Hurdles after Hurdles…. Stay Strong And Persevere!

Happy Saturday!

This week actually went by quite slowly, at least for me. It felt like Friday would never come.

My boyfriend went to Ohio to work on the houses I bought with my partner and clean up after our tenant left. We had an insane incident at the first property. The tenant living there, a mother and her 3 kids, had a boyfriend who, I guess, was a drug dealer and was selling drugs from the house. The police were there in April, and there was a raid, where he got arrested but let back out the very next day. I don’t understand why our property manager didn’t catch this, but I came to find they were not doing their drive-bys and quarterly inspections as they had said they were. They were sending us old pictures and never went to the house.

When they arrived at the house, it was destroyed. There were holes in the walls, and one wall was completely torn down. They took all the copper pipes and anything that they could, and I mean everything. They ripped off the toilet paper holder, the drywall in some rooms, the oven, the stove, everything, even the tops of the toilet and seats were gone. An insane realization when my partner and boyfriend got to the scene. And they left a poor dog hungry with no water in the house for many days pooping and peeing all over the brand-new carpets.


Another setback, and I will have to mourn the loss because it seems like we are going to fix everything, sell it, and close the business. It is really hard to decide to stop doing something you poured so much money and hard work into. When you build something from the ground up and want it to work so hard, it is hard to let go. 

Trying to stay positive and still retain hope for a better life.

Work has been hard for me mentally; the new job is a lot of hours, and I am not constantly busy doing tasks. It is more of a be there as fire comes so you can put them out, which is not fulfilling to me and is making me struggle. I am a person used to doing a lot of tasks at work and working with people with integrity who want to meet goals. So, shifting to this environment of people testing to see what they can get away with and still training and waiting for someone to show me what needs to be done has me a little bit impatient, I guess is the right word.

I spend a lot of my day having tough conversations with the team about performance, trying to break up clicks, and building a sense of team. Unfortunately, this does not fill my cup. I have been running on empty these past few months, trading time for money and a lot of time for a little money, and it is getting to me.

I am working so hard, and I am just exhausted. After work, there are only a few hours left in the day, and I have to sacrifice something healthy for myself, like exercise, seeing friends, or working on my other businesses. This isn’t sustainable. 


It is time to make a big decision: what brings me joy, what are my dreams, and what is my best path forward?

I got another job offer, and I have to make a decision by July 1st. This would be an hourly, not salary, job, and I would only be working a 40hr/week. The pay is good, but it requires me to move to an area I have never been to, so the plan is to go visit next weekend with my boyfriend and check the area out.

Unfortunately, I am also scheduled for a CPR class and a haircut next weekend, but stacking things on and trying to pack as much as I can in a short amount of time seems to be my only option these days. 

All the setbacks that have occurred over the past months and now this property thing are having a heavy effect on me. I know life is hard, full of ups- and downs, but I haven’t had any ups in a long time. I feel like I can not get a break; one thing after the other keeps hitting me, and it is challenging to smile and keep moving forward. I cannot do it all, and something has to give, so this weekend, my plan is to sit down, do a deep dive into my financials, and make the hard choice of what one thing to focus on and what job will be best for my health and my growth. 

I am doubting myself and my decisions, and my mindset is wavering. I need a mind shift and a way to get pumped up. Right now, I am feeling a little like the universe does not have my back and can go F*** itself. But I am was reminded by a very good friend that I should be really grateful because I have options! And I have the power to choose the course I take.   

So, this weekend, I will need to do a lot of reflection and meditation, and hopefully, I will find a clear path forward.

What does any of this have to do with affiliate marketing? You might be wondering, well, as an affiliate marketer, life happens. Success is not imminent, and roadblocks happen, and progress is slow and requires patience. You have to hang in there, stay positive, dedicated, and persevere.

I want to share my struggles with you because, most likely, you will be going through your own struggles. Life is hard and expensive; there are only 24 hours in a day, so I want to share my setbacks in hopes that they will inspire you to keep going towards your dreams, be open to all possibilities, and avoid going to the dark place, caging your mind, and falling into hopelessness. Our thoughts are so powerful, and it is critical to stay in a positive growth mindset.


This week, Sophie and Glen gave me a lot of feedback on my emails. As working on emails has been a huge priority, I am just focusing on this right now.

This is the feedback I got:

When righting an email be 1000% you. Tell your story and read each email from the readers perspective. Decide what action you want them to take for each emai, as every email should have a clear message and call to action (CTA).

I received the feedback that I was giving too many CTA. 

When drafting your email, ask yourself: What is the goal of the email? What is this email going to bring this person? What is it that they are going to want to do, that I would like them to do, to get even more out of this?

Don’t give away too many things – keep it simple.

Really tell your story and make it your own.

It’s okay to give away a lot of free stuff; just don’t confuse the reader by giving away multiple things in one email, space it out having one call to action..

So now I am back to reading, tweaking, rewriting, and improving my emails. I am working on my copyright skills and taking some time to really make these emails take the reader on a journey, each providing something that will help them succeed in reaching their goals. 

If I consistently give value and help them, the relationship will be built, and I will also have a full-time income.

So my homework is to be patient and always work on crafting and honing the four skills to success: 1. Traffic, 2. Capture, 3. Follow-up 4. Making Offers/ Sales System. Keep moving forward but take some time for self reflection, creating clear goals that align with what my end vision is.

Dean also gave us some amazing new resources and training and created a community on a platform called SCOOL. He has a lot of amazing rewards for interacting and building a community. As time permits, I want to dive into this, but as time is limited, it’s emails first.

To keep forging ahead and making our dreams come true!



