What an Exciting Day!
Well today has been kind of an exciting day
for myself and my family. My youngest son
has successfully completed and graduated from
the 8th grade.
Today I found myself being the proud
father once again thanking God for the
children he has given my wife and I.
During the ceremony I found myself for a
few moments thinking about the last 15 years
since we adopted our youngest son Brandon.
Wow! it is amazing
we made it to this point… 
I found myself thinking about him heading off
to High School. Though this is an exciting time,
with brand new adventures ahead for him, He is a
little scared of the unknown that lies ahead.
Probably his mother and I are more scared
than he is.
But I know my son and he will walk right into
the High School and say here I am. He has never
been one to worry to much about what is going
to happen next.
He doesn’t let fear of the un known keep him
bound for long. Matter of fact i don’t know
if we ever have found anything to keep him
penned up.
Even when he was young he would just climb
out of the playpen no matter how many times
he would land on his head. It was the same
for the fenced in yard.
A lot of us are not like this though. We find
our-self inside the fence and feeling safe. We
look over now and then wishing we could just
dare to venture over just one time.
I can remember my other children just watching
their brother climb out and go and do his own
thing while they just stared out at him from
the inside of the fence.
The fear of the unknown, and the fear of
failure keep us safe inside the playpen or the
fenced in yard.
There is a part of your brain that keeps you
protected. It tells you that You will fall if
you get to close to the edge,and to not go out
of the yard, “stay where it is safe.”
While this is a very good thing to have, as it
protects us,it also keeps some of us from
experiencing all of the opportunities and growth
we are meant to have.
Do you know that feeling?
I sure did for a long time. But I found that
the inside of the fence just wasn’t cutting it
anymore. It was getting smaller and smaller all
the time.
Some people have no problem with just climbing
out of the fence even if they land on their
head a few times. They get a big rush from this.
But Some of us just can’t seem to
start climbing. We just stand and stare at all
the others on the other side of the fence
having all the fun wishing it was us.
So what can we do?
Maybe Go someplace quiet for awhile and Start to
imagine What you would do if you were outside of
the fence.
Are you there yet?
Next determine what the problems would be that
could hold you back from accomplishing your goals.
and then try and figure out how you can make these
problems disappear. What would it take?
Once we have the problems figured out Think of each
step you will need to take to achieve your goal.
Go over this many times until it becomes just like
second nature.
It won’t be long and you will be able to
see you have most of the problems all taken
care of and the things you feared most won’t
be so scary anymore.
Let it become as familiar as the fence has become.
Let me ask you this…
How many different programs have you bought
and still it doesn’t seem like you are any
farther ahead?
Why is that?
For me it was easy. They come with a money back
guarantee so It is safe and I feel like I am
accomplishing something.
Now when I don’t get anywheres I can blame it
on the guy who sold me the product and get my money
back. When really it was just because I would have
had to start climbing over to the other
side of the fence and that was to unknown.
My son is special needs. Some say he does things
the way he does because he can’t comprehend it
any difference.
But I know this isn’t true, and if you have ever
been around special needs children you know this
to not be true also.
I wish I had some more of what he has. His
challenges are a little different than what I have,
and yet he just starts climbing up and over the fence
to go after what he wants.
My situations forced me to start climbing. It was
climb now or else. The or else was not an option
for me.
I have found myself on the other side of
the fence playing with those that I used to just
stand and stare at wishing it was me.
So now I know it all and everything is just fine
right?
Nope not yet. I have a long way to go. I need to
prove to myself that it isn’t just a one time offer.
There will be more things I need to figure out. More
problems will come up that I need to deal with.
At least I know I have what it takes if I just
keep on keeping on.
What is keeping you on the other side of the fence?
Figure it out and come on over and play.
Have a great day!!
Jeff Wellman
www.layoffyourboss.com
June 9th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
would love to know how to make money on internet,,,,my mom s sick im not working,, my truck repo ..im sep with my wife kids,,my grandfather died,,,feeling hopeless,,,am still tring to get ahead ,,,not working //neeed all the help i can get.. thank you and god bless john
June 9th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Hey Jeff,
Man, for a new guy at blogging, you’re going to tear this up! You tell a great story!!
You got me! I *want* to fall on my face - because I know that once I do, and I pick myself up, then I can play with the other people who escaped. The people that sprouted wings and learned to soar under their own power. I know that the success doesn’t come without the learning curve.
