It was late 2007. Broadband either wasn’t very popular or too expensive so for one of those reasons, we were still using dial-up at home.
Late 2007 is when I got the idea into my head to try to make money online. There was not as much information then about how to start an online business out there as there is now, but there was still PLENTY of information.
I became an addict.
Consuming all that content – i.e. internet marketing tactics, videos, articles, streaming audio etc – on a dial-up connection meant very high network provider charges.
High charges meant I always got a verbal spanking from mama who paid the bills, haha. Sorry mum. 
The problem with being a “tactic junkie” is that you learn more secrets, methods, formulas etc but you never actually start anything because you get soo overwhelmed with all that information available out there. Especially when you are new to internet marketing.
Case in point, I started “tactic-consumption” in 2007 and this is my first (in 2010), proper attempt at creating value to make money online. Suffered analysis-paralysis for 3 years!
But the upside of having this addiction is you have something of a road-map that you can use and possibly share with others when analysis-paralysis is worn out. You are not as confused as the thousands who come online everyday looking for how to make money.
This clarity leads me to share how I would start a niche online business or how I would advice someone who asked me how to start one. Before writing this, I did a quick google search on “starting an online business” and became seriously depressed.
It’s like (unconsciously I hope), they were setting newbies up for a lot of stress. Don’t get me wrong, the writers of the information available out there are applauded because what they provide is very valuable, but I thought they were all missing something at the beginning. Even before Niche Research.
So here’s the REAL way I think newbies like me, should go about starting their online businesses.
*Added June 24, 2010*
I guess the point I was trying to come to which may not have come across in the post is that consuming tactics are all well and good but you need a plan of how you will select and use those tactics that you’ve learnt to reach your goals. This is called a Strategy. This blog is the surface of the strategy we’re employing at Digitalbizshop.
So take all you have learnt so far – if you’ve been a tactic-addict – and construct a plan around it. Decide today, right now even, on how you are going to select some of the stuff in your head/computer memory and use it to make money online.
To your wealth!
DappyDude