The term “priming the pump” generally refers to the steps that governments take to stimulate an economy. However, you may also hear this saying when it comes to internet marketing.

If you have ever tried using one of those old fashioned hand pumps, you know that it can take quite a lot of effort before the first little bit of water comes to the surface and gushes out of the spout. In fact, you can expend a lot of energy pumping away and not see anything.

When I first heard this analogy, I loved it. There is nothing that so aptly describes internet marketing than that phrase alone. I use it often, actually. Anytime someone (a friend, acquaintance, or family member) wants me to describe exactly what it takes to make money online, I use that analogy because it is perfect.

In the beginning, you are pumping like crazy and not seeing a single drop of water. Compare that to working like mad, putting in 12 hour days, 7 days a week building sites, writing articles, creating backlinks, failing, learning, starting over – AND NOT MAKING A CENT.

Is it any wonder that after putting in hundreds of hours, many people are only too anxious to throw in the towel. Most of us are conditioned to expect to be compensated for any work we do – when it feels like you are working free, it is a little tough to get motivated.

However, in keeping with the “pump” analogy, once water starts to flow, it takes much less effort to maintain.

There is no doubt that internet marketing takes a lot of work. In the beginning, I was easily working 10-12 hours a day and not seeing much in return. I can remember feeling so frustrated at the prospect of working for free.

But then it dawned on me that in order to start a business, you have to be willing to invest either time or money. Think about starting a business in the offline world. People take out massive loans and use their entire life savings in some cases – and the majority don’t make a cent of profit for a year or more – or they fail completely.

It’s all about perspective.

When it comes to shoestring startups, what other business is going to allow you to start from nothing with no investment required except for your time? And if you do it right, it will allow you to make a whole lot more than many offline businesses – and in a shorter period of time.

Like the water pump, work like mad and eventually you will be able to maintain it with much less effort.

That is my ideal state. To have something that produces without much intervention. In a sense, residual income. Once you are at that point, you have one of the most valuable commodities available: Time.

I love skiing!

I was never one for sports (I loved watching, but never participated because of my weight), until I picked up skiing in 2007. I had been losing a good deal of weight and decided to get into the sport after visiting a local ski hill around the holidays that year with some family members.

Initially, I was only there to observe my niece and nephew, but after some prodding from the kids, I decided to rent some equipment and give it a try. It was all they could do not to burst out laughing because I think I shocked them by taking them up on the offer.

At first, I couldn’t even stand on a level surface without feeling as though I would fall over. It took me a while to get up the nerve to finally line up for the tow rope on the smallest of the beginner hills. As I was standing in line, I couldn’t help but notice how insanely large some of the big hills were. I was convinced that I would never get to the point where I could handle them. Watching the skiers swishing down the hill almost effortlessly, I knew that I had a long way to go.

I finally got to the top without falling and making a spectacle of myself, but that was the end of my good fortune. As I disembarked, I began to panic and ended up falling to prevent myself from coming to the lip of the hill where gravity would take over and I’d be in big trouble. The kids were having a good laugh.

The fact of the matter was that the hill was almost flat and there was no way you could get enough speed up to do any serious damage. After a few runs, I realized this.

I spent the rest of the day on the beginner hill by myself because the rest of them wanted to hit the real slopes. That was fine with me and I spent the rest of the morning practicing until my jeans were soaked. Yeah, I was skiing in jeans.

At the end of the day, I felt refreshed and happy with what I accomplished – but I also felt that skiing was something I could pursue. At the very least, it would keep me active during the winter months. So, that spring, I went out and purchased everything I needed at 50% off. Skis, boots, poles, jacket, pants, helmet, goggles, etc. It was a hefty investment, but the equipment would last for years.

Last year, I bought a season’s pass to that ski hill and spent the winter learning on my own after I took a few beginner lessons. I reasoned that it was like any other skill in life: the more you do it, the better you get at it. I logged in at least 30 visits and eventually got to the point where I could handle the larger hills with relative ease. Looking back, I’ve really come a long way since that first day I could barely stand on a flat surface.

The secret? Just keep plugging away at it and don’t stop. With every day that passes, you will see yourself getting better. Take small steps and build on what you already know. Practice makes perfect – and that is so true in many areas of life.

Last year, I got so hooked on it, I neglected my business a few times in favor of hitting the slopes. But that is one of the benefits of internet marketing: you get to make your own schedule.

This year, I am living in the middle of ski country and I have a season’s pass for the biggest resort in the area. I can’t wait for the snow.

The pass is only good for weekdays and nights, but that is fine with me, because the weekends here are too crowded anyway. In fact, I’ve been told that during the week, you can basically ski down and get right back on the lift without any wait at all. That is something that just isn’t possible with a regular job – and is one of the reasons that I love IM so much.

To me, it’s not about the money – it is about the freedom you can have. Even people making 6 and 7 figures a year can’t buy that. Time is one thing that is becoming increasingly precious as I get older. What good is money if you are still a slave to the system?

Just a quick update on things:

Health

I have been close to my ideal weight of 170lbs for some time now. It has been an uphill battle though, considering that I spend most of my day in front of the computer. The key is to develop healthy eating habits and make sure you take a walk or exercise every day. Yeah, I know that sounds obvious, but until I actually got into the habit of eating properly and exercising, I was bouncing up and down like a yo-yo.

My main problem was that I had a bad habit of eating unhealthy and not exercising. For those who also struggle with their weight, it is possible to adopt new, healthier habits that are just as powerful as those bad ones. More on this in later posts.

It has been 3 years since I began losing weight. I’ve come a long way since breaking away from that unhealthy life-style. Back then, I was just over 260 lbs and living on borrowed time.

There is no doubt that I’d have serious health issues today (or worse) if I had continued down that path.

The lifestyle change alone makes it all worth while. I can now do things I would have never attempted back then. This is actually something that I never stopped to think about when I was obese. I always wanted to lose weight for health reasons (and that should be the main motivation), but the lifestyle change was something of a bonus. I have taken up skiing in the winter months now and I believe I have finally found an activity that I can truly immerse myself in.

Money/Business

I am happy to say that I am finally making a comfortable living doing IM. I can’t believe I am saying this because I really had my doubts up until a few months ago. It has taken almost 2 years to get to this point, but I’m glad I stuck with it. For those of you wondering how it could take that long to start seeing a regular income, all I can say is that I made a lot of mistakes – some really stupid mistakes.

Personal

I have moved from my “shack” and the few acres of land I had. The novelty of living the minimalist lifestyle in the woods of Northern Ontario wore a little thin after surviving two winters of waking up every morning to a freezing house, a cold wood-stove, and minus 20 temperatures outside. Not to mention the fact that I never really fit in with the locals.

Anyway, I’ll be posting about this more soon.

I am currently living in ski country in the Collingwood area of Central Ontario. The money from the sale of the property allowed me to buy a condo. Yep, life is pretty good at the moment.

I am still living below what most would consider the poverty line. I simply take what I need to live on, give a little to charity, and then bank the rest. I really have no desire to get caught up my former lifestyle again.