I’d like to convince you that I’m talented in Internet marketing, and that I have a natural business acumen, but all this will not be true at all. In fact I’ve had not much success in any other business ventures before I decided to get into Internet marketing.
So for the sake of nostalgia, and also because my friend Yaro says it’s important to do some sort of “timeline”, I’ll list down all the jobs I’ve done and businesses I’ve ventured into, throughout my journey to where I am now, and the lessons I learnt along the way. You can comment below to let me know your own experiences.
For the sake of comparison, I’ll put my income on the per hour rate, assuming I work 25 days a month, 8 hour per day.
1997: Bartender / Waiter – USD0.79 per hour
This was back in 1997, one of my first real jobs. My parents were against the idea of me working while I was in school, so I only got a job after my SPM final exams while I was waiting for acceptance into college.
This was pure fun for me, and I spent almost all the money I earned on video games, arcades (was a video game freak then) and also to get my dad some new clothing, as I hardly gave him any presents.
It was cool, as I could say “I’m a bartender” and people would go like “Wow… really?”
Lesson learned: It’s not so easy to make money, and very easy to spend it 
1998: Odd Jobs – USD0.50 to USD2.00 per hour
While I was in college, I took on some temporary odd jobs. Needless to say, I wasn’t thinking about making money online at this point of time. I was getting used to living alone, college life and ehem… dating
Lesson learned: College life is fun
2001: Banquet Staff / Lounge Waiter – RM5.00 per hour (USD1.30 per hour)
This was one of my first experiences with jobs that are just not worth the money, and yet I’m surprised by the amount of people who are ever-willing to do it. My banquet staff job in a hotel requires 10-12 hours of continuous work carry tables, cleaning up, washing, and all the other things you don’t want to do.
I remember sneaking away to the toilet to remove my shoes, and spray some cool water on my toes which were hurting badly from 10 hours of not getting a chance to sit down.
I finally decided it was just not worth the money, and I quit.
Lesson learned: Manual labor is not the best way to get rich.
2002-2003: My First Website – USD0.20 – USD0.30 per hour
My first website was done purely for fun, and I had no intention of making money from it, and so I didn’t make much from it in the end. It eventually got up to a peak of USD300 per month, in affiliate commissions selling electric guitars on the Internet, but I abandoned if (for no apparent reason) and the income dropped significantly.
Basically, I thought Internet marketing will not give me a lifestyle I wanted. I was all looking forward to getting a real corporate job, as I envisioned a totally different life in the corporate world.
I quit Internet marketing late 2003 when I struggled to make as much money as I wanted
Lesson learned: You can make some small money online (It wasn’t until 2004 that I realized that some people are making millions online; I wish someone had told me then) .
2002 – 2005: Sales Executive / Account Manager – USD2.60 – USD3.80 per hour
I finally got my corporate job. Within 6 months I realized that someone, somewhere, had told me a lie. I was nowhere near the lifestyle I wanted, and I had even less time than I had before.
It was then that I decided to look for other ways to make more money, but my first ventures were not into Internet marketing. I quit in November 2005.
Lesson learned: Corporate life is all about getting paid to show up.
2002: Home Tuition – USD3.00 to USD6.00 per month
Don’t laugh – I thought English and Maths to primary school children. Some of them were cute and adorable, others I just wanted to strangle with my bare hands. Soon I realized that by trading time for money, I could only make a certain amount of money and not more. Since I was still doing this part time, after about 6 months I quit.
Lesson learned: I love teaching, but not to kids
2003 – 2005: Selling Beauty & Health Products – Lost (USD1.00) to (USD5.00) per hour
I guess you can’t call MLM a job, but I’ll put it in here anyway. In MLM I learned a lot about financial freedom, working smart, leverage and all the other things that changed my life forever. I also met, admired and learned from a lot of great people.
I was selling lipsticks and anti-aging solutions to women, water filters to families, and health supplements to men / women above the age of 40 (its seems those below 40 don’t really care that much).
The sad part was I was always losing money in MLM. I made some money, but eventually all the training expenses (books n’ tapes) eroded whatever profit there was. Whatever I earned from my full time job was spent on MLM. After about 2 years, and 4 different MLM companies, I decided to quit.
Lesson learned: MLM is just a vehicle. You can change vehicles and still head towards the same destination.
2003: Door-to-door Sales – USD0.00 per hour
This was actually an extension of my MLM days, when my upline said “If you can’t sell to your friends, go selling to strangers”.
Well, I did it. I actually made 2 sales of some vitamin products. But divided my the hours spent; you get the picture.
