Ever since 2004 when I started writing and mentoring people, there has been a common theme people have heard me say; “Think outside the box”. I agree the term is very cliché in the business world. In my life and career though it has proved to be a very successful mindset.

Like anybody else, there have been times in my career when I have gotten frustrated, or busted my ass on something only to make no head way. When you find yourself in a situation like this, it is imperative that you change your way of thinking.

I remember when I first started in affiliate marketing, it was as simple as putting up a website, buying some PPC, and doing a little SEO. Next thing you know, you were making money. Unfortunately the internet marketing business has become much more competitive and difficult, regardless of what vertical you are in.

I’ll use the poker affiliate market as an example since many of the readers here are poker affiliates. If you are starting a new poker affiliate site in 2008, you are not going to be successful unless you do something that is “outside the box”. For example, you can build a pretty site, review all the rooms, buys some links, and do some SEO. Guess what though? 1000 other affiliates are going to do this exact same thing in the next 12 months.

When I say “outside the box”, I also don’t mean some crazy viral idea either (although that would help). However you have to do something original that no one else is doing. Whether it be something original within your SEO strategy, or you overall site idea, think originality.

Lately my favorite magazine has become Fast Company. I love this magazine because every month you can read about entrepreneurs who basically started with an original idea, and in many cases minimal funding. Many of these entrepreneurs have built multi-million dollar business empires from scratch inside of 24 months.

That brings me to the next point. Think Big, and get out of your comfort zone. If you want to make hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars; the odds are you are going to have to do more than just be a poker affiliate or one man affiliate marketer.

Life is to damn short to not go out and make big things happen. My suggesstion to anyone reading this that may be in a situation where things are not happening fast enough, or you feel like you have hit a wall is the following.

Take a day or two to relax, and most importantly forget about your frustrations. During this time reflect on where you’ve been and where you want to get to in the coming years. Get your thought process to an elevated level, and think with a clear head forgetting about anything negative in your life.

You surely know how to write a business plan, right? How about writing a “life plan” on where you want to be and what goals you want to accomplish. If you have a clear vision of these goals, it will make the business part much easier.

If you have a clear vision of your life’s goals and dreams, when you think outside the box, it’s not impossible to see the rest will magically fall into place. Make it a great week!