Think back on some of the things you have been passionate about throughout the years. What hobbies have you had in the past that you really loved? Are you still actively pursuing those passions? Which of those passions have you lost interest in or have otherwise let fall to the wayside?

It can be very important to understand why you lost interest in previous passions. If you can determine the factors involved in letting go of your passions, you will better understand how to stay passionate about something for a longer period of time (or why you may not stay passionate about something as you look a little way down the road).

As we’ve discussed before, you will want to spend more time on things you have a passion for. Your desire will keep you motivated and it will be obvious in your work whether it is in your internet business, family life, hobbies, or just about anything else.

On the same thought, if you recognize the reasons you stuck with certain passions that you have had for longer periods of time, you can better understand what factors are involved in consistently sticking with those passions.

Identify your passions and use them to create happiness and potentially a successful business. Just think about the things you love to do. What would you do if time was not an issue? What would you do if money was not an issue? Those things are the very things that just may give you the time and money freedoms you desire.

- Hill Robertson

The big news today has been the presidential election primaries. Everyone wants their candidate to win for many different reasons. The issues cover just about the entire spectrum including religious beliefs, taxes, health care, illegal immigration, the war in Iraq, the economy, education, and the list goes on and on. When you boil it all down, people tend to vote for the candidate they believe will give them what they want.

What motivates the way you vote or who you want to win? Do you want the candidate that says they will give you everything for free (usually at the expense of others) or do you want the candidate that best enables you to build a successful business of your own? The lines often get blurred as to which side each candidate falls in these areas. Regardless of how you plan to vote (or if you are going to vote at all), you have a choice of how successful you will be.

If you put all of your hope and dreams in what someone else will do for you, whether it be the president of the country or your boss at work, you will end up disappointed. You are the only one that can control the path of your future. While other outside forces may change the terrain of your path and may cause little bumps, pot holes, and maybe even detours along the way, you are still in control of where you drive and how fast you get there.

It really just takes a decision on your part and then consistent action. You can choose to be successful and you can shape your future based on your actions today. Start on your journey of success today. It is YOUR decision. No matter who wins in the primaries or general election, your future is in your control - if you decide to take control. If you take control of your future and take action, the real winner is YOU.

- Hill Robertson

My favorite time to get things accomplished in my internet businesses is late at night. I am pretty much a night owl anyway. My creative juices really get flowing in the wee hours of the morning. Once the clock hits about 10 or 11 at night, my internet business mind kicks into gear. Even though I usually get up around 7 AM to help get the kids ready for school and have busy days all day long up until the kids are in bed around 8:30 PM, I’m just getting going.

I really like working my internet business at this time of night when everything is quiet and I can really focus on my work. I can quietly browse around the internet researching ways to get more qualified web traffic as I monitor web server logs, analytics, and new subscriptions. I start blogging and writing articles. I also work on coding up the next software product or website idea. It is nice and peaceful and I can really focus on good content, software, and products. Take a look at the time stamp on this post. Right now (as I write this paragraph) it is 2:08 AM. I’ve been working since 10 PM. I haven’t had any interruptions - no telephones ringing and no TV distracting me. It is just nice and quiet.

When is your favorite time to work on your internet business? Do you work at night so you can spend time with your family during the day? Do you work while your kids are at school and spend time with them at night? Everyone has different schedules and different motivations for working at different times. That is one of the big advantages of running your own internet business. You can work it when YOU want to. The internet is there 24/7. It is ready whenever you are.

I can get so much more done during these times of peace and quiet when I can stay focused than when I keep getting interrupted by sweet little voices asking, “Can you play with me, Daddy?” Plus, when my children ask me to play with them, I would rather play with them while they are still little and want to play. I can always work the business while they are sleeping. I know in 20 years from now when they are grown and out of the house, I’ll be glad I did. They are only little boys and girls for a little while. Cherish every moment with your kids.

Do I lose some sleep? Yep. Am I tired all of the time? Pretty much. Is it worth it? Absolutely!

Is it worth it to you? Can you lose a little sleep to build your internet business late at night so you don’t interfere with important family time? You can find the time if it is really important to you. It doesn’t matter when your best time of the day is. Just find the best time for you and take action. Stay focused and be persistent. If you can, work your internet business in peace and quiet. You will get more done when you are not getting distracted.

