Norbs 1000th Bomb - The Big Payback.

[NCMedia]

Family,

First and foremost - THANK YOU - As I start this 1000th post I start to reflect on how the heck I got here and the crazy way it has all morphed into what it is today, and what it will turn into tomorrow.

I have no clue what to do in order to celebrate my own 1000th post so to be a little wacky, I'm going to put up $500 today for prizing money to you guys as my way of paying back to karma and the community that supports our efforts.

First though, let's take a trip through time... I'm going to get personal with you guys and tell you a story to motivate you and let you learn more about me.

It was a boring and cool late summer night in 2007, I had recently met who I thought was the woman of my dreams, and collectively we both decided that we should take the next step, minimize our cost of life, and save up to start a new one together... Through our efforts I left a comfy pad downtown Toronto and moved back in with family during this transition while I saved up to buy a home (remember the phrase 'minimize my cost of life' for later in the story). The idea was to stay home with family for a year or two and build up enough savings to have a tiny mortgage if any at all. I stopped IM'ing/designing, and due to her majesties requests and despite my instincts, I took on an high xx,xxx salary again at a 9-5.

Well, that night in 2007 I was sitting on my back porch sulking like mad because the woman of my dreams and I clashed for the last time, and it was over. The job that I had was down to it's last days I couldn't do it anymore, and so I left shortly after, and now I'm single, almost 30, and living with mommy again - FACK!!! Once over my rut, I started to appreciate this situation I was placed in, wow this 'minimize my cost of life while I save' stuff is infectious (not to mention nothing beats home cooked meals). So in an effort to get through this in the best transition possible, I focused on taking this time to open new doors, try new things, experiment with deregulated ideas, and while I'm saving like mad, and have money to play with, it was my time to do or die slowly.

Thinking back, it was all a blessing in disguise. It forced me and pressured me into doing things I normally might not, or be shy to attempt. I decided I'm going to try AM'ing and whoring my talents/skills for publishers while starting up my own product BLINDLY. Simply gathering ideas from all the different offers and ways of marketing I was now seeing that I wouldn't care for before, which actually work - and work well!!

This forum ladies and gentlemen, started as a crappy little bare naked support forum for 2-3 products that I first launched. Just to get feedback and try to recruit locally to centralize support, just incase some day I launch xx or xxx products...

So - still playing with all the networks, starting to take clients on and choosing best networks for them, I started to really motor on duplicating what I saw working for me, and combining the most profitable avenues together. Meanwhile, I'm still at home, being fed well and not worrying about much, I could move out yesterday, but now appreciate being blessed like this so while I build enough to just 'buy' a home with no mortgage, or property in an island (or both!!), I have no problem sticking through for the time being. It's a HARD thing to do, go back to family life after being on your own for over 10 years, but the greater good and circumstances that predicted this are all a pre-text to my main point ahead.

It's been just over a year since this board, and nichechoppers started. It's only really been active and productive/successful within the last 5-6 months (my whole operation not just the forum). It's taken at least xxx,xxx emails, xxx JV's, xx products, xxx campaigns as an aff, xxx phone calls, x failed products, xx HORRIBLE days, xx hacks/attacks/ripping us off/reselling our crap, xxxx affiliates, xx partners, xx,xxx sales, xxx refunds, xxxxxxxxxxx customer support and CB emails!! and other randomness to get to where I'm at.

Within the last year I also opened a separate INC. with a new partner, and it went HORRIBLE from an internal perspective, and I resigned from presidency within a very short amount of time, HUGE FAIL for my first quarter. I've also had my products duplicated, I've now had my whole operation duplicated down to logo styles and colors, to forums by one of my own... I have to deal with shady shit EVERY single day from competitors to my own members to my phone/email..., thank god I have a team close to me that are amazing and trustworthy (9/10anyway!). It takes a LOT more than just 'checking some emails' to run this operation. I FAIL a LOT, in fact to be blunt, I am owed well over 250K over the course of the last 12 years of business.

