Burnt Out and Need Some Advice/Perspective (16)

Hey everyone,

[WARNING - BIT OF A RANT]

I've been hitting Mobile AM hard since March this year and am still yet to see any major successes or victories. I've invested HUGE amounts of $$ (6WAMC and Charles NGO's Affcelerator - as well as STM memberships, Voluum, testing, etc) and 80% of my free time for the last 8 months into this, sacrificing other important areas of my life (gym, relationships, and university) for the chance to become a full time affiliate. I had expectations that if i committed myself to learning as much as i can and take action that it would eventually pay off, and that a temporary sacrifice of everything else in my life would allow me to get ahead. Unfortunately im still waiting for this and just lately feel like i'm really starting to burnout.

I started this journey feeling enthusiastic, a bit nervous and excited about where i could be in the next 6 - 12 months but right now im just feeling confused, defeated, pessimistic and bitter. I've had a few minor victories along the way (a few days of minor $xx profit), but have seen many people start after me who are now killing it (im happy for them though!) whilst im still bleeding cash month after month wondering what the heck i keep missing that many others seem to have understood.

This is just a post to get this stuff off my chest and hopefully get a bit of support or suggestions for what direction i should take, and also if you've been here yourself.

I always try and stay positive and upbeat but im really starting to get depressed about it to be honest as i've invested my heart and soul (and wallet) into this and so far have nothing to show for it.

Thanks for reading.

Take a couple of weeks off from the computer completely. Do not be tempted to think about it, analyse it or do anything whatsoever internet/ AM related.

Catch up with friends and family and the things you have neglected. Take some long walks and enjoy the real world around you and just enjoy being human.

I promise after a total break like this you will come back invigorated with a fresh perspective and will likely see where you have been going wrong. When you are 100% immersed in things you can't see the wood for the trees and the whole thing gets more and more confusing.

Hey
Go check this thread if you haven't already:

http://stmforum.com/forum/showthread...-to-keep-going

Thanks Gary, yeah im gonna wind things down over the next few days and then have a 2 week break and come back a bit more relaxed, refreshed, and enthusiastic.

Thanks Teneo - will have a read right now.

I guess all I can say is that more people than you realise have gone through the same experiences as you.

Whether doing AM or deciding to become an entrepreneur, the fact is that working for yourself is a tough game. We all read about great successes like Facebook and Google, but almost never about the burnout, the depression, the moments of self doubt.

But that doesn't mean that they do not exist. And definitely I can imagine that these feeling and emotions get amplified when you see others achieving and seeing successes.

I do think it is right and brave of you to express your frustrations. Too many people in this industry put up a fake baller attitude which I personally think is not only immature but also quite unhealthy ... not only for themselves but also for others. Instead I think doing what you are doing is definitely right ... Reaching out to others and looking to seek perspective.

I think in addition to the points raised by others, you may get a lot out of Ryan Holiday's book The Obstacle is The Way. I also think that you will continue to find in STM a very positive and supportive community.

Hang in there.

hi chris,
i've seen that it's not always about persistence...persistence does not guarante nothing at all.
Anyway, if you're doing still app install I will switch vertical immediately and try totally different thing and things people talk less.
How is that ngo affcelerator didn't get a boost to your campaigns?

yea, definitely take a break. helps to recover. how much $$ have you invested in campaigns? rather than on courses etc. whats your daily budget? also, try desktop..

Hey!

It's normal and I know how you feel.
I've been riding this rollercoaster too and i've also been in 6WAMC & Affcelerator.

Just something you have to realize: you are a 1000% better marketeer now then you were last year.
Your first 4 figure day could as well happen next month.

Send me a PM and let's have a Skype call.
I want to listen to your rants and try to help you out.

Keep on keeping on

Sent you a pm man. Add me.

Hey aushustler87

I sent a pm. Lets talk

What are your results/ROI compared to few weeks earlier? Did it improve?

Are you sure you gave 120% with every campaign you launched?

Here is what most likely happened:
In this industry almost every success story starts with "I was $Xk in the loss and then I saw success blabla"

So I am seeing more and more people throw money at the screen expecting when they lose certain amount, success will come automatically.

Or maybe you just tried too many things at once, thinking you will achieve success faster.

