But if you love what you do its another great day to hit some goals and start new ones. If you hate what you do then why are you doing it?

What is the obstacle that is stopping you, is it fear, financial or are you just stuck on the merry go round?

I want you to be doing what you love to do and making money from it. Can I help? I think so.

Contact me if you want to start doing what you love and making money from it, I would love to create a system and strategy just for you.

To your success!

Nick

You’d kill to get un-stuck, figure out what’s wrong with your biz, come up with new ideas, products, services, marketing, slogans, website designs, strategies, campaigns and even entirely new approaches to making money that will transform not only your business, but your lifestyle.

We both know that’s impossible to do by your self.

The real magic in business, the giant leaps forward, huge ideas, exponential gains and brilliant breakouts happen when you bring the right people into the mix. Especially people from the outside who have the objectivity and perspective to see your world in way you’re no longer capable of seeing it, then rocking that world with transformative insights, strategies and tactics that would’ve remained invisible to you for months, years or even forever.

Yes. You need people. We all do.

Problem is, the high level of motivated people who would make the biggest difference on a full-time or even part-time basis would cost you six-figures per person, per year to hire. That’s a tough nut for any business, especially one that not humming along flush with cash.

What if you could just dial up that same high-level strategic and marketing brainpower when you most needed it?

What if you could pay only for those brief bursts of insight and information, not full-time, not even part-time, but in 1-hour increments?

You can. I can be your people, one hour at a time.

You can tap the same strategic, marketing and interactive experience that’s fueled the launch, growth and sale of two industry-leading brick and mortar companies, numerous online brands, books and ventures, led to multiple features in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, Inc., MSNBC, FoxBusiness, Today, SmallBizTrends.com and helped built a wide variety of client brands from boutique restaurant groups to national conferences, online publishers and author platforms.

How does it work?

Simply request a session using the form below. We’ll confirm date, time and payment, then you’ll get a pre-session questionnaire that you’ll complete and return to me.

At the scheduled time, we’ll jump on the phone or Skype. We’ll start strategic and peel away bigger picture challenges. Then, we’ll get highly tactical. If you’ve got specific questions, challenges and struggles, we will laser focus on them.

The conversation will focus in on your greatest pain points and opportunities.

Topics often include everything from starting your online empire from scratch, fixing or optimizing your business model to re-igniting innovation, redefining or adding products or services to changes in your marketing funnel, headlines, page-copy, offers, calls-to-action or website design needed to increase conversion and generate more leads or sales.

Our time together is about getting a fresh set of eyes and making a real and immediate difference.

If it becomes clear the problem in your business is that you shouldn’t be in this business, I’m going to tell you, then share how to rework what you’re doing to make it align with who you are. For some, I may also guide you to the realization that what got you into your business is no longer what’s keeping you there and big decisions about why you’re staying need to be made.

And if you’re just now thinking about launching a business, but you’re not sure if it’s a good call, I’ll help you figure out whether to move forward or not and if you do, what changes you might need to make before pouring a ton of money and time into something that’s destined to fail.

I’m what my clients would call “a compassionate realist,” I’ll give it to you lovingly, but straight.

We may get a little personal on the call (because one of the biggest underground reasons for business decline is the development of a personal/business alignment gap). But there’s nothing fluffy about what you’ll walk away with—specific, well-defined tactics, strategies, action-steps, priorities, plans and resources and a renewed sense of purpose to act.

Oh, by the way…things I won’t do on this call – waste your time talking about my life, the traffic or the weather or give you anything less than my full attention. Neither of us have time for that dance, especially when it’s on your dime.

Questions…

Will you help me figure out my life? Depends. My passion is working with entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, especially hyper-creative entrepreneurs and professionals, looking to make an aggressive move forward in business and income. If you’re not at that place yet, that’s cool. But I’m probably not your “people.” You should already have an operating business or a strong idea about what you want to do before we get on the phone together. My job will be to help you massively-accelerate the move from where you are to where you know you can get. I like action. I like clarity. I like results. So should you.

Can I send you anything to look at in advance? Yes. Once you book your session, I will email a set of Session Questions and a request for information and links that I will review before our time together. I’ll also ask you to define your dream outcome for the call, so I know where to focus in advance.

