Hi everyone, I'm feel quite fortunate to have discovered Theme Zoom, Krakken, Art Crowley's multi-channel and marketing module and Charles Heflin's social media module.  I've spent several years hacking my way through the internet marketing "wilderness", trying to separate the wheat from the chaff, looking for a solid, hopefully integrated approach that (1) actually works over the long term; (2) increases my productivity; (3) helps me to more effectively and efficiently serve my markets; and (4) helps me create profits.  As for many others, this has been an expensive and time-consuming process for me.  

 I like what Russell Wright et al have been saying and doing over the past year or so.  I feel like I may have found a "home" after quite a bit of searching.    

 A wise person once said, "your time is your life".  How true!  Compared to those of you who are twenty-somethings, I'm noticing at age 68 that the sand in the Hourglass of Life is slipping along rapidly, with more sand in the bottom than in the top.  So my remaining time is more precious than ever. 

 It's my fond hope that Krakken and related tools and methodologies and masterminding will provide me a means by which I can leverage my precious time.  

 I recently read Dan Kennedy's "No BS Time Management for Entrepreneurs".   He confirms what I already knew:  most of our time is UNproductive, meaning that it is activity that does not take us in the direction of our goals.  I am intensely busy.  And I suspect you are too.  But what is the actual, measurable result of all that frenetic activity?   It's shocking how little of importance we actually accomplish by the end of the day.  It seems that we are submerged in the endless pounding surf of daily distractions and demands upon our time.   Well, I for one am doing everything in my power to increase my productive time.  Self-discipline is a key factor, I think.

 Elsewhere in this forum, Mr. Black challenged us with these critical questions:  "Are you ready to do the work?  What are you going to do to ensure that you Get Things Done?"   Mr. Black has hit the nail on the head.   

 It seems to me that time "leverage" is a partial answer to Mr. Black's questions, by implementing:

1)  As much automation as possible.

2)  Effective delegation, with full accountability.

3)  Well-designed system and procedures.

3)  Change in personal behavior that increases the proportion of productive time.

 I think the ability to examine and then quickly, fundamentally change your behavior is an essential prerequisite for online success and attainment of whatever you want to achieve in your life.

 I can recall when I was a practice management consultant that all the failing business owners told me the very same thing:  they felt absolutely overwhelmed, they had a deep-seated fear of marketing, and they were not able to get their employees to be productive.   They were like a deer in the headlights, frozen in place.  We all have deeply ingrained habits and beliefs that are very hard to shake.  But for some of us at least, we need to find ways to change our behavior if we are to meet Mr. Black's challenge to us.

 By the way, as a side note, I did attempt to drag some of my past clients kicking and screaming into the online world.  Those who had websites were horrified when I told them the site they had paid thousands to have built for them was utterly worthless....no SEO at all, no traffic, etc.   Nicely designed, but no traffic, no income...

 Other odds 'n ends....

 My favorite guru:  Jerry West.  I subscribe to his webmarkingnow.com membership program.  Worth every penny and more.   He gets directly to the point and bases his comments on actual evidence.   I've heard very good things about David Bullock from several different sources but haven't acquainted myself with his program.

 My favorite CMS:  Portal Feeder.  I'm just starting to use it now and I like what I see so far.   I've been using Site Build It (sitesell.com).  It's a solid product that I also like, but its proprietary database causes serious site development and maintenance inefficiencies. 

 My biggest technical challenge at the moment:  Making a transition from 1shoppingcart.com to Infusionsoft.com.  Infusionsoft gives me customer segmentation and multi-channel marketing options that 1shoppingcart does not offer.  However, Infusionsoft has been going through some growing pains.  I have found their shopping cart module to be below my personal expectations although some of their other modules offer great promise.