
I share the events I know about and attend each month in the Calendar section of
If you’re not already a subscriber, you need to be! It’s chock-full of great ideas and information – and it’s totally FREE! Sign up today.
So that’s it – some of the unplanned learning I wanted to share with you. So let me know in your comments below whether these are helpful tips – what would you add?
I just do not understand it. You have the hard hat, the mouse, the zebra print scarf (very fashionable by the way)and you left your computer at home? I’m as confused as your family. Impressed however and I’m glad you have found the power of the iPad. Mine was delivered day-one and I have never looked back.
I am a little concerned, you can’t answer 1300 emails in one day? I truly thought you had a zebra-print S under that jacket for “Superwoman”! Hum…Jeanette in zebra-print tights, now there is a…., well maybe next year.
Sorry to disappoint, Holly, but it’s taken me nearly 3 days to feel like I’ve sufficiently answered those 1300 emails and have things back under control. If I weren’t such a chicken I’d set up my iphone and ipad emails so that they delete the messages from the server when I delete on those devices – but I’m always so afraid I’ll “miss something” Hmmm – that may be another of those things that holds us back – I’ll go add that to THAT discussion.
Thanks for holding down the fort and congratulations on your new book!
Jeanette
Welcome home Jeanette,
Looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing all about your new ideas!
Lauren
Welcome Home Thanks is just not a big enough word, because the 12 days of Christmas was such a Great gift to receive, Anyway, Thanks, I have really enjoyed each day, waiting for your post and then reading all the great things I can do to improve my blog. You are a great help to those of us just starting up. Have a Happy Holiday season.
I’m so glad the 12 Days Free Gifts has been helpful to you, William. As a loyal member of the Online Success Incubator, I know you have a LOT of information at your fingertips, so it’s good to know I can still contribute to your knowledge.
Jeanette
Hi Jeanette.
Since I was on that cruise with you, I wholeheartedly second all that you’ve said about attending live seminars. Nothing can replace the friends you make, the spontaneous ideas that are exchanged, and the education received, especially when it is reinforced with follow-up discussions with fellow attendees. Enjoyed every minute of it and especially enjoyed our annual catchup time. You are truly an inspiration.
Patsy
Patsy
What a wonderful story we have to tell – having met on the JimBoat now four times (total of 5 years). Plus we’ve known each other for years before that – met at a seminar! It’s friends like you that make it so much fun to attend the NEXT live event!
See you on JimBoat5!
Jeanette
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Glad you had a good trip! Thanks for the 12 days of Christmas goodies! Love them myself and loving sharing them with my community too!
Celene Harrelson
Celene – thanks so much for sharing the good news of the 12 Days with your community. A lot of people have some great things to say about the 12 items and I’m really proud of them.
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for the great biz tips Jeanette!
I definitely think that attending live events is a huge reason why I’m moving forward in my business as quickly as I am. I have met wonderful people who care about my success as much as I care about their success.
I agree with you, Jeff. Many of my best friends are people have met at seminars. I met YOU at a seminar, for example! It’s such a joy to reconnect online – and again at the next seminar. These are the people you build a business with online.
[…] stuff. I need to know the person before I give them my information (my name and email address). Jeanette Cates is one of those people. I have taken a class from her in the past. She showed me through videos how […]