Do you have any specialties? – I’ve operated for more than a dozen years as an industry-leading brick & mortar sporting good-industry entrepreneur, online entrepreneur and Startup Specialist. In additional to building a number of my own businesses, I’ve advised everything from multimillion dollar restaurant groups to solo and chain sporting good companies, 7-8 figure online brands, NYT bestselling authors, publishers, conference organizers and consultants. I also really enjoy working with the newbie who wants to quit their 9-5 and take to the web to free up more time.

My personal killer-app is business growth strategy with a heavy emphasis on response-driven marketing, copywriting, conversion and content-driven/social-media marketing (oddly, these are much more closely-related than most people think). I know the health and fitness and publishing industries very well. And, for authors, I also advise on platform-building, next-gen launch tactics, campaigns and building sustainable business plans around your writing.

Do you offer project-based, monthly consulting or entrepreneurship coaching?  Sure, contact me and lets talk.

Can we meet in person? Sure! I live in Baltimore, MD but can travel if need be. I also work by phone or skype.

What if I miss the call? That’s on you. If you simply don’t show up for the call or cancel within 24 hours of the call start time, there are no refunds. This is a professional obligation. Treat it like a pro and keep it.

Do I get any take-aways? Yes. Within 48 hours after our session together, you’ll get an mp3 audio of our session. Then, within 10 business days, you’ll get a typed transcript e-mailed to you.

How can I get started?

Below are the packages I offer….

1 hour consult session via Skype, Google Plus Chat or Hangout, Live chat or voice via Yahoo or AOL or telephone.

How It Works

Ready to get started on your path to freedom?

Great! It’s such a smart investment!

You can pay for your session right here, and I’ll contact you lickety-split to book it in my calendar.

During our first appointment we’ll talk about your goals, what you want help with, your needs for accountability and support, and then get right into helping you move toward those. I will walk you step by step through the purchasing of a new domain and hosting setup or the purchase of prebuilt websites. I can help explain internet, website and monetization basics. I can show you my network in detail and show you how easy I set it up and how we can start setting yours up. The choice is yours, once I learn and understand your skill level and goals and needs I can get started on putting you in the right direction. We’ll also set up our next 2 – 3 meetings. Most of my clients prefer to meet weekly or bi-monthly, same day, same time.

• Each session is about 60 minutes long. Initial sessions run a bit longer (75 minutes). I will also check-up in the week following our session via phone or email. Basically, you’ve got me in your corner, skillfully guiding you, rooting for you, and helping you work through the stuck spots.

 There are 2 pay-ahead options:

Pay as you go: Single session: $150

Get a 4 session package:
*Buy 4 sessions at once: $600, and save $50 while you’re at it. That savings could register you 5 domain names or 1 year of hosting!

*I prefer this option. It’s easier to get a regular, consistent time slot on my calendar and it helps us both invest in your success.

All sessions must be scheduled within 12 months of purchase.

If you decide to work with me, I recommend a 4 session minimum commitment — because deep changes take focus, gentle attention, and practice, practice, practice. That said, I don’t have long-term contracts, and you are free to finish whenever you wish!  Any unused sessions can be banked for future use or can be refunded on a pro-rated basis. Regardless of how many sessions we have together, my aim to help you fly solo with new insights, skills and strategies you keep for life.

More often than not, you know what to do. Before you even open that ‘how to’ book, or look for yet another blog on the topic, you know what you need. You’re smarter than you give yourself credit for, most of the time.

You Know What to Do

You’re fat. You know what to do. There’s not really a new book that will change it. It’s you who will change it.

You’re unemployed. That’s temporary, even if temporary is stretching into 14 months. You know what you need, even if that means education, a move, a change of circumstances. But I promise you that you know.

You’re broke. Money exchanges hands every day. More money than we’ll ever earn in a lifetime flows all around you. You can find ways to have some of it. You know some of those ways. Very few books or speeches will amaze you and set you on a path to claim them all.

Then Why Do We Read and Overstudy?

Because we’re afraid, because we’re procrastinating, because we feel many emotions that “seem” like uncertainty, but are more often good old fashioned lack of self-esteem. Because we’ve tried and failed one too many times and we’re upset with ourselves for this. Because we listen to our Inner Critic and we believe that He or She is right (is yours a male or female?).

