A Visit Replaced The Picture……

When I was a young child, I remember wanting to travel because of pictures that I had seen in magazines, newspapers and on TV. One of the places I was truly fascinated with was Washington DC.

When I saw the monuments and learned about the importance surrounding this powerful city, I became obsessed with wanting to visit. As I got older, my desire only increased as I learned more and more about the history of this vibrant city. To me it became more than just the city but what the city represented. So much so I previously blogged about it.  See here if you are curious about this short read.

My parents had taken us on a few vacations to amusement parks, camping and long road trips to see family out of our immediate area. But I remember really wanting to go to Washington DC. It was because of the pictures! When I was a child, there were very few videos other than what you might see on TV. And those were just a few seconds of a news story, or a few minutes of a commercial. There was no internet, no YouTube, no video in any format that I could download. But I did have pictures.

I remember seeing the Capitol building and was captivated by its size and I began to study about it and became even more interested because of the people that worked in it every day. I remember seeing the White House and I could only imagine what it would be like to live and work in such a place. I remember seeing the Washington Memorial and how it reached endlessly to the sky and pointed to the stars. There were museums, and office buildings and national treasures and the list in my mind went on and on and on.

There’s absolutely no way that I could describe what I was feeling, and my intense desire to visit this great city.

And then one year just before high school, my dad announced that we were going on vacation and we were going to go visit Washington DC. I couldn’t believe it! My other siblings weren’t as excited as I was as they were hoping for either a beach vacation or to ride roller coasters somewhere. But not me! I was excited to go to the one place I had dreamed about.

I think it was my dad who introduced me to civic interests and learning about government and the rule of law and democracy. So, he and I spent a good deal of time planning our trip. A trip that I would never forget. We did so much on that trip and we visited so many touristy and non-touristy sites. Washington DC did not disappoint.

All those pictures that I had looked at all those years suddenly became alive and suddenly became real! It was like everything jumped off the page!

My fascination and adoration for the city has not changed. I’ve had the opportunity to go back to this wonderful city multiple times and I learn something new each time I go. In fact, when I was a junior in college, I was selected to be a Senatorial Intern for a prominent US Senator and worked on his staff for an entire summer. That was a learning experience that had a profound impact on my life. Yes, I actually lived and worked in the city that I dreamed about.

This was long before there were digital cameras or cameras on the phone. But I did manage to take as many pictures as I could on film that I had to send away to be developed. And when they came back from developing, I got to relive my experiences all over again through my pictures. But this time it was different because I didn’t only imagine being in the pictures, I was there! I was part of the picture.

Later on in life when I got married and had children, I promised my wife that I would take her to this important city one day. A few years ago, that dream came true and since then we have gone a few more times and the city still does not disappoint. And yes, I took many pictures!

The city is more than politics. The city is more than history. The city is more than museums and monuments. The city represents legacy. When I see this city and learn of its history and learn how the decisions that were/are made in this city impact our country and the rest of the world, I get goosebumps. Yes, this city is all about legacy to me!

Now when I see a picture of this city or a video I am reminded of how blessed and fortunate I was to visit this city. Yeah, there are some yucky things that have happened in this city. But I’m not here to talk about that today. I’m here to talk about a few pictures that inspired me to become part of those pictures!

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

When it comes to running an online business, the same principle applies. We can scroll through endless success stories, admire people who’ve “made it,” and picture ourselves living that lifestyle. But until we step into the frame, it’s nothing more than a dream.

Just like those childhood pictures of Washington DC, the vision can stir something inside us, but it won’t become real until we go there and make it part of our lives.

That’s where many aspiring entrepreneurs get stuck. They dream, they scroll, they watch, they even study but they never actually put themselves in the picture. They remain spectators of other people’s success, instead of active participants in building their own. The truth is, no one is going to Photoshop us into that picture. We have to choose to stand in it ourselves.

So how do we do that? How do we move from dreaming about success to living inside the frame of success? It starts with intentional action, commitment, and the willingness to invest. Whether that’s our time, energy, or money. The dream only comes alive when we place ourselves there.

Here are five Ways to Put Yourself in the Picture of Online Business Success

1. Commit to Showing Up Every Day
Success doesn’t happen by accident. Place yourself in the picture by showing up consistently, writing content, posting, networking, or learning. Even small steps compound into momentum.
2. Invest in Yourself and Your Business
Whether it’s a course, coaching, tools, or software, investing financially signals that you’re serious. It moves you from “interested” to “committed.”
3. Visualize and Act Simultaneously
Visualization is powerful, but it must be paired with action. Picture yourself succeeding. But also send the email, build the page, launch the product. Dream + do = results.
4. Stay Actively Involved in the Process
Don’t just hand everything off and hope it works. Learn the systems, understand the flow, and engage in the daily building of your business. Ownership keeps you sharp and adaptable.
5. Pursue It with Passion and Persistence
Just like my excitement for Washington DC carried me through years of waiting, your passion for your business must fuel you through obstacles. Passion keeps the dream alive long enough for persistence to make it real.

The truth is, no one else will place you in the picture. No mentor, no coach, no business partner, no platform. They may provide tools, guidance, and encouragement, but ultimately you must step forward and put yourself there.

When I finally stood in Washington DC, it was no longer about imagining. It was about living it. The same is true for your business. The day you decide to step into the frame fully, boldly, and with commitment, is the day the dream stops being a picture and becomes your reality.

So, here’s my challenge to you. Don’t just admire the picture. Step into it. Put yourself there. Take action today whether that’s starting, building, or scaling your business. Make sure that when someone looks at the “picture of success,” you’re not just pointing at it from the sidelines, you’re right there in the middle of it.

Ask yourself right now what’s one step I can take today that puts me in the picture of my online business? Then go do it. Don’t wait for the perfect time, the perfect tool, or the perfect opportunity. Take the first step. Be in the picture.

I’m getting hungry and I can picture myself eating that big sandwich my wonderful wife made for me. Now that’s a picture I can digest. 😉

“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command.” – Napoleon Hill

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

Why did the picture go to jail? Because it was framed.

What did one statue say to the other in DC?“ Stop taking me for granite.”

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more.  And please continue following my blog.  My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.