Fitness has been a passion for me all of my life. At the age of 54 I still do something daily for my fitness; whether it be walking, stretching, power stretching, resistance training or just a simple what I call "therapeutic stretching". This is usually a yoga/pilates type of stretching while maybe watching a show on TV.

My new passion of online marketing is also something I do daily. This can be a blog post, tweeking and adding advertising, learning social networking, speaking to leads I have created, spending time continually learning and helping other home based business owners that are part of my team.

The most important thing is building my list and offering them value and help to move them forward in their Simple Freedom Franchise.

I was thinking this week of the similar analogies between getting fit and keeping my weight at my optimal level and building and growing a successful online business. These are some of the similarities I see:

1. There is no magic button!

I've noticed all my life that people want this machine or piece of exercise equipment and they will get fit, they think.

Usually the exercise stuff ends up as a close hanger.

Most people online who are new or not think there is a magic button or system or software or matrix or...whatever that will make them successful. NOT!!!

This leads to the next truth.

2. Both take discipline and focus. I've done and still do many types of workouts. Working out comes easy to me most times. I don't always want to work out but I still push myself to do the exercises. I like how I feel mentally and physically when I am done.

Internet marketing does not come to me as easily but it is starting to change as I make commissions.

Obviously that means that I am learning and going in the right direction which inspires me to keep at it daily.

The bottom line is I attempt to learn more about each subject daily.

3. Delayed gratification is one of the laws of compensation and I might have listed this as the number 1 analogy.

Why do I say that?

Well, for those of you who struggle with your weight and fitness level you surely understand this.

So you get motivated and get started with probably some help and away you go.

Let's say your trainer starts you on the resistance program after you stretch and warm up and go through 30 minutes or so of hard resistance and ending with maybe 15 to 20 minutes of cardio ie, treadmill, stationary bike...whatever.

So first just deciding to do this change is tough and now into the 4th, 5th workout and 2 weeks into your decision you now are still over weight and not fit with the added benefit now of feeling like you got hit by a truck.

Your gratification is being delayed. It's going to take some time for the body to adjust.

As far as online marketing most people don't know where to start so like fitness they get help and get started. From what I've seen online getting started can be overwhelming just trying to decipher and sift through the massive amounts of information and disinformation.

In finding where to start your home based business you will try things like replicated websites, trying to build a website, matrix spill overs, go on social networks and spew your opportunity directly to the masses...etc.

There are so many permutations and combinations of how one gets started on line that it is staggering. The bottom line is you are starting your delayed gratification and it will take some time before the money comes.

4. You will need to find motivation for both disciplines. I know this is obvious.

What I'm saying is that you want to put good stuff into your brain via whatever form of media appeals to you. I love to read, listen or watch CD's/DVD's. Some like YouTube videos. It does not matter how you get inspired but obviously changing your programming inside your head must happen.

Most of you think this is crap. You've heard this before. It's neurolinguistic programming.

You know "garbage in, garbage out". It also works the other way around "good stuff in, good stuff out".

Limit your main stream media news. Now that's crap! Do you think this crap is programming you the wrong way? It is absolutely!

Good programming for me has changed my life for the good. Twenty minutes a day is good enough but you need to just do it.

I'm going to say it straight up. You will not be successful with your fitness or your online marketing unless you do this.

This information is easy to find.

I wish you all the good luck hard work will bring you in both disciplines.

Thanks for reading,

Nicholas Wind