To everyone else - listen to what Jeff is saying!
I’m serious. This is important stuff. What do you want to be thinking at age 80 -
* Wow, just look at what everyone else did. What if…?
* Hey, where’s my surf board/scuba gear? (While finishing breakfast at your ocean-front shack in Maui…or Fiji…or Tioman Island in Malaysia.) Oh, yeah - I need to send a couple emails….later today.
Jeff, I’m coming out to play.
Cheers,
Tim
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
June 9th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Welcome to the world of blogging. I am not sure which one are u..but i love the video u made. you probably one of the most creative internet marketeer out there. Love it. So now with this wordpress blogging, I hope they will be more freely available tips for us newbie on money making
June 9th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Jeff,
Great Post! My youngest son has just graduated from High School, so I know the feeling. I enjoyed your story. The analogy about climbing out of the pen is perfect. So many of us are afraid of risk, so we stay where we feel safe, only to discover that the real risk was in staying put. I’ll be visiting often.
June 9th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Greetings and Congratulations Jeff.
You are up and running, and I wish you good luck from Ireland.
Actually I have not yet got my own blog going yet, or ezine, or list or money making website. So there, you are not the last to accomplish these things and great goals.
On your point re climbing over the fence, I consider the action to be more complex then that. I reckon if was just a case of deciding to climb over the fence, then many more people would take that risk. But life is more akin to moving through a maze. A walkway with hundreds of exits. Climbing over the fence is equal to making that very first decision to deviate from the safe looking direction in the maze, which is always straight on.
But on taking that first brave deviation, one is often to soon presented with another such agonising choice. Should I go straight on, or turn right or even, dare I turn “left”. Gosh, What to do.
The super successful probably by chance as much as a portion of bravery make it through the maze quite smoothly. By chance no wrong turns or decisions. No ambush attempts. No check points on the way.
Too many internet marketers liken the decision, to purchase or not to purchase their “Absolutely Necessary Product”, to, not being brave enough to succeed in life or make it through to the other side, or to being cowardly.
But many of us do realise that deviating from the straight and narrow may sometimes be the stupid thing to do. Climbing out over the fence, at the wrong time, may be the stupidest thing to do. Some of us do have that sixth sense that tells our subconscious, “Dont do it”, and thankfully, rightly so.
Sometimes but sometimes it is the correct decision to remain behind the fence for a long, long time, and in so doing, being ready to pounce and roar and charge in the face of looming doom and call it’s bluff and win out.
Something tells me that we will be seeing and hearing more of you in the future Jeff. I’ll bet that you often held back instead of taking every single little chance that came your way. I’ll bet that you do have lots to be proud of, eventhough you did not always jump out to be the leader of the pack.
Anyway I better get of and see to my own progress and blog and money making website.
Good luck, C.
June 9th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Well Jeff the only thing I can say is you’re setting the bar nice and high. Looks good on ya. Just more proof for everyone that this whole IM thing can be done by any of us, and done well. Openness, honesty, sharing and a desire to help. Thanks
June 9th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Jeff;; you need better Luck. sounds like you need a better job. a job that you like with good people to work with. how about family how will is your family do you get a long.
June 9th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Hey Jeff,
cant believe this is your first blog…go man go man.
you got it sorted, Great story thanks for sharing it.
if they can can do it so can i
thanks
June 9th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Hi Jeff,
Great first Blog!
I put up a blog about vacations, but it is not as interesting a story as your blog turns out to be. Give mine a quick look, and let me know what you think.
I value your opinion, and would really like to have your opinion.
Keep on keeping on!
Ed
June 9th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Thanks for your wise words. I too am in a position of having to climb over that fence. I just need the tools to do it !!! Today is my Birthday and I know I am at the top of that fence, it has been a long clim but I feel ready to jump over !!!
Many Blessing to You and your Family
Stephanie
June 9th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Jeff,
Great job with your first product, lay off your boss.
I am just a little puzzled as to why you went with a make money on
the internet type product?
What I mean is every where you look on the net, the experts are
telling us that creating any kind of product about making money online
is a waste of time, because it is so competitive, and the market is so saturated, unless you are recongnized as an expert already.
Do you feel like your next product will be along the same lines?
