If you have read earlier posts on this blog, you will know that I fell into the common “newbie” trap of signing up for too many lists, buying too many “how to” ebooks, not applying most of the instruction they contained because I was wasting time reading emails about more and “better” how to ebooks! You will have read how fate took over and rescued me by keeping me away from my computer long enough for the light of madness to fade from my eyes. Then I was able to unsubscribe from most of the lists, keeping just a few I had learned were worthwhile.

Fast forward to New year 2008 – a good time for a new start. There happened to be several internet marketers launching study courses for people who want to learn how to develop a business on the internet.  By now, I had a good idea of my requirements:

• No hype – I was wary of the ones who tried to push their program with a lot of hype. Presumably, they would be trying to teach me how to do the same and it’s not a style I am comfortable with.
• Support – Another thing I had learned from past experience was to make sure there would be good support, including the availability of a live person if necessary. It’s amazing how I can follow directions absolutely to the letter, yet still have something work out not quite right in the technical department!
• Logical, step-by-step plan – I wanted to be able to study at my own pace, watching how something is done then working out how to do it myself, with access to help if I needed it. I knew I needed a clear, step by logical step plan that I could follow and repeat.  

 In the end, I looked into three training programs. I chose John Thornhill’s Personal Coaching Plan.

John Thornhill is an ebay Powerseller and experienced internet marketer who has been making a good living online since 2004. I had already bought useful products from John and been reading his PlanetSMS blog with interest. I had found that he consistently gives good advice, and I like his no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to marketing. He was one of the people whose list I chose to keep on with. In the past I have watched videos made by John and I knew I could follow his clear instructions, which are always supported by explanations of why you are doing something, or doing it in a particular way. I find this makes it easier for me to learn.

John promised personal attention, promised that no-one would get left behind (not even me?) and for the technical side, had a good support person whom I had dealt with in the past. I paid my money, and spent any spare time I had before the course started deleting unwanted emails – yes, thousands of them!

By the time the course started at the end of January, 2008, I had completed a lot of computer housework (yes, sorry folks, but you do have to keep your computer tidy so that you can find your stuff), and I’d organized my life so that I would be able to focus my time and energy on John’s program.