Lesson learned: I rather knock on my own door.
2004-2005: Online MLM – USD5.00 – USD6.00 per hour
I started learning more about online MLM, and although at this point of time I was already growing weary of my offline MLM, I thought it would be different.
I was with SFI and I made quite some money there. That’s where I learned about SEO, AdWords, buiding websites, building minisites, and other Internet marketing tactics. I learned most of what I know now about Internet marketing in my online MLM venture, but I would decide to build a “real” business, with my own products and customers and the whole shebang.
My marketing sites are still up and I get the occasional commission check, but I no longer actively promote online MLM.
Lesson learned: The Internet is how I am going to make my first million. I was impressed with the power of the Internet, but also overwhelmed by it’s size and mysteries.
Lesson to readers: Don’t promote any MLM, even online MLM, on the front end – it’s tough. Do it on the backend after you’ve already made money from other sources.
2004: Web Design – USD2.00 to USD3.00 per hour
Yes I did some initial wed design work, but then decided that it was too much hassle for too little money. One fine day I came across a Feng Shui lady who wanted me to design her store header and graphics. Everything was wrong according to her – the fonts were to sharp, pointing the wrong direction, the colors were “unlucky” etc.
I refunded her money, and decided to quit.
Lesson learned: Don’t trade time for money. Time is limited.
2004: Selling on Auction Sites – USD0.60 – USD3.00 per hour
I wasn’t much into Ebay, but I did some amount of selling on a local portal Lelong.com.my. It took me only a few months to realize that shipping products and making small margins wasn’t all that fun.
Lesson learned: I don’t want to sell physical products, if I have to do it myself.
2005 – Current: Freelance Writing – USD80 – USD100 per hour
I perhaps really started making money online when I was drafted in as a writer for the IAHBE (International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs).
I got the opportunity, and I grabbed it immediately without thinking twice, although at the beginning I seriously doubted my ability in writing.
As a paid writer, I could earn quite a lot but again it was trading time for money. So while I was happy writing (and since it took up so little time), I masterminded my own plan to create a real business on the Internet. After one year as a writer I went full time and started writing more, so I was earning more.
As you can see before September 05 I just treated it as a part time job, and got more serious towards the last few months of 05 and in the beginning months of 06.
But don’t be fooled by the per hour figures, as on average I was only working about 8-10 hours a month writing, as they had some limits on the amount of submissions you can make per month.
I still write occasionally, but I no longer need to depend on it to survive.
Lesson learned: I can actually write, and was good at it in some way.
2005: Autosurf Programs – “made” USD20 – USD100 per hour
When I tell people don’t bother with the get rich quick shemes, I really am speaking from experience.
At the height of the autosurf programs, I made about $1,200 per month in referral commissions alone. So I made about $2,000 per month in total from about 3 different programs.
But as easy as the money came, it went. And when it died overnight I lost most of what I had earned from my writing (above) as I had invested most of it out of greed.
Just stay away from these. No matter what you say, these type of programs WILL get to the part of you that is hoping for a miracle, and want to get rich quick.
Lesson learned: I can be an idiot sometimes.
Jan – Dec 2006: Information Marketing – USD32 per hour autopilot
This part I guess can’t be completed yet. I absolutely loved what I am doing now, but I have no regrets of not doing it earlier, especially when I have already made a small amount of money online since 2002. It’s true I had no guidance at that point of time, and it wasn’t until I came across another Malaysian named Patric Chan when I realized exactly how much money you can make online.
Back then Patric was already making, in my estimates, about $9,000 – $11,000 a month. Shortly before he launched his You Chan Do It personal coaching program in 2006, he was already making much more.
It’s true that I also spent more than I made for the first 6 months or so, but if I did not get that education (or addiction?) early on I would still be clueless now. I still do spend a lot on ebooks, software and other stuff like everyone else does.
The funny thing is that the moment I decided to quit my job and go into Internet marketing, I started taking it seriously, and with the same amount of effort and time I started making some real money online. Maybe it was desperation that made me think hard about everything I did, but hey don’t wait till you get as desperate as I was to get started!
I think the breakthrough for me happened when I understood 2 vital aspects of making money online:
- It’s easier to sell ebooks to people who want to buy them – In my first ebook, I tried to convince people that they needed the information I was selling, and it did not work. It’s tough trying to sell someone something they don’t need.
- In my second ebook I discovered the “Desperate Buyers Method” and completely changed my online strategy as far as information marketing is concerned. Using keyword research tools like Keyword Elite was good, but you cannot find a need by doing this.