I can not wait to see where you will create your next product from.
I am a big fan of Keith, and now you.
I have attented some of the guru seminors located in my area, but
have not had the success at making friends, or jv deals, I constantly read about everyone else doing.
This is frustrating to say the least.
As for climbing the fence,well I think I have been doing that most of my life and it sure hurts when you hit the ground on the other side and see another fence to climb.
No offence intented, you tell a great story, I just see it a little different is all.
My current job is on the line, again.
No kidding, and I am in scramble mode to find another.
It seems like every since the factory closed where I spent 20+ years working my rearend off, every j-o-b I find ends in my butt being on the line again some way or another, and starting over somewhere else.
I have had 7 j-o-b-s in the last 12 years, after spending 20+ at one.
The good ol american dream, just has not been working for me.
At 48 this is a never ending frustration for me each day.
I have tried internet money making programs for several years now,only to be left with less money and more debt problems.
I have had two sites fail already selling info products.
I have not given up, and am currently gathering info for a new site.
gmenterprisebizadventures3.com coming soon I hope.
Long name I know, and a longer story to boot.
It is just so confusing with PPC, affiliate marketing, resell rights, and ebay?
I find that the more I learn, the less I know, and the more I need to learn.
This is a crazy cycle of frustration.
I have tons of products sitting on my hard drives, so many that I will never be able to read them all fast enough, I will not live long enough too.
How did you find the time to learn all you needed to know to launch a product of your own while working?
I guess it has to help to have a successful son to bounce ideas off like Keith. Great products by your son by the way, List FX, etc. I own a few, I recommend them to anyone wanting to learn this business.
Keith is a great success story everyone should read about.
I spend 99% of my time at work, or getting to or from work, and the rest sleeping paying bills, etc, and studying internet marketing.
If I made enough money I would hire someone to do all this for me, but like many I am just getting by.
J-O-B- stands for just over broke, who ever thought of that one,hit the nail on the head alright.
I am growing older, and more broke each day.
I live in the atlanta, macon area of georgia, and have tried to find someone to mentor, or partner with, but have been unable to meet anyone so far.
Most people I talk to look at you like you are crazy, or you are trying to scam them in some way.
Or they ask you to invest in their products or system, that suck money out of your bank account like there is no tommorrow.
I hope some of the people reading this will know that they are not alone, and others are struggling to make it also.
I highly recommend your product for anyone just starting out, and I have read it twice, and will start again to build a site to make money.
I hope everyone knows that there is no magic bullet to make you money on the internet, it can happen to a few lucky people, but most will have to spend a lot of time learning this business and how to run it.
And if you are like me, time is in short supply when you are making a living and paying bills.
Note to John, you are not alone if that helps, my wife of 21 years left me recently, and it does get better with enough time,I would not say that internet marketing caused my seperation, but it sure did not help.
Money problems, and debt had a lot to do with our break up.
You will spend a lot of time learning this type of business, or a lot of money having someone else set it up for you, either way you lose something.
If you succeed you win a lot that is true, but getting there has from my experience cost me a lot along the way.
Good luck to you, their are plenty of free products to get you started learning avaliable online, just search on google for them.
If it helps you to know, just a few short years ago,I did not even know how to turn a pc on,or off - no joke.
I had to ask someone for help, and I knew nothing about how to use a pc.
No email,no internet,no nothing honest.
I still type slow and use two fingers, but I am getting there one way or another.
Good luck Jeff on your marketing future, hope it is successful.
Thanks for your time.
June 9th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Hi Jeff,
I just want to applaud you for your first blog. You come across as refreshingly normal and human. You have inspired a feeling of trust, so I will be back to read more. That’s what it’s all about, so keep it up. I think you are going to be a roaring success.
Cheers,
Sue, New Zealand.
June 9th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Thank you guys for your Awesome comments.
I will be trying my hand at writing
I will be adding more to the blog as soon as the words of
wisdom start flowing
some articles very soon .
Thanks Again!
June 9th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Hey Jeff,
Great job on the blog. I think some of us particularly in certain religious circles are taught wrong thinking when it comes to contentment. We are tought, where you are is where God wants you, so you should be content in your circumstances. That’s just like being happy inside the fence. How are we to progress if we are content with the “status quo?” But if we are “content” where is the excellence we are called to? We must move forward. I don’t think we are wired to stay still.