- Hill Robertson

To run a successful internet business, you need to value your time and understand what it is worth to you. If you really take time to think about it, you are probably spending a lot of time on “business activities” that you can better outsource or otherwise take the load off your own plate. It can be easy to get in this trap because you feel like you are working on your business and taking the next step. You may very well be doing that. However, can you spend that time on something more productive that you can’t outsource? Let’s look at this in more detail.

When I started my internet businesses, there were many services I could have outsourced easily. There was also software I should have bought to be able to do certain tasks of my business. Instead, I looked at the cost involved in outsourcing the services and purchasing software. So, in order to “save” money, I would write my own software that would accomplish the same goal as the services and software. But did I really save?

I would find a software product that would help me do a certain business task that I needed to do. It would cost $200. I knew I could write my own software to do the same thing. I would code it up myself so I wouldn’t have to spend the $200. However, it would take me 40 hours to complete the software. Let’s see, that is $200/40 hours. That works out to $5/hour. That is less than minimum wage! I haven’t worked for minimum wage since I was 16 years old. I certainly wouldn’t want to work for that today. Yet, that is exactly what I was doing. In addition, I lost that 40 hours that I could have spent with my family. That 40 hours is gone forever. All for a measly $200.

Of course, if you are starting out and don’t have any money, you may have to go this route to some degree. But really think about the value of your time compared to what it would cost to accomplish the same task through outsourcing in some way or another. There is a cost to everything whether it costs money, time, or both. You can always make more money but the time is gone forever. Think about how you are spending both and then spend your money and time wisely.

- Hill Robertson

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- Hill Robertson

While my kids were out of school
I took them out one day
I took them to the local park
so they could run and play.

We swung in swings and spun on things
I’d never seen before
We climbed up ropes and slid down slides
and played a little more

My kids were just so happy
to have their daddy by their side
The love shined in their faces,
their smiles were full of pride

I couldn’t help but notice
other children that were there
did not seem quite so happy
their demeanor only fair

Then I noticed what was different
with the other children there,
Not one of them had their daddy
at the park with them to share

All the other daddies
were missing all the fun
of watching their own kids grow up
as they frolicked in the sun

Other dads were busy working
at their jobs you see
they traded time for money
instead of time with family

I’m glad that I was able
to play with them that day
A day that I will never forget
and cherish in every way

I did not have to go to work
and trade my time away
In fact I’ll have more days just like it
to run and jump and play

That’s what it’s all about
to have a business of your own
that you can do when YOU want to
instead of always being on the phone

As time ticks by it’s over
forever gone the time will be
So use it on important things
Like God and family

What can be done to get more time
to spend with family?
To do the things you need to do
and have responsibility?

Just set some goals and break them down
to ones you can achieve
Then take the action to get them done
and then you will believe

A business of your own
is not so hard you see
with some action and persistence
it soon can set you free

You’ll gain the time for important things
in life that are so dear
Even simple things you missed each day
soon all will be made clear

You owe it to your family
and your Father up above
To do what is important
and do it all with love

So don’t wait any longer
the time to start is now
decide that you will do it
and then just find out how

HillRobertson.com
is a blog about success;
In business and in family
and life and happiness

Start by signing up for this blog
and follow it day by day
you’ll learn about all kinds of things
to help along the way

Were all in this together
like a loving family
that helps each other to succeed
just do it and you’ll see

- Hill Robertson

It amazes me when I see how much employees will bend over backwards to do whatever their employer wants. Don’t get me wrong, you should give 100% effort and even go the extra mile at your JOB while you are there. When you agreed to work at your JOB, you agreed to do your JOB and you should do so to the best of your abilities. You should be the best employee your employer could ever have. You should do your job as stated in your job requirements (and then some). However, employers have a tendency to abuse their employees and have ways of pressuring them into getting more “free” work by suggesting overtime and/or weekend work. These precious “extra” hours that you give to your employer are stealing away valuable time that you could better use for your family or starting a business of your own.

If you have a JOB, you are already trading your time for money and your employer is getting the better deal. Just think about the time you are missing spending with your spouse or the innocent moments as your children experience life for the first time in every area of their life. You are probably away from your family at least 10 hours a day. If you are like most “average” people, you maybe see your family an hour in the morning and then a whopping 3 or 4 hours in the evening each day. So, let’s see, 10 hours at a JOB and 5 hours with your family. With those stats, it says your JOB is twice as important as your family! I’m sure that’s not the way you feel but that’s what your children see.

