The following post has been written by Kate, Kate is the most important thing in my life, I love and care for her very much and without her love, support and patience I would not be able to do what I do. I have asked Kate to write a couple of guest posts on my blog which highlight the importance of considering others when trying to build up your online business. The first of these posts is aimed at the budding Internet Marketer and the second, which I will post next week, is aimed at the family of the budding Internet Marketer. They are both very different to what I usually post so I hope find them a good read.

An Internet Marketing Obsession: Guest Post Part 1 By Kate Jackson

Ben and I have been together for three years, which is around the same amount of time he’s been interested in websites and affiliate marketing. He’s very passionate about his websites, he’s taught himself everything he knows and I know he wants to make this a full time career. However he can be a little obsessed with it all.

Ben works full time in the NHS and spends every evening and weekend working on his computer, to the point that sometimes when I come round we hardly speak because he’s so busy. If I’m honest, this has really annoyed me on many occasions and has been the cause of a number of arguments. Even if he says he’s going to have the night off, he’ll very often disappear for an hour and I’ll find him typing away at his desk. And he can talk about new ventures and plans well into the early hours, by which time I’m usually so bored and tired it’s hard to remain enthusiastic.

I imagine a lot of you reading this have also experienced a lack of interest from family and friends and feel, as Ben often does, a bit let down by everyone around you. This post it aimed at trying to make you see from another perspective and hopefully offer advice to ensure your relationships don’t suffer because of your work.

If, like Ben, most of your free time revolves around working on websites, try and find at least some free time where you are completely away from the computer and your mind is switched off from it. Even when Ben is away from his desk he is still thinking of ideas, in fact while away in Somerset recently, he was even thinking of new ventures while we were in a restaurant. It’s really important to try and find that balance between being able to do your work but remembering that your family also need time with you and for you to listen to them. When you can see their eyes glazing over it’s time to stop, but don’t make them feel guilty for not being as interested as you – ask yourself, am I this interested in their hobby’s? I doubt it.

Try and get them involved, but don’t bully them into it or be offended if they don’t want to be. Ben often tells me I could get involved and run my own site, but the reality is if I did, it wouldn’t work simply because it’s not my thing. But family can get involved in other ways; I like suggesting design ideas and I’ve written some content.

But it really is crucial to remember when to shut up and listen to someone else. And talk to your family, if they have reservations about this, talk about it calmly – don’t fly off the handle because you don’t think they’re supporting you. This is one area where Ben and I have rowed; he wants to give up nursing and work as an internet marketer full time. I don’t doubt he could do it and I know he’s passionate about it but I have reservations, which Ben just doesn’t get. It’s not because I don’t support him, because I do, but Ben is an incredible nurse, really brilliant at what he does and he has a fantastic career ahead of him, I just worry about him giving up something which he is clearly very good at and will provide a stable future for the both of us to work as an internet marketer, which I don’t think has a guaranteed income.

Over the last three years Ben has worked incredibly hard to make his work a success, but it really has taken a lot of hard work, which obviously you will also have to put in. But don’t forget that without the support of those around you, it will be even harder so make time for them or you might feel you have to choose between the two.  Ben and I have now, finally, found that balance, but it has taken time and effort for both of us and I really had to try hard to understand why this was so important to him – you now have to explain this to your family.

If you’re spending hours and hours working or talking about projects you have to expect your family to get a little frustrated, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to listen to them talking about their work all of the time. This is the hard part, as a family you need to work together to ensure everyone gets to have their say and express themselves. You have to encourage your partners, as Ben did to me, to listen and join in, but equally you have to give them your attention as well.

Ben has been very focused and dedicated for the last three years, and although it has caused tension and problems, we’ve managed to work things out as a couple. It’s really important that you now find what works for you and your family.

Similar Posts Which May Be Of Interest:

• Internet Marketing – A Business or an Obsession: Guest Post Part 2
• FREE 12 Week Internet Marketing Course from ShoeMoney.com
• Taking Time Out Is So Important!
• Using Youtube As A Marketing Tool