{"id":4,"date":"2012-11-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/got-a-lot-to-be-thankful-for-living-the-internet-marketing-lifestyle-makes-me-grateful\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T22:30:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T22:30:52","slug":"got-a-lot-to-be-thankful-for-living-the-internet-marketing-lifestyle-makes-me-grateful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/got-a-lot-to-be-thankful-for-living-the-internet-marketing-lifestyle-makes-me-grateful\/","title":{"rendered":"Got a Lot To Be Thankful For? Living the Internet Marketing Lifestyle Makes Me Grateful"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am so thankful for the opportunity to live the Internet Marketing Lifestyle<\/span><\/strong>. You\u2019re probably saying, \u201cReally?\u201d Yes, really. Building a Internet Marketing Empire has given me so much freedom to prosper and live a life with purpose. And getting 100% commissions, is awesome!<\/p>\n

Today, I\u2019m looking out the window of my kitchen. I see the beautiful sky and the colorful trees. The weather is wonderful: it\u2019s a little chilly but the sun is shining and there are no clouds in the sky. Even if the weather is not so wonderful where you are, I bet you still have a lot to be thankful.<\/p>\n

I just read an article by Nick who writes for Income Diary<\/em>. Besides being timely, it is very inspirational. He pretty much says it all. Enjoy\u2026<\/p>\n

20 Things to be Thankful for as an Online Entrepreneur<\/h2>\n
\n

Written by Nick<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Every day of the year is a good day to be thankful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

People who feel grateful have \u201cmore energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not\u201d according to a scientific study in the Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n

On that note, I would like to share with you the 20 things that I\u2019m most thankful for as an online entrepreneur<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

#1 My Mistakes<\/h2>\n
\n
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\u201cAnyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.\u201d<\/p>\n

Albert Einstein<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Since I first became an entrepreneur two years ago, I\u2019ve made hundreds of mistakes.<\/p>\n

I wish I\u2019d made more.<\/p>\n

Even though my mistakes have cost me lucrative clients and long hours, they\u2019ve also been necessary in order for me to learn and continue on my path. I wish I had made more because that would mean that I would have been pushing myself harder and learning more rapidly.<\/p>\n

Yes, I would prefer to do everything perfectly the first time through. But that\u2019s impossible. Instead, I\u2019m thankful for my mistakes because they\u2019re the stepping stones to success.<\/p>\n

#2 The Internet<\/h2>\n

The Internet has made entrepreneurs more powerful than ever before. We can start virtual storefronts that never close and training programs that educate people while we sleep.<\/p>\n

And if somewhere along the way we need help, we can always just Google it.<\/p>\n

#3 PayPal<\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t know if PayPal truly is the \u201cworld\u2019s most-loved way to pay and get paid,\u201d but I can say that it\u2019s the world\u2019s most popular. PayPal has become the international standard for online money transaction.<\/p>\n

PayPal\u2019s popular enough that it\u2019s usually safe to assume that people you\u2019re doing business with online will have an account through the site. I\u2019m thankful for PayPal because it makes billing clients from all over the world a breeze.<\/p>\n

In the last year, about 75% of my business revenue has come through PayPal.<\/p>\n

#4 Being Able to Work from Anywhere<\/h2>\n

This summer, I went on tour with my band for about four weeks. While my bandmates all had to take work off entirely, I was able to manage my video business over email and write for Income Diary.<\/p>\n

Working and maintaining an online business while traveling isn\u2019t easy. Sporadic access to Internet, electricity, and your own personal energy means that productivity can be difficult to come by. Still, some entrepreneurs (like Cody McKibben) adopt the \u201cdigital nomad\u201d lifestyle and run their businesses while traveling the world.<\/p>\n

Someday, I\u2019ll follow in Cody\u2019s footsteps. Until then, I\u2019m just thankful that I can get up and go whenever I want without having to quit my day job.<\/p>\n

#5 Business Partners and Employees<\/h2>\n

Entrepreneurs don\u2019t have to be lone wolves. Working with great people can be the most satisfying part of any job.<\/p>\n

#6 Wikipedia<\/h2>\n

The first time I heard of Wikipedia, I thought it was silly. How could an encyclopedia be trusted if anyone could edit at any time?<\/p>\n