Despite all these odds being against me, and despite the haters, the quiet moles/infestations and agendas against me, I am standing strong due to one very important aspect which is the most vital role in anyones game - MY TIME. It is only when you are fully in charge of your time, day to day, month to month, year to year, that you can properly plan and achieve (or over achieve) your goals. It is only due to this simple fact, that I have been able to build this all in a year (well, after 12 years of previous practice in similar areas). It is my TIME, my most valuable asset, my room to move across the chess board with a strategy, my moments of silence to really analyze and plan big moves, collect resources, and make things happen.

So having said all that, value your TIME, if you have the opportunity to minimize your cost of life and allow you more TIME, swallow your pride and take that opportunity. Random but would you rather be on a mortgage for 25-40 years or would you rather live like crap for 2-5 first to save enough to buy without a mortgage, then you have 25-40 years to keep growing instead of playing catch up. Credit and debt is a HUGE cause for people not being able to be in charge of their time, its the enslavement they want you in, you're stuck and they know it, you know it. So if you have no hope left and you're looking after kids, and a mortgage/bills/2-3 jobs, it's unfortunately going to be that much harder for you to take control, but not impossible. Do whatever you need to in order to restructure your 'big picture' to allow you TIME, to plan your next move on the chess board properly.

Crazy isn't it? It's just TIME, it's seconds, minutes, naps, tv shows, video games, sports, geeking on the computer, tic toc... some of you are blessed with a LOT more time than others, and one day you may think back and go "What the hell did I use to do with my time?" or perhaps you'll think "I'm glad I did THAT with my time, now I have more!".

Ok so onto this big payback - $500 in consulting of sorts (you'll bill me for servicing/consulting), want to give it out to three people, gold/silver/bronze, but I have no idea what to do and how to do it yet so feel free to throw out some ideas.

**We're thinking of overhauling the forum and site, perhaps a logo or branding treatment (yes usually I would do it, but I want my team more involved), perhaps a few photoshop contests, or landing page contests, or more recruitment strategies of some kind - dunno just yet but expect a payback thread to pop up in the near while we discuss it

I want to take a moment out to thank people from the community however I cannot single anyone out because many of you are tied close to me, and many of you are on your way, so from the bottom of my heart guys thank you all for putting your trust in my efforts, my partners, the products, the forum, the personal interactions and the success that this transparency from everyone generates. It's an honor to be able to say that my hub is filled with great people, because let's face it, not all marketers are created equal, many of the top are just assholes, and many of the mid level are just crooks, for the most part all of you are wonderful from the personality to the moral/ethics meter, making the NicheChoppers forum a truly legendary community.

I'm sure in the year to come, some crazy things are going to be happening - in fact I can predict one now, you will all soon be labeled a 'junky' - and you'll know what I mean around Christmas time (No I'm not calling you a name, I'm hinting at our new super conglomerate project, that ALL of you are going to benefit from financially). 2009 looks like it's going to be a great year for the family, and I can't wait to see you all grow even more this year.

My 10 NC Commandments to you all: I shall:
* Keep protecting the gates here, no DP BS
* Keep fighting against spamzers
* Keep launching killer products and killer aff packages
* Keep taking on new partners from my pool of aff's as co-pubs
* Never let my members take advantage of fellow members
* Always keep business confidential, keep my partners happy and $ on time
* Stop at nothing to make sure we stay hot and ahead of our competitors
* Keep exposing ebookz zcamzers and ripping down fraudsters that scrape us
* Never stop making teh moniez
* Continue to provide loyal members perks and pre-launch info in advance

Thank you again fam, I appreciate every single one of you, and look forward to continued success day to day, year to year!

Norb Czufis.

[JIMZ]

Congrats on 1000th post - nice commandments - amen!

[BenderFry]

Hey, Great and Inspirational Story! Excellent stuff, a huge motivator for me personally.

I'd like to congratulate you on your 1000th post,
and even though I have only been here for a week or so, I can see the great atmosphere and connections this forum possesses.

Have a great day,

JP

[willyboy104]

Excellent story and a very relevant topic to discuss considering I have quite a lot of time at the moment but cannot seem to plan my time well. Anyone any ideas for me?

I have about 100 hours free a week. I do blogging and I am trying to make my blog grow aiming for 500 uniques a day, I am posting once a day and I am being more active in forums.