1) Focus at one thing at the time and hit that campaign as your life depends on it. Focus on quality, not on quantity of campaigns launched.
2) Don't kill campaign after 2days and $50 spend. Let the data lead you.
3) Set your goals high and never be satisfied. Who says campaign can't be profitable right off the bat?

Hey man, I'm a fellow Aussie in the trenches learning this thing, would love to connect more - been full time this year with some wins and losses and definitely some periods of self doubt.

I'll PM you my Skype details.

Will definitely echo some thoughts here and love the book "The Obstacle is the Way"

On comparison specifically... Well seeing some others succeed in much shorter time. Yeah it does suck for sure and I have definitely wrestled with the same thoughts at times. Here is my take on it...

We're all on a different journey with with each individuals journey having an incredible amount of differing variables. Their variables on the surface may look similar to yours...

"yeah dude, just ran mobile and now I'm making $10,000 per day in my third month..."

You think... "shit... I've ran mobile and made next to nothing..."

*Insert feelings of inadequacy*

This is our silly monkey brain (that not so long ago was swinging from trees) and it genuinely struggles with large amount of data. To compensate for our lack of data computation we create stories... Stories are our ways of making sense of large sets of data. The damaging story we create in this specific scenario of comparison to others success in AM is quite simple.

"They're better than me"

But do we really know what has gone into their success? Their variables may seem easy on the surface but do we really understand...

- Their previous background?
- Who they are connected with?
- Their natural abilities?
- Their education?
- The offers / geo's / traffic sources they have run?
- The real time & money they have put in?
- Previous failures?
- Access to specific crucial info relaxing to how to run specific offers?
- Cultural upbringing?
- Mental focus / emotional make up?
- Their first break through campaign which enabled them to have certain mental breakthroughs?

These factors (plus many many more) combine together to create something very difficult to specifically pin down. So don't fall for for simplistic story that they are somehow better than you...

No, they're on a journey, they are on their own path.

The best we can do is celebrate that and take out some very general principles from their success.

Perhaps one day somebody will be reading your success story in STM and thinking to themselves...
"I've been trying at this thing for 14 months, and he was making 1k per day at month 10..."

What would you say to that person?
Maybe that's what you need to hear for yourself right now?

Something that might help illustrate the point I am making is something amazing I learned from the book "the Art of learning" recently...
Michael Jordan is FAMOUS for his end of game, winning plays - or "clutch shots". You can go onto YouTube and watch some of it... it's incredible really. There is arguably nobody else in the history of the NBA that can match his ability to win the game for the team.

But is that the full story? What does the data say?

Michael actually, until recently he held the record for losing the game for his team in the final moments... say wha??
The reality is... Jordan simply put himself out there to try and win it for the team. He took the risk... He went for the shot... He was there - come success or failure.

I guess that brings more context to his famous quote?

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

What was going through Jordan's mind when he was cut from the highschool basketball team? Had the any NBA great been cut from the high school basketball team? Would have comparison helped him at that point? What story was he telling himself as he went to sleep that night?

What would any of us have said to him at that moment in time?

Don't give up!

It's when we get this sort of perspective that we stop with the over simplifications of success and actually appreciate the journey we are all on. Comparison becomes educational rather than a self-destructive cycle and we all grow to become the best versions of ourselves we can be.

I have tried every single internet money making idea you can think of. I have spent almost £100k in the process over a period of around 13 years so far. The most I have made is low 5 figure months and not for very long. Adsense minisites back in the day.

It seems I always find out about the latest money making thing right when they stop working or a company like Google or Amazon change everything.

BUT

If you don't try then it is impossible to succeed. If you do try it is possible to succeed. And that is why I keep trying.

I think A LOT of people out there who claim they make 5 figures a day are absolutely full of shit. People love to brag about false income to make up for shortcomings.

I consider myself quite an intelligent person so it is not like I am going wrong be it following advice, mastermind coaching or gurus so why does it not work for me but works for everyone else...because "everyone else" is lying about their success.

Thanks for all your support everyone, all the messages here and the PM's have been very supportive and makes me appreciate what a good community we have here on STM.

I'm taking 2 weeks off from everything and will come back and dominate then, cheers!

Read this book The Dip by Seth Godin.