Am I a Guru Yet?

I've been online for several years now -- since 1994 -- although I've only been back as a full-time online business owner for a few weeks. Something that I've noticed recently, however, absolutely amazes me and I wonder if you've faced the same dilemma. People are actually starting to seek out my advice about doing business online!

Now, I'm just like everyone else. I LOVE to share my opinion. If you've talked with me on the phone, or read my emails or forum posts, you know I love to chatter. It comes naturally to me.

So having my opinions actually sought-after makes life exciting! I can talk all I want, say what I think, and people think I'm soooo smart -- you can't beat it with a stick! But it's very confusing...

I have to wonder "WHY!?"

Why, all of a sudden, are people starting to believe that I know something about working online?

Why are people beginning to trust my opinions, even to go so far as to buy more and more of my products and services every day?

Why am I being treated like a marketing whiz all of a sudden?

One wonderful guy (Alex, you know who you are), actually put my name in the same sentence as the word "guru." I floated around the office for days!

But still that nagging -- although pleasant -- question... WHY ME?

In trying to answer this question, I've come up with a few possible reasons and thought I'd share them with you in case you've wondered the same thing about yourself.

For one thing, I have a professional Website.

It's clean, neat and spell-checked. Although I'm a little partial since I design sites for a living. But others agree that the design is good, the content is great and it's growing and changing daily.

There's also a great banner rotation system that supports the site. And hit rates are increasing every day. As is my number of advertisers. (Even though the all-illusive Google Page Rank still eludes me.)

Another possibility I've considered for people seeking me out is that my online articles are pretty well done (if I do say so, myself). I publish frequently and offer fresh, original content. Many publishers have written to say how much they enjoy my writing, and they prove it with their support... the list of publishers using my articles grows daily. In fact, the number has doubled over the last week alone.

Some people, too, have contacted me after reading my posts on the various discussion forums in which I participate. I guess they figure if I can give one reasonably intelligent answer to someone in need, then I can give another reasonably intelligent answer to them. And judging from the response of those who've asked me for advice, my answers have made sense to someone. Since the requests for help keep coming.

All in all, people are learning they can trust me. They are realizing that I'm honest -- to a fault! -- but they can also see that I'm kind. I won't bite their heads off for asking a question, and if I don't know the answer, I can usually point them in the right direction to find what they need.

People who want to succeed tend to seek out others who want the same thing. And because of this, I believe the most important reason my name is becoming more recognized, as are the names of many other online personalities, is not because of what we do, or even what we say, so much as how we treat others.

The fact that we are a part of the growing Internet culture of small business owners and professionals who seek to build community, relationships, and LIFE online... rather than being out only to make a quick buck, seems to me to have more impact than even the best planned sites, the most professional sales copy, or even the most original and informative writing.

Perhaps the reasons others are treating me as if my opinion matters is because people who come in contact with me realize that, although my goal is to make as much money as I can working online, money is not my driving force. Success is. And success involves much more than money. Success means enjoying people and enjoying life and doing my part to make them both the best they can be.

So, hey... do you think I'm a guru yet?

Article © 2005 Darlene "Dee" Bishop. All rights reserved worldwide.

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