See you on the other side.
Gene
June 10th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Hi Jeff,
I am one of your affiliates. It’s good to know that you have started your own blog. I think I need to start my own blog too. I have a lot of commercial blogs but not of my own. I think I need to have my own personal blog, to talk to other bloggers, exchange views and to share techniques.
Great job.
Cheers
Shahrir Hj Ahmad
http://clickedcash.blogspot.com
June 10th, 2007 at 12:45 am
Hello Jeff. Great job on your first blog! You shine in the area of honesty and trustworthiness! You come across as very real and sincere — someone who truly does want to help! If you continue on this road, there is no doubt in my mind that you will shoot up the IM ladder and become one of the most well-known names in IM across the entire Net! You give that personal touch that people like myself are looking for. There are too many so-called marketers who hide behind their website, take a person’s money, and leave that person hanging! You would never do that!!
Thank you again so much. I wish you the very best in all that you pursue!
Kindly,
Reuben — NY, USA
June 10th, 2007 at 12:49 am
Hi Jeff. Your blog is very interesting and I can relate to the “fence”. I guess I was really a problem child many years ago but I did think things out in my immature head. eg. I loved the beach and swimming and lived not far from the sea. I would ask if I could go to the beach and would be told that I could not! My immature brain would calculate the “pros. and cons” as to which would be the best thing to do. That was either stay home all day and be bored or defy my parents and have fun all day at the beach and face the “music” when I returned. My reasoning would be I could have fun for more hours than what ever was “dished” out to me when I returned, so off I would go and have fun! Never did I think I was doing something dangerous, in fact I think I thought I was invincible! However I am still alive today and fast approaching 60 years of age and now attempting to earn an income online.
Good luck
Paula
June 10th, 2007 at 1:08 am
Hi Jeff
I can’t say that I am an expert in blogging. I’ve meddled with some. Some turned out good, others…blehhh…still learning…but way to go Jeff..you’re suh an encouragement with the story of your family. Keep up the good …cheers
June 10th, 2007 at 4:35 am
Jeff
Good for you! Remaining honest, straight forward and sincerely helping others is a weighty task for anyone, I wish you well. I too have experienced more scam than money over the years in many ways like GregM above, being a jack of all trades, bouncing around to provide for my family at whatever job was available, where ever we were at the time. I have experienced some setbacks as well, but have to believe that something better is aways ahead. Two years ago I lost sight in my right eye, lost my job as a result, had built up a debt of almost 80 grand because long term disability which runs out in 08 only pays about half my bills. Jobs are scarce for a senior half blind, so I have been trying to make my own business selling advertising, through an online newspaper. It has taken nine months of steady delay after a frustrating learning curve to get my butt in gear and understand the business enough to start making sales. I have slowly been getting the business in front of people and that has literally been because I go door to door introducing the business. Since the first of the year I have personally handed out well over 6000 business cards, brochures, post cards and talked to many more people than that to get this business off the ground. It is an extremely competitive market and no matter what we sell, people have to want it. It is up to us to find out what they want and but even more useful is we sell to their need. Like a horse we can lead prospects to water, but we can’t force them to drink. The object as I see it is to jog their memory into recalling just how cool, refreshing and delicious that drink of water will make them feel and the fact that we can get that drink to them conveniently and reasonably. Think I’ll sign off, kick back for awhile and have a cool one right now. Everyone enjoy! Aka Stormy - remember using your head is the key to solving any problem!
June 10th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Hi Jeff.
It is so nice to read about a guy that is not affraid to show how he feels and that talks about the problems that are real for many of us. I am just starting in blogging myself and finding it quite difficult to get it all set up the way that i want it.
Like lots of people out there, i have lost and wasted quite a bit of cash on stuff that never has never shown a return. I have decided that i must give it one more bash as the years have all too soon rolled by as youth is no longer on my side. The venture that i am trying this time will be my last, so make or break i have to give it my best shot.
I do sincerely hope that life will treat us all with the respect that we deserve.
Success is only a word, the struggle is real.
Good Luck
Vince
June 10th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Wow… You came with a cool product, yet You don’t have a blog. Happy blogging then. Thanks for your sharing.
June 10th, 2007 at 10:17 am
Hi Jeff,
Way to go with your first blog. Incredible story! Looking forward to your article writing.