- You need to focus on needs rather than wants, and you can do this is you know where the market hangs out, and how they access their information online. Then, get in that and find out what they need.
- You need a solid strategy, not just tactics – Early on, I was focusing too much on tactics (blogging, PPC, SEO) and not on the strategy. Winning Your Niche by Stephen Pierce and Patric Chan is a good resource to understand the differences between tactics and strategies.
I’ve also had moderate success as an affiliate marketer, although affiliate marketing is something I’m still trying to master. Some of the “irregular” 3-figure Paypal payments here are affiliate payments:
Sorry I can’t seperate them to show you only commissions received.
Starting 2007, I’ll be doing a quarterly recap of my Internet home business journey instead of posting everything here.Please refer to these individual posts:
- January to March 2007 – Achieved $7,942
- April to June 2007
- July to September 2007
- October to December 2007
Related Articles:
Gr8 page..one of those pages that hits u on the head with a brick..
InterNETwork marketing…here i come
cheers..
Jagat
2LeggedUtopia inc.
Well GK, Congrate for your achivement. Hopefully you will the best internet marketer in Malaysia.
Bravo bro
Hi Gobala,
Sincerely, I knew about you when you first launched your ebook. I’ve visited lots of entrepreneur sites, followed up with comment from others, and found that they’re all really respect you.And I really respect what you’ve done so far. Hey bro, thanks for sharing ideas, and congrats =)
hanif rahman | http://www.sealserver.com
Gobala,
You are an inspiration to any IM. Much like yourself I spent more money than making it while I was in MLM. These days I’m writing fro profit. All though I’m still at the beginning stages. But it does progress nicely and looking at your success I get even more inspiration to keep going.
Thanks
Hi Gobala
It’s almost a year now since I started learning Internet Marketing. Unfortunately, even after attending seminars by Alex & Armand, WIS, Stephen Pierce’s UYMG – I’m still struggling to get something going seriously.
I’ve been working at it by myself and find it a lonely journey with lots of speed bumps. I also realise the value of having like minded friends who can meet up for teh tarik once in a while, just to brainstorm.
I wonder if there are any friendly groups around Kelana Jaya or PJ that I can join?
Cheers
Lai Yin
Your words, “You need a solid strategy, not just tactics” are honest lessons learned through tough trials Gobala. Thanks for sharing the details of your entrepreneural journey. It effectively demonstrates your credibility. Good job!
What a great idea. Proof indeed that it doesn’t always work first time, or overnight.
Thank you for the brutal honesty!
I’ve also came up with similar timeline while I prepared my MindManager presentation (on my present serial business venture), and I think we can agree on this is very useful, and every serious entrepreneur should have one.
That way, you can reflect on your past accomplisment, alert of what you’re doing, and plan your better routes in the future.
And wow, you still have time for music! Bila nak keluar album ni? Jual kat blog/myspace eh?
Go… hmm, you need another name for music industry. stick with the band’s name…
Seriously impressive timeline. I am definitely going to add one to my blog. I’ve been following your work since Nov 06 and certainly plan to keep on checking back.
Hi Gobala,
Nice work! Being an Indian I feel what you have done! Great Job!
-Janak
http://www.PREasy.com
Helo Gobala , u did well bro. U re the first Malaysian IM i want 2 meet. Heheh.
Hi Bala,
I have to say you are one of the most inspiring malaysian.Your story is a malaysia version of victorious pursuit of true freedom.Nobody can tell you when to wake-up every morning and what your pay slip looks like every month.
I must say that I have to learn from you. My effort of researching internet marketing and e-commerce all these while led me to a total confusion, caused by information bombardment.I’m lost.Direction please…..
salute!
wow…lot of experieces you have. lucky to know you. keep the good work…
Hi Gobala,
Your timeline touched me to the very core of my mind. I felt strongly that for any business, u need to make profit, which can covers (in real) your painstaking drip of effort
I am trying to create something like an online bookshop. Have bought several e books from Patrick (chen), joseph (tan) and hafiz (latib), and a few more international e book seller. been trying to chump and chew one by one, still
but there are several technical things which i still fumbling upon.
last but not least, your timeline really inspires me. I hope I can be, somewhat, better than you bro
Hi Gobala,
What a great achievements for you. Reading your success story just like watching the William Smith movie “The Pursuit of Happiness”…
I didn’t start my full time Internet Business yet. But, I hope that I can follow your success…
Hi,
Thanks for your ideas and great achievement.
Your story can be a good example to others.
When there is a will, there is always a way to achieve it.
