Why I Gave Up on Online Marketing (And What’s Different This Time)

Hey there! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. 

My name’s Sean Street, and this blog is all about my digital marketing "adventure" (because - let’s face it, the word “journey” is so 2010, right?). You’re about to follow along as I navigate the wild world of affiliate marketing and share what I learn - the mistakes and the wins, and you're going to get it warts and all.

I’ve been down this road before (a couple of times actually). Let me tell you, I’ve made more than a few big mistakes that I’m not only happy to share, but also hope they’ll save you some headaches!

So, who am I, and why am I doing this? Grab a cup of hot cacao, and let’s dive in!

The First Time I Tried Affiliate Marketing…

If we hop back about 10 years, you’d find me doing what many hopeful marketers do: watching endless YouTube videos, signing up for free courses, and dreaming about making it big online. Ah, the sweet promise of overnight success. Spoiler alert: It didn’t happen.

I had big dreams but no real plan. Like the wise Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” And let me tell you, I had a lot of wishes.

Cue hours spent in front of training videos, thousands of dollars dropped on books and courses, and countless sleepless nights where I should have been building something... but instead got sucked into the black hole of social media. Sound familiar?

My Biggest Mistake? Not Taking Action

Here’s the thing: I was an expert at learning. I knew how to soak up every piece of information about digital marketing. But when it came time to actually do something - like post content or put my name out there - I froze. The idea of putting something out into the world scared me, and I always found a reason to stop.

And guess what? When you don’t take action, you don’t get results. I made no money, got no leads, and eventually convinced myself that online marketing was just one big myth. It worked for everyone else, sure, but definitely not for me. Sound dramatic? Well, that’s where my head was at.

What I wasn’t ready to face back then was that I was the problem. It didn’t matter how many books I read, videos I watched, or podcasts I listened to - if I didn’t actually take the required steps, I couldn’t expect success to magically land in my lap.

Enter: The Search for the Magic Bullet

When things got uncomfortable, I’d bail. I’d tell myself, “This system is broken,” or “There must be a secret I don’t know yet.” So, what did I do? I’d go buy another course or sign up for another free report that promised to make everything easier. I was hoping for a shortcut - a way to earn big money without changing my habits or facing my fears.

It’s funny because I used to say, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” I preached that to others, but I wasn’t living it myself. I had the mindset of “I’ll try something else, but only if it doesn’t make me uncomfortable.”

The bottom line? My mindset was holding me back.

The Turning Point: I Quit (Again)

So, I quit. Yep, I gave up. Unsubscribed from every marketing email list, stopped buying courses, and threw in the towel. 

But here’s the kicker—I never really stopped learning. I still listened to podcasts and read books. I just wasn’t doing anything with what I learned.

In 2016, I decided to pivot and signed up for a Life Coaching course. Guess what? I finished it! I became a Master Practitioner in Life Coaching, including some cool qualifications like NLP and Hypnosis. I loved coaching people, and I even went back to help train new students. It felt great... until I hit the same wall again: marketing.

I could coach people all day long, but if I didn’t market myself, no one would ever know. And yep, you guessed it - I quit again.

The Wake-Up Call: 2022

Fast forward to 2022, and life threw me a curveball. The osteoarthritis in my left hip got so bad that I couldn’t continue my job safely. By December, I was medically retired. 

Suddenly, I found myself in a tough spot. I needed an income, I was worried about losing my social circle, and I had no clear idea of what to do next. I had a bit of a payout, but that wouldn’t last forever. The reality check was here: I needed a plan, and this time, it had to be one that worked.

What’s Next in This Adventure?

This post is the first chapter of my origin story. In my next post, I’ll share what I did after being medically retired and how I’ve started building my digital marketing business the right way this time.

I appreciate you sticking around and reading my story. It means a lot, and I hope you found something here that resonates with your own journey (adventure!). If you want to keep following along, make sure to stay tuned for the next post. Spoiler: This time, I’m taking action.

I’ll be back.

