Imagine that a hot air balloon is stationed in the front yard of your home. You walk out the front door you step inside.
The pilot fires up the jets. The balloon rises into the air. You’re rising above your home, above the roof tops of your neighborhood, above your city. Soon you see the curve of the earth encircling you and a panorama of streets and buildings and land. The full expanse of whatever “territory” that you sell to.
If you sell across the entire country or around the world, then imagine your hot air balloon rising so high you can see entire continents.
Now imagine putting on a magic pair of glasses. These glasses are very special. Everything you see through those glasses is red – except for one thing.
Through these magic glasses, any house or building where someone has an unmet NEED that *you* know how to solve is green.
That’s right, if they have a need that you can solve, their house is green. How many green houses would you see?
For most people, it’s thousands. Maybe even tens or hundreds of thousands.
Now… let’s say that you get rid of everyone who isn’t able or willing to spend money. Maybe that eliminates 90%. But how many are left?
Probably still thousands, or tens of thousands.
Whatever you sell – if it solves a legitimate problem – there are people who need it, and will pay for it. As long as that’s true, opportunity never runs out.
That’s why, when push comes to shove, the economy is irrelevant. Because what matters is that another human being, somewhere, needs something from you. And he’s willing to pay for it.
All you need to do now is find him. Because remember: He’s out there.
Never, ever forget that. Doesn’t matter if it’s a product, a service, or just a pair of hands and feet and an able mind. Somebody wants what you offer, right now.
Where are they?
You can use your imagination to destroy your future, or to build it. The news media mostly hijacks your imagination to get your attention. Based on what you FEAR. It’s exploitation. It robs you. Can you think of one single thing that fear has ever provided for you?
When you ask yourself the right questions, the reverse is true. Every question you ask yourself stimulates opportunity and possibility. Your imagination gets harnessed for good or for bad. You alone get to decide how.
Perry Marshall
Inject new life into your business in 12 weeks, starting next Tuesday: www.BobsledRun.com
Only one 4-Man Intensive date still has seats available in 2010: www.4manIntensive.com
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
11 Comments on “Imagination Trumps a Tough Economy”
Hello Mr Marshall, I totally agree with you!! Your imagaination can build up your future or it can tear it down. Even in the depths of the 1930’s great depression they found things to be positive about. Look at Shirly Temple, and how her optimism lifted many people up out of their pessimistic states. That proves that with a positive attitude you can get through anything! In fact, when I was going through the hard work stage of making money (before I had made any money), I used to go around singing Shirley Temples songs to myself, if it could cheer people up in the 1930’s grest depression then you know it works!
I used to sing these 2 songs to myslef when I was sad, try it, it really works :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyfVVGhMLcg&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ6rPxQcGpk
Great analogy… I love it.
What about markets where Google’s keyword tool shows like 100 exact match searches per month? I’m considering entering markets with just a few thousand monthly exact match searches. Is that even a market worth entering, especially given Google’s manipulation of their keyword data?
Raza
I doubt that’s a viable # of searches.
Hey Perry,
Although the bad economy,don’t stop to dream and hope
and don’t let those “thiefs of dreams” to steal your dream.
Thanks Perry, as always an insight into the real economy that real people live in!
As you know by now, I have a small business that provides a real service to those who want quality and satisfaction (my latest new client is no exception).
Given that I work on my own, I do not need much work to make ends meet, but I still need more work – don’t we all? I look around my little village, very neatly kept and full of opportunities, then I travel 2miles down the road to Doorn (where Porsches are measured not by number but by density) and the same is true.
What am I saying? I am agreeing with you that the opportunities are there regardless of the economic situation – here in Holland the recession left a 3% dent in the economy, (though down at the bottom it felt more like a 30% dent). I don’t need much work to make ends meet, and recession or not, doors need a lick of paint!
Gemma
Today’s missive reminds me of when Perry once offered a clever definition of Marketing (rough quote if my memory serves me properly):
“Helping people who need each other, find each other.”
Perry!
Thank you for this posting. I believe in imagination and I believe in flying! I believe in success of “flying” people in any economy. I am still learning How to Fly:)
Again very good posting and not only idea is great but the “melody” of the language is very soft and flying. Great! I am learning from you How to express myself.
Natalia~Natasha
http://facebook.com/natga5
Boy, if I could only figure out what kind of needs I could help people with, I would have a business and purpose instead of this stupid job.
Liked your comments on fear. Fear is the outcome of
ignorance and uncertainty. Everyone is ignorant ,just on
different subjects. I know I am one of them. There is
another level called caution, without it there is no
understanding or selection.
ADwords don’t apply to me they have been scapped by
my associate source. Neither do I belong to any Facebook.
Linda Ignoramous
Perry,
I value the truthful and practical information you provide.
It is helping me in many ways.
The balloon soaring above my neighborhood(which is the world)where those whose needs I can meet have green rooftops,is very persuasive.
I must admit: I am a newbie who is stll learning the basics,but it will not always be this way!
Thank you!
Barbara J
Your post was really encouraging today. Thanks.
I’ve really learned a lot from the products I have purchased from you (FacebookFastTrack, AR Primer, and Renaissance Club). If I can grow my business enough using what I’ve learned I’ll be there someday for a Bobsled or Four Man.
Thanks for all the great content.
Reagan Grell