Hi,
What a great journey you have and i think everybody have their own journey and destiny.Your chapter-m has gave me an idea that IM can be a good way of another additional income for others in Malaysia.Just that when there is a will there is a way, and there is always a way for us to achieve our goal.
Great work on your achievement.
Adnan
I just started up my business helping consumers import merchandise from the United States. I got some useful ideas on how to market my site from your blog. Thanks!
Hi Gobala,
That was a great timeline which you have provide although i’m now try to get my hand dirty on the internet marketing business but still been too selfish and clueless. Since i’ve found the ebook from joel comm and other gurus still i fell like behind all the jerk but your ebook about chapter-m, i found that malaysia people can make money from clickbank and paypal (use for online game last time) i really excited. But the most important thing is strategy, may be i’ll take your step of success as my guideline or contoh-contoh
btw, great work on your success
John
http://www.wyfer.com/utopia – talking about travel but a copycat from other side
Gobala
Thank you sharing your personal experience with your readers in this blog. I must say most IM like us, started off on similar tracks, initially to make ends meet.
Being a full-time IM is a huge decision and going through the whole journey requires courage and persistence. You have that, I can see.
I am not technical-savy but with friends around like Steven Wong and you, you guys helped me go through these technical hurdles. Syabas! Both of you deserve to do well … and me, later …
Future plans for me this year 2007> conduct ‘build website’ training for newbies, SOHO and SMEs.
God Bless!
May Ong
IM and Trainer
Great Job Gobala! You’ve come along way since AIMS. I’m still struggling to get started. Cheers, Lai Yin
Hi Gobala…
You definitely did a great job in terms of internet marketing.. Keep it up.. Success really in on your way.
Hi Gobala, Thanks for the mail. You ahve found the diamond in Internet Marketing and enjoying your desired lifestyle. I do believe Internet Marketing is one of my income pipeline, but unfortunately I do not know hoe and where to start because out there too many information and do not know which one can help me! Can you give me the directions to begin in Internet Marketing?
Thanks
Dickson
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. I meant to reply more often, but I just could not find the time. Cheers, and I hope any updates I do on this timeline will be positive.
I have been receiving your mails almost everyday. I ignored. Today I wanted to contact you for more info. I’m currently financially down. Age 55. Please advice
Thanks
Hi Globala,
They said that success is a journey and NOT destination. I don’t know what it means at first glance. But, over a period of time, I am beginning to understand.
So, you have started your journey and you are raising your bar as you go along. Well..not bad though when looking back to where it had started. Well done.
Hi Gobala,
Enjoyed reading about your “Journey in Internet Marketing” post. Experiences like yours can be an inspiration to people like us who are still trying to find our way online. Been reading your blog and newsletters for several weeks now, and I think you have some great insights and useful information to share. Keep it up!
To your (and all of our) future success,
Jesse
Thanks for sharing my friend(s).While I won’t go into a timeline at present, I have done some of those jobs; waiter, busboy, mail room employee, phone jockey, delivered newspapers. I dropped out of college in 70′s eventually got a good paying job working for the U.S.P.S., which I stayed with for 15 years. Anyway, I talk more about that on one of my blogs; http://newsriderboomer.blogspot.com
It’s always good to remember where you came from and I have began to keep a daily log.
*The biggest thing I have learned lately is :
1)TAKE ACTION; that is when the ‘genus’ happens. Reading and learning without action is like a ‘feather floating in the wind’.
The wordpress adsense system Goba has created is BRILLIANT!
2) THE POWER of One . Complete one thing at a time. Make it your mantra. Thanks for reading everyone.
Dear Gobala,
thanks for sharing your timeline . Its good to hear from an honest internet marketer whom is willing to share on their background and to reflect back your path and learn from it . The road is never easy but the journey is sure rewarding and painful sometimes.
Wish you all the best with your plans.
Live LIfe with no regrets even when you made a bad choice/decision.
Gobala,
Your IM journey is great. I believe you are not talk only but also talk and act at the same time and set a good exmaple for those new IMers.
God bless.
well, what can i say. congratulations!!! you make malaysian proud.you give me hope to start internet business even though i haven’t started yet. still hunting…
Hi,
Would be very much obliged if you could show how to earn money from blogging as well as affiliate marketing.
Thanks.
kenwahfu.
Cool tmeline bro.Honest humble begining leads to real success.Keep up the great work. Anyway thank you for keeping in touch. If you come over to Singapore gif me a call.
Thanks for this Gobala. I especially like the “lesson learnt:..” part. Eventhough im into different niche myself, hobby as part time career. But i indeed found something useful here. Thanks a Mt. Kinabalu from me.