Anyone any advice, the problem I have is I dont seem to have any self motivation to push a little harder, I dont know why.

Anyway, ideas for competitions...erm I ll have a think. :P

[antantnz]

Norb, great post ...

for me, the most inspiring bit that you only started in 2007, wow!!!

For me I am time poor - London sucks so much time out of you ... but I when I get to the point where I can just about make it on IM alone, I will free up that time and go for it ... your post / forum / life etc is inspiring ... the internet is a shady place indeed, but yoru success shows we don't all need to sink to that level!

Much respect

[puravida]

Norb, I'm double your age and back to square one in my life. As you know from some previous posts, I've seen a good part of the world, and can happily reflect on the memories to know where the money went, and I have no regrets.

I want to give you my most sincere congratulations, you have done something what I've missed in my life. The moment when you have to 1. sit down, 2. analyze and 3. pull yourself in the right direction.
I did 1 and 3, never took the time for #2., so I lived up and down, and the result, NOW I'm at #2 again with #3 working.

Even I'm still learning and appreciate your motivation with your life story.
Thanks
puravida

[Ganceann]

A good read... and I would say I am at the stage where I am looking to minimize costs in my life to get out of the perpetual debt trap of credit cards. I will be going back to N.Ireland over the christmas period to evaluate the possible benefits of moving back home (either with a parent or sibling - not so much about the cost saving, but the increase in time that would become available).

I'd also be able to "outsource" some things to my family members who have free time and get them involved with affiliate marketing as well

Over the last couple of years I have been looking to find my place where I can be the most constructive... and gradually the jigsaw has pieced together. Hopefully 2009 takes me to the next stage where I have consistent income from online to be able to plan how to use it effectively.

I do have a plan in place to help affiliates gain more relevant exposure and be able to break down their workload into manageable segments so they can achieve more... but thats another story

[CanEh!]

Norb,
Congrats on your 1000th post and a great one at that,
and we should be the ones THANKING YOU for such great products and even better affiliate materials to promote those products and for a forum that has everything that anyone can every want to get started or learn new things.
Thanks again.

[Blackman]

Lovely post, and so true about time in AM-ing.

I currently have quite a lot of time, but I think I'm not using this opportunity effectively...Sometimes I would go and play games or watch movies for long hours, instead of working on my campaigns.....I'm an addict

Great 1000th post, Norby

NICHECHOPPERS FTW!

[Peter]

Norb,

Thank you for sharing that bit of history with us, it is truly inspiring. As head of a household of 5, my time is always eaten up by something and I'm in a constant struggle with trying to find time to do those 3 critical steps you mentioned so I end up working late into the night to get my affiliate activities moving. Sure, I'd love to sleep, but as your story illustrates so successfully making the sacrifice now will bring about great benefits.

Congrats on your success and best of luck!

Peter

[Ashley]

Yeahhhh boy - What an awesome 1000th post

Thanks Norb - Your an inspiration to us all!

I didnt know you started in 2007 either! Shows whats possible!

Cheers,

Ashley

[TJHowell123]

Norb,

A long strange trip that some of us take. Some prefer the comfortable route, as in college for four years, and then the 9-5 lifestyle, and that is not really comfortable if you really think about our economic situation out here.

We happen to be a very fortunate and if not the luckiest group here. We love risk, and absolutely hate to be pinned down to a 9-5.

While some may get criticized by family for what we do, and quite possibly disowned to an extent (depends case by case), I have had a very strong family support from both my mom and dad.

Also being in the situ that we are in, we not only technically write our own paycheck, but we also can work under your own set of rules. Besides, what job do you know has a pro alcohol policy? I drink a couple of beers a day, especially to let loose before making a video production, lol.

To Norb, your wealth of knowledge to this forum cannot be described properly by any adjective of measurement. For what you have done, is absolutely nothing short of Astronomical and for some, you have turned the lives of some affiliates, into building their own micro-companies and leaving their 9-5's and other jobs.

The generosity of your contributions are given to everybody who wants to succeed. You have never shunned any of your affiliates, no matter how new, or if they are not the most productive ones around. And for someone who gives back at the multitude that you have, to your team, and JV partners, there is something great to be said about that.

