I remember watching the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball, six time NBA Champion Michael Jordan. On many different occasions Michael Jordan clearly stated that determination, focus, and persistence is what helped him reach his amazing accomplishments. There was one feeling in particular that gave Michael the strength, power, and desire to succeed as the greatest player to ever play the game. PASSION.

Webster's dictionary defines the word passion as a powerful feeling or an outburst of strong feeling towards something. This powerful feeling towards something can motivate us to accomplish anything. Passion is also the same feeling that has allowed hundreds of individuals run a successful online business.

Think for a moment of the many different occasions that a friend, coworker, or family member has told you that you didn't have the ability to accomplish something. After they tell you that your plan will not work then they advise you to move on to something else. This is the first obstacle that anyone who wants to start an online business has to bypass.

Here's the big question. Are you going to pick a business that your peers recommend or are you going to pick an online business that you are passionate about? There are two important questions that must be considered before you start an online business. Is the business or product marketable, and do you feel passion for it? If you can answer yes to these questions, you can start building an online business.

Over 90% of individuals that start an online business fail. There is only one way to fail. You fail when you quit. Some of the responsibilities of starting an online business include:

• Finding or creating a product

• Finding a web host

• Creating a web site

• Finding a domain name, plus much more.

More than 70% of the time that you use to run your business should be spent marketing. In the beginning you will have to keep your regular job and run your online business part-time. You have to set up a strict schedule and you must follow it.

Education is another important aspect of running an online business. You want to stay up to date with your competition and new marketing techniques. During the first few months of your business you may not see any profits. Any profit that is earned during the early stages of your business should be reinvested in the business.

Working when you are tired is another obstacle that you must bypass. There will be many occasions that you will feel like sleeping after working a full eight hours on your regular job. Friends and family can be another obstacle. You have to include your friends and family in your schedule and at the same time reserve time exclusively for your business.

All of the factors that we just mentioned must be taken into consideration when starting an online business. It takes tremendous amount of energy to build a successful online business. Will you do it? Only if you start with one thing. Pick a passion. Pick a business that you feel an outburst of strong feelings towards and you will fuel yourself with the intensity and power that only passion can supply.

Copyright 2004 Benjamin Scott