Hi Gobala, great post and inspiration to us all
I am packing in my job as full time Vet to do this and part time vet work for a better life balance, will follow the blog from now on. As they say if you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much space!!
Hi Gobala,
I was shock when know you share your past in your blog.Not every Internet Marketer willing to share their past to people.
I get a lot of idea after read your timeline. But it’s almost the same, from start learning, losing money, get scam and finally full of experiences.
Thanks for sharing your timeline to us.
What an experience.
I Think I’m going to do a time line myself.
Hi there Gobala. I paid particular attention to your Timeline post. People like you who have been successful, apart fom making more and more money should really try to help others who are just beginning on the net. (There is a spiritual law that says there is benefit from doing this.)
In many instances we need to make money before spending money but my experience has been that one has to have a strategy and a plan if one is to be really successful in business. I guess in essence that was your message. I wish you further success.
Thanks.
Gobala,
Our timeline is quite similar in terns of the MLM and autosurf part… spent money, made money then lost some…
It’s true, at the end of the day, IM has been the money pot for us. But it doesn’t mean it’ll work for everyone else.
For those who hate staring at the PC screen, detest computer stuffs, can’t have the patience to learn techie things and love going out a lot, maybe IM isn’t the way to go too.
Just my 2 cents.
Nice timeline, you’ve certainly been through a lot. Although I still feel a bit lost, I hope to be able to emulate your success in the near future
gobala, email from you always strike but i not really bother, but this time you get me man, you have mention “You could probably learn something useful there”, then I’m here, you post this time are really useful, i really get something now, thanks!
this is not a myth gobala…
i’m almost there….
cayalah gobala… i jumpa you nanti ..
Very nice Gobala! Whatever you did, we all are proud of it! Good luck in life!
very very nice indeed…..you have gone a long way…now I know how noob am I
Hi Gobala,
Awesome!
I’m ‘jealous’ of your success.
I want to ‘duplicate’ your success.
Malaysia Boleh! Gobala Boleh! Deen Boleh!
All Of Us Boleh!
Great Post, Bro.
I have spent a fortune in MLM programs as well during my career ‘timeline’.
I think I have sold everything under the sun. I quit my full-time job as a network administrator to join an MLM program. I even took up sales jobs during my MLM career to pay for my expenses since sales jobs allows you to meet more people and have more flexible timing so you can do your MLM at the same time.
My career timeline would look something like this
2002 – Part Time Jobs, Short Projects
2003 – Full time Network Administrator
2004 – Salesman Network Marketer
2005 – Salesman Network Marketer
2006 – Online MLM Autosurf HYIP
2007 – Full time Internet Marketing
If you asked me if I were given a chance to choose my career path all over again, I wouldn’t change any phase in my career in anyway because every experience is a stepping stone to get you to where you are today.
Although I have lost money in Autosurf programs as well and I am against those get rich quick schemes, I treasure my Autosurf/HYIP experience as it opened up my mind to TRUE Internet Marketing.
Same goes for MLM programs as well. The biggest skill you can learn from MLMs is not how earn a lot of money but by developing the business skills you need so you can succeed in your best industry.
One thing I will never forget are the people who have played a part in my ‘education’. No matter how successful you are in your career timeline, never forget those who helped you get there.
I guess so far, Gobala and Edmund Loh has played the biggest role in jump starting my Internet Marketing Career.
G, just wanna let you know so that when you look back, you can proudly say, “Hey, at least I helped somebody get somewhere.” Thanks for everything.
Cool post Gobala!
Have digged you:
http://digg.com/business_finance/A_Guy_s_Journey_in_Internet_Marketing
Maybe you can add the link to the blog post and get others to digg you too…
Hi Gobala,
you are truely a internet marketer. I wish to do that too but yet I m looking for the niche market
Hey Gobala..
Nice timeline you have written here.. you are a perfect example of a hard working Internet Marketer =)
I got the same problem with you too.. that is writing too.. =P But I think it’s the hard and soul and thinking that got you where you are today =)
I like the way you time yourself and dont trade hours for money. Seriously when I first knew about it I thought it is just crap. But after knowing how much your per hour dollar is you will start thinking and doing things differently that is from my own experience =)
Alvin Phang
http://www.GatherSuccess.com
wOoo.. gobala.. such a nice timeline you have done there..
all those experience in the end means don’t trade hours for money
If you’re Malaysian, I’m having monthly teleseminar and regular “mastermind” sessions where you can meet other local Malaysian internet marketers. You can find all that at http://www.themalaysianrevolution.com
Nice post, as a marketer how would you go about creating a media buzz to generate sponsorship? for a good cause?