Sean Street  
Your Online Marketing Best Bud

P.S. If you're looking to get started in affiliate marketing, or if you've already got started, but you're feeling a bit stuck, download my FREE report "Making Money Online - Avoiding the Pitfalls" - it will break down some of the most common pitfalls new marketers can fall into. 

Just fill in the form below this post and I'll get it over to you right quick and in a hurry!

About the author Sean Street

Sean Street is a digital marketing enthusiast with a varied background providing a well developed ability to relate to and get along with others.

Sean's ability to break complicated topics down into simple to understand language makes him an asset when it comes to his teaching.

  • Great post, Sean. I too tried a couple affiliate marketing products in the beginning only to quit. Something about Dean’s Internet Profits and Affiliate system just resonated. Exposing your history of failures (quitting) but not giving up and starting your digital marketing business the right way will resonate with so many people. I wish you all the best on your adventure.

    • Thank you Jordan. I am impressed with the IP team and how they do business. Looking forward to riding this wave to the end.

      I’m pretty sure I am not the only one who has temporarily quit in the past, only to come back and try again. I’m glad my story resonated with you.

  • Hi Sean – I really look forward to following in your adventure. Your story is very encouraging just by the mere fact that you are not giving up. It is admirable to see you staying with your dream. I agree with you that mindset is key. The good news is we get to intentionally choose our mindset. Have a great and productive week ahead!

  • Hi Sean, Welcome to the Affiliate Marketing Adventure, as you say!! I can relate to your story, and everything I learned in the past has come around again with added dimension. Perhaps everything we learned in the past is serving us well, now.

    • Thanks Kate. As part of the little adventure I am writing about, this is the first time I have ever had someone comment on one of my blog posts, so thank you for breaking that drought for me.

      You’re right – things we learned in the past definitely come back with added dimension. They keep sticking their head up until we either do something different, or we cut it off…

  • This is such a relatable and engaging blog! The conversational and honest tone really makes it feel like you’re chatting with a friend, which is a great way to connect with readers. It’s full of authenticity, which will resonate with those who’ve faced similar struggles in the world of digital marketing or life in general- Which is everyone! Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

  • Hey Sean,

    Thanks for sharing your journey into digital marketing! Your honesty about the ups and downs really resonates with me. I especially related to your point about being great at learning but not taking action. I’ve found myself in that same trap, overwhelmed by information and too scared to put myself out there. Your story reminded me that taking action, no matter how small, is key to progress.

    I also appreciated your perspective on searching for that “magic bullet.” It’s so easy to get caught up in the idea that there’s a shortcut to success. Your experience highlights the importance of sticking to a plan and not giving up when things get tough. I can relate to that feeling of wanting to quit when things don’t go as expected, but your determination to keep learning is truly inspiring.

    Congrats on sharing your first blog post! I think it’s a fantastic start, but I noticed there are quite a few images throughout. From my experience, using one or two relevant images can be more effective and keep the reader’s focus on your message. It’s something I used to do as well, but I found that simplicity often works better.

    Wishing you all the success as you continue this adventure! I’m excited to see where it leads you next.

    Thanks,

    Atif

  • Hi Sean,

    Thanks for sharing your journey! It’s refreshing to hear someone be so honest about the ups and downs of affiliate marketing. I can totally relate to the struggle of learning but not taking action, it’s easy to get stuck in that cycle. Your experience with looking for shortcuts is a trap I’ve fallen into too.

    I’m sorry to hear about the health challenges you faced; that sounds incredibly tough. I’m excited to see where your adventure leads next, especially after such big life changes in 2022. It sounds like you’re ready to tackle this with a fresh perspective. Can’t wait for the next chapter! Keep up the great work!

    Meredith

  • Sean,
    After 5 years in the field I have not found the magic bullet either. Lots of starting and stopping. We can all identify with that. Great post and lets march forward together.

  • LOVE THIS Sean! You tell a story really well, enjoyed reading and learning from it.

    I think so many people can and will relate to what you have shared too… I know I can.

    I remember very well my phase of “being an expert at learning” but not so much at acting on things for the long run haha.

    Excited to see you stick on this path and reach your goals!

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