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Marion Jones began competing in track tournaments at the age of fifteen.  Her talent and athleticism resulted in her quickly gaining recognition, and winning a lot of races.   Through practice and determination, she made a name for herself in the track and field world.

After graduating for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997 Marion began training for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  In weeks leading up to the 2000 Olympics, all eyes were on Marion Jones.

In a press conference during her pre-Olympic book-signing tour Marion announced that she intended to win gold medals in all five of her competition events at Sydney.  At this time winning five gold medals a one competition was virtually unheard of.

Although Marion missed her goal of five gold medals, she did leave Sydney with five medals, a remarkable feat by any measure.

Questions About Illegal Drugs

Shortly after her winning five medals, suspicions began surfacing of illegal substance abuse.  Marion’s husband, and Olympic hopeful, failed several drug tests leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This cast a shadow of doubt around Marion.

In 2004, someone connected with Marion’s former Olympic coach admitted to having personally provided Marion with illegal performance enhancing drugs.  Although, Marion initially vehemently denied taking any performance enhancing drugs, she later admitted she in fact had, and returned her 5 Olympic Medals.

You and I Are Just Like Marion

Marion took performance-enhancing drugs for only one reason – she wanted a slight competitive advantage.  She wanted something that would help her run faster, jump higher, and perform better.  No doubt about it, she worked extremely hard to get to the Olympics – but so did all her competitors.  She wanted a magic bullet.

The truth is I’m no different.  I’ve spent my fare share of time and money looking for magic bullets:

• When I had my first website built I was under the grand illusion that the website was the magic bullet that would catapult my business to the next level.

• When I attended my first Zig Ziglar Born to Win Seminar, I was under the belief that I would come back and dominate all my competitors.  After all, I was born to win!

• When I bought my Internet marketing course (Frank Kern’s Mass Control), I knew that it would only take a few weeks, worse case scenario one month, before I had people lined up at my door begging to do business with me.

Have you ever had any of those experiences?  Would you be willing to admit you’ve been in search for a magic bullet?  You know what they said about the first step to recovery is admittance.  Just sayin’!

Success Rewards Persistence

I think you’d agree, success rewards those who are the most persistent.  It rewards those who stick with it through the dip.  It rewards those willing to take chances.  It rewards those who are committed.  It rewards those who are passionate.

The Illusion

Have you noticed how the media is a master at making us believe that magic bullets exist?  It’s the whole gold rush thing that seems to repeat itself over and over again.

Those most susceptible to the magic bullet mentality are those of us in search of something.  Often that something we are in search of is something great.  Something bigger than ourselves.  Something that stretches us.  Something that takes us out of our comfort zones.  Something that makes a difference in the world.

Here’s what we know to be true:

Effort x Time = Success

Here’s what we want to be true:

Effort x Magic Bullet = Ridiculous Success

You know that your product will make a difference in the world.  You know that people will be better off having experienced your product, so why wouldn’t you do everything in your power to speed the process up?

Why Are You Willing to Risk It All?

Why take a chance, of being found a fraud and cheat?  Why waste your time, energy, and effort pursuing magic bullets.  Why not make a commitment today to keep you head down and keep pushing.  Like a horse with blinders, keep your eyes focus on what is in front of you, not what is beside or behind you.

P.S. – Although I make my living selling them, I’ll be the first to admit, a new website isn’t going to drastically change your business overnight.  A website is merely a tool.  And like any tool, the more you use it the better the results you’ll get from it.

Conclusion:

As the saying goes, “Slow and steady wins the race”. You may go out there with the “biggest, baddest” product and website only to fall short when someone else comes up right behind you and wow’s your customers with more flash and pizzazz. Building your reputation over time and with success stories, referrals, and experience can help you outlast the next big thing. Think about music or movies. Sure, new forms of entertainment come along, but who do you think has a stronger legacy: The Beatles or One Direction? (Some of you are asking, “Who is that?”) …Exactly.