My opinion sure has changed in the last ten years.<\/p>\n

Today, Wikipedia is the world\u2019s most comprehensive, up-to-date, and popular encyclopedia. I use it as a resource while researching nearly every article for Income Diary. Of course, I still check Wikipedia\u2019s citations to make sure that the information is correct.<\/p>\n

In addition to being a great resource, Wikipedia operates entirely without ads. They ask for donations every year in order to keep Wikipedia free and ad-free. If you\u2019re as thankful for Wikipedia as I am, consider donating this year.<\/p>\n

#7 Inspiration<\/h2>\n

Entrepreneurs are full of ideas. When the right idea strikes, it can keep you up all night imagining the possibilities.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019ve written previously about the importance of sticking with one idea and following through with it, I\u2019m still thankful for every new idea I get. There\u2019s a heady exhilaration to brainstorming a fresh business idea \u2013 and few things in the world are more fun.<\/p>\n

#8 New Challenges<\/h2>\n
\n
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\u201cVariety\u2019s the spice of life.\u201d
\nWilliam Cowper, English Poet<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Most of my friends have a 9-to-5 job \u2013 and while they all take pride in what they do, they all have the same complaint too:\u00a0 it\u2019s the same thing, day after day.<\/p>\n

Online entrepreneurs don\u2019t have this problem. Their agenda on any given day changes depending on what stage of development their business is in. One day, they\u2019re a writer, the next they\u2019re a developer, and the day after that they\u2019re a marketer, speaker, or custom support provider.<\/p>\n

Wearing all these different hats is enough to make your head spin. And to be quite honest, sometimes I\u2019ve craved the consistency of \u201cnormal\u201d day job. But in the end, I love that my job as an online entrepreneur presents me with a fresh challenge every day.<\/p>\n

#9 Social Networks<\/h2>\n

Social networks have revolutionized the way that we find out about new ideas and they\u2019ve made it easier than ever for the right idea \u2013 the right product, business, or website \u2013 to gain a huge audience overnight.<\/p>\n

#10 An International Market<\/h2>\n

I run a service business and one of my favorite things about running it online is that it gives me access to a worldwide marketplace of potential clients.<\/p>\n

Just last week I got an email from a company based out of Hong Kong and within 48 hours I was on Skype with them discussing a potential video project. This is the type of opportunity that would never have been available to me only a few decades ago.<\/p>\n

This international market has lead to more clients for me, but that\u2019s just the beginning. Many entrepreneurs hire full-time employees from nations where the cost of living is far less and they\u2019re therefore able to pay lower wages. Of course, if you\u2019re selling a product, it\u2019s also nice to have worldwide customer-base.<\/p>\n

Email is a great way of communicating online, but it has its limitations.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m looking to get to know a client better quickly and to truly understand their project goals, there\u2019s nothing better than a face to face conversation. Skype makes that possible even when my client works halfway around the globe.<\/p>\n

Just as Paypal is the online standard for payment, Skype is the online standard for telecommunication. If my client engages in online business, it\u2019s pretty safe to assume that they have a Skype account. In that case, having a meaningful back-and-forth is as easy as exchanging Skype ID\u2019s and agreeing upon a time to chat.<\/p>\n

Skype is also a great way to stay connected with long-time business associates. Michael Dunlop and I will occasionally check in over Skype and discuss my most recent Income Diary article or an upcoming business prospect. Setting my status to \u2018available\u2019 every once in a while is a great way to keep my business network healthy.<\/p>\n

#12 Passive Income<\/h2>\n

In interviewing twenty of the world\u2019s top online entrepreneurs, I was very impressed with how much money these people were making while they slept. Sure, it took years of work to build their online empires. But once up and running, some were making thousands of dollars a month without any regular effort on their end.<\/p>\n

Since my business is as video service provider, I\u2019m still working very hard for every penny that I earn. But the potential to one day earn a healthy stream of passive income is one of the most appealing aspects of being an online entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