You come across as refreshingly normal and human. You have inspired a feeling of trust, so I will be back to read more. That’s what it’s all about, so keep it up.
Best Wishes
June 10th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Sunday, June 10, ‘07, 8:00 am CST
Hey Jeff,
A couple of recommendations on your blog…
1) A photo of yourself along with an audio greeting or audio-video of yourself giving your ’stadium pitch’ on what they can expect and look for in the blog - i.e., teasers so to speak, along with some kind of opt-in Free WOW offer.
2) An audio version of your blog posts (option) for those who do not like to read, but would much more like to listen to what you’ve said in writing, in addition to having the ability to download your blog via an MP3 or WAV/WAM file. All this so that we can listen to you on the run, or as background learning while we are multitasking our our computer
2) Graphics that quickly and visually articulate what you are saying - This is maximizing the whole NLP angle - since different people learn in different ways
Until then,
Cheers!
Geary
June 10th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Hi Jeff
Your right, just to “climb over the fence to the unknown is the greatest challenge for most people. What our personal motivation to do so is will vary from person to person. Fear of the unknown stops so many people from doing something about where they are NOW”
Having climbed over, then take action. Action, Action, Action!
I keep a diary in which I write down each day what I have done. -Built a website, written an article, or a blog post.
Only WHAT you DO matters.
In the diary I also note at the end of each week what I have learned during the week. It can be very interesting looking back to see progress made through the year.
I keep a a note on my desk of something Phil Wiley said in a very rare interview. “Making Success Happen Two Hours At a Time” in which he suggests each day- Close the door have a cup of coffee with you and a kitchen timer set for 2 hours.
Don’t come out until the timer has gone off.
Do not browse the web.
Do not open your emails
Do not answer the phone.
In the 2hours you can build a site from a bunch of articles.
This would produce 7 sites a week.
By the end of the year you will have a decent income!
Just do it and you will succeed. There are no excuses.
Good Luck with your blog. Posts with personal comments-your story, keeps people coming back. They know you are a real person and can relate to you.
June 10th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Jeff: As evidenced by displayng a human touch and thinking fairly deeply, your first attempt at blogging shows great promise. However, there were a number of typos in the text. Being a writer, myself, I’ve found that a good editor goes a long way toward smoothing out the bumps in the road. He or she need not be a high-priced professional. Look no farther than to willing friend.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:24 am
Hi Jeff
Its so amazing I couldn’t believe that you can write so well. May God bless you more.
Love
arifa
June 12th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Jeff,
Way to go! The best way to initiate and keep a good relationship is to just be real. You’ve certainly done that! Even the typos, hey, don’t worry about it. Trust me, there’s a lot of your marketplace that can’t spell perfectly, or are grammatically challenged. As long as you get your message across, which you do, and relate to your audience, which you do as well, why waste precious time by going over your words again and again? As a matter of fact, sometimes I’ll misspell words on purpose, just to see if anyone is paying attention. I suppose what I’m trying to say is this, “Just keep being you!”
Have a great day!
-Charles Olney
June 30th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Hey Jeff. You rule!!
It’s refreshing to have someone not only offer and sell a product, but actually communicate so openly and personally with their subscribers! And you answer all emails!! A regular guy we can all relate to — not someone who puts himself on a pedastal and looks down upon us!! Someone who has true values and is not afraid to share his fears and struggles!! Yes indeed — someone who exemplifies modesty and yet displays leadership!
I can not thank you enough for the many treasures you have shared with us! I am so pleased to have ‘met’ you and consider it a great honor to be a part of your community of subscribers / friends! There is no doubt in my mind that you will go far! Keep up the good work, my friend!!
Best Wishes for Much Success,
Reuben M.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Hi this is Jeff and I just want to thank everyone of you that have posted a comment on my blog. You humble me even more than I am already.
To your success
Jeff
July 24th, 2007 at 9:26 am
High Jeff! Man are you hot! hot! hot! you really do liven things up around the place don’t you. I have a personal letter I need to write to you but before I do can you tell me, will it be published on the Blog? You see the world is not ready yet for what I have to say. But I need to be able to communicate with you without the whole world reading. Keep up the good work. My love to you and yours. Shirley
From the heart wherin the Lord abides.