To the next 1000 posts!!!

Tom "The Forex Guy" Howell

[JIMZ]

Just a reminder, not all of us have the luxury of quitting the 9-5 to do this full time, in fact I quite like my 9-5 to be honest.

I also have two mortgages to pay and a wife to keep in the ways she has become used to! Too much of a risk for me especially since a lot of the problems CB has been having prove that it is not all in your hands, there are many forces out there!

[HConvert]

Congrats Norb!

Congrats , first and foremost, for putting yourself out there.

In business and in life, you are making chance become a tangible, and by calculation your long-term success is assured.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Hc

[servizot]

Wow you achieved so much in a year only! That's really great, congrats and thanks for keeping us all motivated. Seriously if I did not find this place I would never have looked into clickbank... 1000s of thank you and congrats for the 1000th post.

[SGBoise]

Congrats. Time is definitely important. I recently started keeping track of my time. I noticed that I barely did any marketing at all. All my time was support and improving my products.

None of my time was spent on tasks to make money. Now I try to dedicate several hours a day to do internet marketing.

[mikey1090]

Mega. I can't wait to be a Junky Although I guess I already am. Muhaha.

[SovietZoo]

Amazing post Norb!

This is really inspiring. I have a feeling that bit about living like crap for 2-5 years and not needing to pay mortgage at all will stick with me for a long time.

Congrats on your 1000th post btw

PHOTOSHOP CONTEST FTW!!!!!11one

-Sasha

[eikliw]

Congrats Norb, I think you deserve it all. You seem like a cool dude to me.

Your post is spot on. That is exactly how I have become successful in AM. Moving back home, not paying for rent or eating out every night, and focusing on working online. Starting in this industry without any debt is by far the easiest way to financial freedom. And if you have that option available, you should most definitely take it. By that I mean moving back home with family, or paying off your debts.

Not to sound like a cheeseball, but Norb your one of those that have really inspired me to do more with this whole game, and step it up. Now I'm trying to follow in your footsteps and be a successful publisher as well.

It's really cool watching life play out, that whole story and all your grief led you here where you are, and me praising you for being where you are. Now, specifically because of how your life's details played out, your here with your 1000th post of helping others achieve the same.
I for one, appreciate life ,and all its sweet surprises

thanks for keeping the hope alive, see you at the top brother!

[The Bird of Prey]

Norb,

Many thanks for another inspiring post. I am again amazed at the similarity in our paths (as well as many others here at NC) and once again you 'touch' on a subject very near and dear to my heart... credit & debt and their impact on our lives.
Part of the reason I am where I am today is my decision in 2001 to go "debt free". I achieved my objective in 2004 and have remained debt free since. I cannot imagine trying to do what I do now with the debt load I had before. And yes I am a happily married man lucky enough to have a very supportive wife that has worked as hard as I have (if not harder) to achieve our current status.
I've toyed with the idea of publishing a website on becoming debt free and living without borrowing, your success with CB has me thinking of going that route though.
Once again thanks for all you do for us and here's to your 10,000th post!

TTFN

BOP

[mill123]

great post Norb.

[truelights]

Norb, just want to say I followed your personal blog before I came to this forum. You are one true inspiration to all of us.

[azabednego]

...

My 10 NC Commandments to you all: I shall:
* Keep protecting the gates here, no DP BS
* Keep fighting against spamzers
* Keep launching killer products and killer aff packages
* Keep taking on new partners from my pool of aff's as co-pubs
* Never let my members take advantage of fellow members
* Always keep business confidential, keep my partners happy and $ on time
* Stop at nothing to make sure we stay hot and ahead of our competitors
* Keep exposing ebookz zcamzers and ripping down fraudsters that scrape us
* Never stop making teh moniez
* Continue to provide loyal members perks and pre-launch info in advance

Thank you again fam, I appreciate every single one of you, and look forward to continued success day to day, year to year!

Norb Czufis.

Excellent post, thanks for sharing your story. Also - good commandments.

But you talk about "growth" - and for someone whos a little new to this ... it feels more like trying to be "birthed" into the affiliate world of sales.