nick usborne's blog

Why we are so susceptible to buying into the promise of get rich quick.

In Jason Zweig’s book, Your Money and Your Brain , he writes: “Your investing brain comes equipped with a biological mechanism that is more aroused when you anticipate a profit than when you actually get one”.

I think he is right. And I think this applies to all aspects of our lives.

As solopreneurs we are often more excited on the day we pick up a big new client or project than we are on the day we receive the check for the work.

It is the anticipation that gets us excited.

Marketers who are trying to sell you their latest get rich quick scheme understand this.

This is why they tell stories about how they were dead broke until they discovered some amazing, secret system. And now they live in a mansion and drive a Porsche.

As readers we are susceptible to those stories, because our brains get all fired up in anticipation of the same story playing out in our own lives. We imagine how wonderful it would be. We picture our perfect future lives.

No wonder so many people who buy these packages and systems never even open the box of materials when it arrives. They didn’t pay for the system itself, they paid for the high they got from anticipating a better life.

If Jason Zweig is correct, then we have to remain constantly vigilant. A part of our brain is working against us.

If we get such a high out of the anticipation of profit, then our judgement in many areas of business can adversely influenced.

We’re in danger of making bad choices, time and time again.

But if you remain aware of this hard-wired weakness, you can avoid becoming addicted to these multiple, transitory highs, and focus instead on your longer-term goals.

It is the solo professionals who stay tightly focused on their long-term goals who actually end up with the mansions and Porsches.

Recent reviews of my book, New Path to Riches

“While freelancing can be a constant “where’s-my-next-gig-coming-from?” grind, and ’secure’ 9-5 employment is anything but, smart folk lay the groundwork for that magical phenomenon known as ‘passive income.’ In this comprehensive, readable work, Usborne proves he’s one of the smart ones, laying out a detailed and proven blueprint for capitalizing on the dizzying technological breakthroughs of our age to turn your after-hours passions into steady cash. My own vague ideas now have a focus AND an engine.” - Peter Bowerman, Author of The Well-Fed Writer series.

“As a small business owner working from home, there are times when business slows down (not often, but it does happen). I wanted to find another way to produce income during those times, and have it also be something I love already – researching, writing, and providing information. Purchasing New Path to Riches by Nick Usborne was genius.

Nick Usborne simplifies the money-making website concept with his guide, New Path to Riches. With the economy creating new entrepreneurs by the hundreds, we brave souls who look to find additional income streams to fish from want to have the shortest distance to success. Not get-rich-quick, just additional income by putting forth a little effort. And a fail-safe plan doesn’t hurt either.

In New Path, I had ideas jumping out at me before I hit the halfway point. And by the end, I knew the exact steps to take to begin making money from websites. Nick has been making money for years, and using his approach, the only way I can fail is by not doing anything with this knowledge.” - Loralei Matisse, small business owner.

“If I had to rate your book from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, it would be a 15. From a non-technical person perspective it was very clear and concise. You delved into the subject of how to pick and idea for a website in a very through way and I feel I am closer to getting started and having the confidence to see this project through. I enjoy and have benefited from all of the material you have written.” - Rita Jones, a happy reader.

“Usborne writes extremely well. He’s easy to read, clear about how to approach this, honest about the possible results, and encouraging to people who are desperately trying to find a way to earn money via the Internet. I like the book. I strongly recommend New Path to Riches for individuals who want to begin developing modest revenue streams on the Internet.” - Dr. Ralph Wilson, Web Marketing Today.

“I picked up Nick Usborne’s “New Path To Riches” out of loyalty to Nick – a fellow copywriter.  When I closed the last page I was hooked on the concept of creating a money-making website that’ll ease my retirement years.  Nick doesn’t claim it is effortless at the beginning of the process.  He doesn’t promise you’ll become an instant millionaire.  What he does promise, in easy to understand phrases for a Luddite like me, is a fun way to turn a hobby, a passion, or just an interest, into a stream of steady money that will help pay my bills for years to come.” - Penny Thomas, PennyThomas.com

“Nick Usborne argues convincingly that to earn money online, you don’t need  world-class knowledge;  you can easily be the expert next door.  He explains which kinds of positioning persuade people to open their wallets and how to take the right tone for success.  His book is logically organized, full of  interesting examples and highly recommended for anyone curious about making  money on the Internet.” - Marcia Yudkin, Author of 6 Steps to Free Publicity and 10 other books.

"Awesome book! I’m planning to make it my x-mas gift this year to my friends.

Everyone I know could use a little extra money every month. And this book gives them the blueprint to do just that.

Nick explains exactly what he did to turn a simple website on coffee into a $50K a year revenue stream, and shows readers how they can do it too, on any topic they’re interested in.

I love the overall idea – probably because it’s the polar opposite of most books on internet opportunities out there (and I’ve read a bunch!). It’s not about using the internet to get rich quick. It’s about using it to create an asset that provides a steady income that you can count on." - Rebecca Matter, WhatToCookWhen.com

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