When I started marketing online full-time a couple years ago, I still had this notion that I was going to be a millionaire overnight.

Somehow I felt that God was going to be exceptionally pleased with me and give me more success and wealth than I would know what to do with, and I was certain this would all happen before I would reach the age of 25.

Well fact is, I am exceptionally blessed and not having to go to work every day is more freedom than most millionaires get to enjoy, but I am nowhere close to having that million dollars in my bank account that I always thought I would have.

And that is ok!

I have matured a lot as a business owner and despite many of the “overnight internet multi-millionaire” success stories you might have read, I have learned that building a business online takes time and hard work, just like any other business.

Sure… you don’t have to break your back when working online, but there are other challenges you need to overcome. It is very much a growing process!

In fact, every successful marketer I have gotten to know on a personal level over the years has built their business one brick at a time (one website at a time, one client at a time, one blog post at a time, one backlink at a time, etc).

It takes hard work but the beauty of it is, if you do it right, it will (with time) pay off BIG time!

Here is an email I just received from Jared Croslow, a fellow internet marketer.

Subject: Are you a bricklayer?‏

---

Ever get one of those flash backs while working on something?

I was just sitting here working on some backlink systems and an old memory came to me.

It was from when I was about 14yrs old, and I was just starting to learn the family trade of Bricklaying.

I come from a long line of Bricklayers and Tuckpointers. For generations my family has built churches, court houses, and even skyscrapers.

But what I remember is when I first started to learn bricklaying, and the lesson it taught me about business and life.

You see bricklaying is hard work.

Your back hurts.

It’s hot.

The hours suck.

And for a 14 yr old kid it seemed like an impossible task.

My uncle and I were on one of my first bricklaying job which was to rebuild the side of a wall of an old garage.

It was overwhelming to me. Hundreds upon hundreds of bricks.

“How will we ever finish?” I thought.

But my uncle taught me one of the most important lessons of my life…

“We will do it one brick at a time, and lay each brick as perfectly as possible.”

And so we began. One brick at a time. Add a little mortar. Slide it into place. Tap it a little. Line it up. Check the level. Scrap off the excess. Rinse & Repeat.

At first nothing seemed to be happening.

But before my very eyes a wall began to form. A wall that was strong enough to withstand storms, and to provide protection from intruders.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was learning how to create anything of great value in life.

It’s not fast.

It’s going to suck at times.

And at first it appears nothing is happening.

But then all of a sudden, all that hard work. Materializes into a wall!

Are you a bricklayer?

I know what ever you may be working on today can at times seem overwhelming.

I know it can seem as if you will never get to where you want to be.

But I promise you, if you just focus on laying one brick at a time, as perfectly as you can lay a brick.

Not only will you build a wall, but a wall that will survive the storms, and be there for people to come and see for years to come.

So go lay a brick… as perfectly as you can lay a brick.

Have a great Monday,

Jared Croslow
http://www.cliconomics.com

p.s. My grandfather also taught me another very important lesson.

“Your back is only good for so long.”

Thank you internet!

@ Jared: Thank you for allowing me to post this. I very much appreciate it!

@ my readers: Let me know your thoughts or feedback below and hey, if you like it, why not pass it on?

Someone will thank you for it!

Konrad Braun