Let’s ride from rookie to riches together.

Until next week,


Alison Blaire 

 

 

 

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ALISON BLAIRE

12 Responses

  1. Hey Alison,

    Sorry to hear about the challenges you’re facing with your properties and work. Your determination to navigate through it all is inspiring. Switching jobs and considering a move is a big decision, but exploring new possibilities with your boyfriend next weekend sounds exciting. Keep pushing forward with that positive mindset. You’ve got this!

    Meredith
    Meredith Moore recently posted…Exploring the Magic of “The Iceberg Effect”My Profile

  2. HI Alison – I am so sorry to hear about your troubles in recent setbacks. That’s all they are though, setbacks and possibly a little bit of bad luck. However, these are just bumps in the road as you have not hit the wall. You truly are inspiring with all that you are able to accomplish with your time management skills. I also admire your attitude in the midst of adversity. You are due for a big win and a big break and I can feel it in the air! Your transparency and honesty and comparison to some of the setbacks we might have in this business are so true and I appreciate you for telling it the way that it is. So many affiliate marketers do not do that and make life seems that it is all lollipops and rainbows. Sometimes it is, but oftentimes it is hard. What I take from the end of your post is so important to me and that is to keep it simple. I tend to overthink and I appreciate the reminder of looking at what’s in front of you and taking action on that in the most productive, yet simple, way. Thank you, Alison! I look forward to your success! Have a wonderful, productive and incredible week ahead! You truly do rock!

  3. Hi Alison, I’m sorry to hear about the setbacks. I admire your resilience. It’s super hard to reframe everything that’s happened, but give it a try; it works for me. Focus on one question: “What if all of this is happening FOR you and not TO you?” What if it’s meant to clear out the speed bumps to make room for your real mission? In spite of it all, you are still able to provide high value to me. Sharing your email journey and tips is super helpful. YOU WILL DO THIS!!!! Michael
    Michael Sawick recently posted…AI and Affiliate Marketing: A Recipe for Disaster?My Profile

  4. Thank you for sharing your journey and the challenges you’ve faced (you have been going through it lately,). Your resilience and determination are fantastic. It’s commendable that despite numerous setbacks, you are taking proactive steps to reflect, plan, and seek a clear path forward.

    The dedication to your work, your willingness to learn from feedback, and your commitment to staying positive amidst difficulties are admirable.

    Keep believing in your strength and capabilities. You have the power to navigate through these tough times, and your openness to growth and change is a positive force in your journey.

  5. Hi Alison,
    Sorry to read about the challenges; been there – when you walk into the apartment you own and find out that your tenant has totally destroyed what your blood sweat, tears and money has tried to build is definitely gloomy.
    As you mentioned though, you do have choices and that is where you’ll take back the strength you need to go forward. By doing what you said you’d be doing: sitting down and reflecting on what best choice can be for YOUR future, you’ll find a way and will become stronger out of it, I’m positive!
    Sending you some well deserved good Canadian vibes!

  6. Wow, what a week you’ve had! It’s clear you’re juggling so much, and the challenges with the property and the job situation sound incredibly tough. I’m really inspired by your resilience and determination to find a path forward despite everything. It’s a great reminder that setbacks are part of the journey, and how we respond to them is what truly matters. Your honesty about the struggles and the need for self-reflection and making tough choices is something we can all relate to. Stay strong, and I’m sure the decisions you make will lead you to a place of greater fulfillment and success. Thanks for sharing your story so openly – it’s a real motivation to keep pushing through our own challenges!

  7. Oh Alison – sorry to hear about all the setbacks. The pic with a face full of sticky notes says it all.

    I appreciate reading of the feedback you are getting on your email sequence work.

    I have faith that you’ll make the right decison come July 1.

    Your post got a share on my social media in hopes of widening your audience.
    Robert Klein recently posted…Out with the Old, In with the NewMy Profile

  8. Alison, It sounds like you’ve had a really tough week with all those challenges at your properties. Dealing with a situation like that must be incredibly draining, both emotionally and financially. It’s admirable how you’re facing these setbacks head-on and considering new job opportunities to find a better balance. Remember to take time for yourself amidst all the chaos and decision-making. Reflecting and meditating this weekend sounds like a solid plan to regain clarity and find your next steps forward. Keep pushing through, and I hope things start looking up soon for you! Thanks, Atif
    Atif Perwiz recently posted…Affiliate Marketing Tools & Resources – What is it and what can it do for me?….Part 3/3My Profile

  9. Hi Alison,
    It is in the face of challenges that character is molded. It sounds like you have been through quite an obstacle course lately. Through your writing, I get the sense that you are a very strong-willed woman with not only a Plan A, but also Plan B, Plan C, and so on.
    As you mentioned, your best course of action is to take time to reflect on the circumstances, organize priorities, and focus on getting back to a healthier place for yourself and your businesses. Nobody said that life would be easy, but it will be worth it if you focus on what is best for you, Alison.
    Hopefully the struggling times will subside for a bit, and you will see a brighter tomorrow with your affiliate marketing agenda!
    All the best!
    Milissa Neirotti
    Milissa Neirotti recently posted…The Power of Patience and Consistency in Affiliate MarketingMy Profile

  10. I was so sad and horrified to read about your terrible investment property experience. As the landlord of two investment properties myself, i ca certainly empathise. How did the property managers get away with not doing their job properly? And to leave a dog on it’s own is beyond cruel.
    Good on you for getting a new job offer. I must admit I was quite taken aback when you said it was ONLY 40 hours a week. What hours must you be working now?
    Well done for getting on top of your email sequence. I do hope it works out for you.

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