#13 Risk<\/h2>\n
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\u201cHe who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Muhammed Ali<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Starting a business is a risky venture. There\u2019s no guarantee you\u2019ll ever turn a profit. If you do, you\u2019re still just one wrong move from your business unraveling before your eyes.<\/p>\n

Of course, with great risk there also comes the possibility of great reward. Personally, I\u2019m thankful for the entrepreneurial risk in my life. It keeps things interesting, gets my adrenaline pumping, and often brings out my best performance.<\/p>\n

#14 Learning<\/h2>\n

The older I get, the more I love to learn. Unfortunately, I\u2019m no longer in school so I don\u2019t get to sit in class all day any more.<\/p>\n

Thankfully entrepreneurship gives me opportunities and incentives to learn every day. Online business is complex and always changing. Even if I mastered every skill tonight, I would wake up tomorrow with more to learn.<\/p>\n

Entrepreneurs learn quickly because they often put themselves in positions where they have no choice. As Roy Ash, said, \u201cAn entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he\u2019ll quickly learn how to chew it.\u201d<\/p>\n

#15 Adobe Software<\/h2>\n

Since being founded in 1982, Adobe Systems has been creating much of the world\u2019s best multimedia and creativity software including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and After Effects.<\/p>\n

These complex and powerful programs enable an individual to produce professional-quality images, designs, videos, and books \u2013 all with just their computer.<\/p>\n

When I bought a suite of Adobe software for my company just under two years ago, it felt like we transformed from a small partnership into a full-on production studio. As we mastered the software, we became capable of completing jobs in-house that we would have had to outsource before.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have any Adobe software, you can download a free trial of any of their programs .<\/p>\n

#16 Flexible Hours<\/h2>\n

When I was a little boy, I used to stay up all night writing and drawing. When it was time to get up for preschool in the morning, I had to be dragged out of bed.<\/p>\n

Twenty years later, I still stay up all night writing and doing graphic design. The only difference is that I don\u2019t have to go to preschool in the next day. I love that entrepreneurship allows me to follow my own body clock, work when I feel inspired, and go out to the park on days when the weather is just too perfect to pass up.<\/p>\n

#17 WordPress<\/h2>\n

WordPress is the world\u2019s most popular blogging<\/a> platform on the Internet for a reason. It\u2019s simply the best way to publish content online. Income Diary is a WordPress site, along with 16.7% of Alexa\u2019s \u201ctop 1 million\u201d websites.<\/p>\n

#18 Cumulative Growth<\/h2>\n

A business doesn\u2019t grow in a straight line.<\/p>\n

The more clients you get, the more referrals you\u2019ll receive. The more customers you get, the more word of mouth traffic you\u2019ll receive. The more articles you\u2019ve posted to your website, the more traffic you\u2019ll receive month after month.<\/p>\n

I love the feeling of building an asset that keeps giving me a better return on investment the more that I put into it.<\/p>\n

#19 Friends and Family<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s simply nothing more important to me, whether as an entrepreneur or as a human being.<\/p>\n

#20 The Great Unknown<\/h2>\n

As an entrepreneur, my life is a blank canvas. I could go anywhere, do anything, fail or succeed at any number of ventures\u2026 the possibilities unroll before me endlessly.<\/p>\n

I truly have no idea what my future holds. What an adventure!<\/p>\n

What are You Thankful for as an Entrepreneur?<\/h3>\n

Let me know with a comment below.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t started building your own Internet Marketing Lifestyle<\/strong><\/em> business yet, I recommend you listen to this FREE VIDEO<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have an Awesome Life!<\/p>\n

Summer<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s to your Prosperity\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am so thankful for the opportunity to live the Internet Marketing Lifestyle. You\u2019re probably saying, \u201cReally?\u201d Yes, really. Building a Internet Marketing Empire has given me so much freedom to prosper and live a life with purpose. And getting 100% commissions, is awesome! Today, I\u2019m looking out the window of my kitchen. I see […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2061,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,4,5],"tags":[6,7,8,9,10,11],"class_list":["post-4","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-empower-network","category-entrepreneur","category-internet-marketing","category-lifestyle","tag-entrepreneur","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-grateful","tag-internet","tag-internet-marketing","tag-thankful"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2061"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4\/revisions\/23"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/summerbentley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}