Why are so many people tempted by these build-a-website and get rich quick schemes?

Does anyone (other than the guy cashing the checks) ever get rich with these?

Can YOU be successful online?

Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, answered our first question many years before the internet was ever invented when he said "opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." In other words, most people are looking for an easy way to be successful.

Instead of looking for an easy way to make your dreams come true, keep it real and do the work. Edison also said, "genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."

You probably know at least one person who has lots of great ideas, but would never sit down and put even one of those ideas to work.

I've written and sold a number of screenplays in Hollywood. When people learn that I'm a screenwriter they often tell me they have a great idea for a movie that is guaranteed to be a blockbuster hit. And they always want me to write it for them. When I tell them all the reasons why they should write it, the idea quickly and magically runs out of steam.

Mr. Edison also made this observation. "The value of an idea lies in the using of it."

Lots of well meaning people with great ideas are afraid of failure. What if they try something and it doesn't work? So they never try.

But when Thomas Edison was trying to invent the light bulb (you know, that bright thing that lights up every room in your house) he kept failing and failing and failing. But he believed in what he was trying to accomplish and because of that, we no longer read or write by candle light.

When asked about his failure, Edison replied "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

It's too hard... Why not give up?

You guessed it, Tom answered this one too when he said "many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close there were to success when they gave up."

Have you ever come up with an idea that you thought might be a good one? Did you start thinking about it, then decide it was too complicated?

Our good friend Mr. Edison made this very interesting observation. "Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged."

You CAN be successful on the internet if you keep it real and remember what our buddy Thomas Alva said. "If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

Forget about get rich quick internet schemes, forget the easy way.

Instead, roll up your sleeves, get in there and let something you enjoy become your success.

Thomas Alva Edison had ideas. He put those ideas to work and brought them to life. And the world is a better place because he did.

I wonder what Mr. Edison would think of the internet?

Have fun