These days it seems that more and more people are turning to one of the most popular businesses models in the world, the business of affiliate marketing. In this business, there are no bosses, no deadlines to meet or piles of work that have to be finished by the end of the day.

You can work at it for an hour a day, in your spare time, or twenty hours a day as the fancy takes you. The more work that you put in, the more success you will have. In order to be successful, you need only the basic tools.

There are essentially six things you must have if you want to be a success in the world of affiliate marketing.

1. Desire to learn

The first quality you must possess is the desire to learn, along with the willingness to be trained. Making your way through unfamiliar territory is tough indeed, especially if you're lacking the right knowledge. This is a combination of the right frame of mind and a strong work ethic. When starting out, you'll need to be willing to keep your eyes and ears open, using the experience of others to learn more as you go.

2. Invest time and effort

The second quality you must have is the willingness to invest time and effort in growing your business, even if you don't see results immediately. This leads on to the third, and perhaps most important, quality you must possess.

3. Persistence

Persistence will pay off in the long run. Many people give in far too early because it appears to them that they are wasting their time, when success may be just around the corner. Treat your work as a process, where each task that you perform in your business will carry you one step further toward your goal.

4. Determination

The fourth quality you'll need to possess is determination. If you want to be a success in the world of affiliate marketing, you must be able to push yourself. The ability to push yourself to greater heights will determine what type of future you create for yourself.

5. Discipline

If you teach yourself to work every day with all of your heart and soul, you'll be that much closer to reaching your goals and making your dreams a reality. Ensure that you do some work every day on your business, even if it is only a small amount.

6. Optimism

The last quality you must have is optimism. Bad attitudes, and erroneous thought patterns, should never discourage an affiliate marketer from pursuing their dreams in order to make life better for themselves and their families. The attitude you have towards your business should always be good. Realize that you're the captain of your own ship, and you are the one steering it towards its destination.

You'll need these qualities to be successful, as affiliate marketing can be a cutting-edge career with a huge amount of competition. With these qualities you'll cope just fine in the industry, and they may take you further than you ever thought possible.