So, you are basically left with weekends for family. Use your weekends the best you can for spending time with your family and teaching your kids - especially by example. Don’t let your employer rob you of precious weekend time too. I see too many employees work extra time on weekends for free because they were asked to and they are afraid to say no. What they think is “free” time is actually costing valuable time with family. You would probably also agree that your time with your family is more valuable than the money you make at work. So why are you in this situation? You are in control and you can change your situation if you REALLY want to. You can decide to be one of the 2 percent of people that are successful and in control of their future or you can not decide and default to the 98 percent that are not in control of their future that just get by (or many times fall behind) and are just part of the herd.

Did you ever wonder why you hear people say, “Where did the time go?” when their kids grow up and leave the house? They always feel as if they didn’t spend enough time with their family and wish they could go back and do it over again. They vow they would spend more time with their family and watching their kids grow up instead of working so many long hours. You can choose to spend the most time possible with your family right now so you don’t have the same regrets in 10 or 20 years from now.

Why are you working at your JOB now? It’s all for money, right? But your family is more important that money, right? You can have your own internet business that can make more than you are making now and have enough to compensate for your benefits and other “perks” from your employer.

Think of what is really important in life and make the necessary changes to get your priorities in order. You CAN do it! Just take action and get started on your own internet business. With just a few hours every day, you can build a successful internet business that you enjoy. Follow the posts on this blog and you will begin to understand how you can have a successful internet business and have a successful life.  Subscribe to this blog by filling out the subscribe now box at the top right of this blog to get frequent updates.

Make the most of every day. You only have 24 hours to spend each day. You can’t save it and you can’t borrow from tomorrow. Once your time is spent, it is gone. Spend it wisely.

- Hill Robertson

Are you back to your JOB after having such a great time over the holidays? Do you wish you could go back three or four weeks and enjoy the holiday season all over again? Do you miss spending time with your family now that your days are consumed with your JOB? Whether you believe it or not, it is your choice.

You have chosen to work at a JOB instead of having more time with your family and more time to do what YOU want to do. It is still your choice. You can choose to start your own internet business right now and pave your own way to success. Every day can be like a holiday. You can spend as much time with your family as you would like if you build your business right. You can do it by only spending a few hours each night.

If you really want to have your own business and call your own shots, you can make the choice. You will choose one way or another. You will choose to stay where you are at your JOB and continue to be at the mercy of your employer or you can choose to take control over your own life. Think about what is really important in life and then choose the path you will take.

You CAN do it.

- Hill Robertson

Have you hit the ground running this year? If not, get going right now. There is no better time than now. This is the year to get moving and make things happen. The holidays are over. Hopefully you got your batteries recharged and you are ready to change your future for the better. All it takes is action. It is not as hard as you may think. You just need to set your goals, shut off that TV and other distractions, and just do it.

One of the most important keys is perseverance. Most people that start up anything whether is it a business or other project, do not stick with it. They lose their motivation or jump to the next thing that gives them a warm fuzzy feeling. They live their lives hopping from one money making idea to the next without sticking with anything and therefore waste a lot of time and money. Of course they never admit that they didn’t stick with anything when confronted with failure, they just give excuses why “it” didn’t work instead of looking at themselves and how they could have made it work if they persevered.

Remember that you are in control of your future. What you do today will determine where you will be in a year from now, 5 years from now, and beyond. Everything you do today is a choice that will mold your future. Make wise choices and use your time wisely. Don’t waste your time on unproductive or detrimental activities. Take action right now on improving your future whether it be a successful business, a better family life, or a just being an all around better person. You are the only one that can control your attitude and actions.

Make this year the best ever. Plan where you want to be and what you want to achieve by the end of the year and do what it takes to get there. Don’t worry about the past. It is over. You can’t change it. You can only change today and where you will go from here. Even if your past has been successful, it is over. Don’t just sit back and relax. You will be losing momentum. It is time to keep going and do even better this year. Use your past experiences and even your failures to improve upon the future. Don’t dwell on the negative - focus on the positive.

Welcome to a new year. You WILL control if it is a positive or negative year by your actions and attitude - whether you make a conscious effort or not. So, make it the best year ever. In about 12 months you’ll either wish you did or be glad you did. Decide today which it will be.

It’s a new year - get your butt in gear.

- Hill Robertson