Do

The last word of the title of this blog post is everything. Do. Do something.

Don’t have enough time? Do something. Can’t afford it? Do something. Haven’t gotten around to it? Do it now.

Does that sound oversimplified? That’s because you’re still in the mindset of the top of this post.

Excuses Cost A LOT of Money and Time

Spend time on excuses and you can pile them up to the ceiling. Spend time thinking through why it won’t work, and you’ll be right. Spend money learning how to do something better, and you’ll likely succeed in learning how to do something better. But you won’t have done it.

Excuses are awesome. You can have some of mine, if you want.

Me? I’m going to be enjoying the “do.”

How about you?

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**Current as of 8/18/2011

As of a couple years ago i entirely switched my computer systems both laptop and desktop to Mac/ OSX with Parallels. I do have a PC but mainly use it under my desk as a foot rest…no joke.

I used to use the Sennheiser USB-350 for my gaming and Skype sessions but now simply use the built in Mac cam/speakers and mic

I use the Logitech MX5500 wireless keyboard and mouse

I use the harman/kardon soundsticks speaker system.

I use a 3 monitor setup + laptop (MBP) most days

I use several dedicated servers with Rackspace and Verio and have shared and VPS hosting with Hostgator (I HIGHLY recommend hostgator) and Webhosting.net

I mostly use Godaddy and namecheap to register Domain Names and occasionally will use Dynadot.

I use custom drop catching scanning/software to grab expired and cancelled domain names. I am currently using a couple sites for viewing market drops as of lately.

I have dry erase whiteboards EVERYWHERE and have commissioned several bespoke whiteboard to be made for my specific needs.

Technologies and the sorts…

I prefer Firefox and Chrome browsers these days
I use Google Toolbar, SEO for Firefox, Firebug, Google Gears, Xmarks (awesome multi comp collabo), SEOQuake, Search Status and DT whois addons. On my Macs I have Parallels installed so I use IE mostly for cross testing sites along with FF, Chrome, Safari and Opera. I use Google Analytics to measure how many users are visiting my sites with these browsers among many other variables I review, I also use Google Adwords, Adsense, Gmail and Google Plus….I think its safe to say most of my day is on a Google property.

I prefer Basecamp but also have and can use Microsoft Project and team viewer for Project Management measuring and management. I really like the 37signals products line. I also use Skype, Yahoo, Google Plus and G+ Hangouts to communicate with my team worldwide. I use the iCal to keep track of all my appointments, contacts, timezones and much more.

I am Fluent in WHM and Cpanel and consider it a must for any multi site network owner to learn. You can survive without it but you MUST have (preferably) US based full managed tech support from your host or have a dedicated IT/Techy on board with you.

I understand most workings of dedicated hardware and hosting elements such as CPU/Memory loads, bottlenecks and security issues to keep me out of trouble. I fully transfer sites, backup, merge, move databases, setup SSL and CSRs as well as fully diagnose server logs. I also have fully manged support with my dedicated and VPS machines in case I need immediate help outside my scope of knowledge.

I prefer Linux and Unix and  know basic SSH & command line functions.

I understand HTML, PHP, ROR, .net, Mysql and most modern web technologies but am very rusty since 98% of the time now i focus on big picture things like management and growth and steer clear of coding and programming.

I dabble with the Macromedia full suite of products

I prefer WordPress as of lately but have used Joomla, Drupal and most of the top tier CMS systems.

I now prefer Google Docs over the Microsoft Suite.

I have experience in near all forms of Marketing in one shape or another, I use Google adwords, chitika, text links building  as well as organic SEO best practices. I am familiar with and harness the power of social marketing as well as link building, forum and blog posting. I use several tools to help me automate this these days.

I use constant contact and used to use Aweber

I mostly use Amazon,  Commission Junction and clickbank for affiliate sales as of lately. I sell ads mainly using the Google Adsense platform and most of my network was accepted into the NeverBlue CPA program which I am VERY happy with.

I use Ring Central for my gazillion phone line setup that sends all incoming calls to 1 phone number i can change at any given time. This is a MUST for anyone learning my system.

I use Liveperson Live chat on most sites with the tracking installed. There is no better way to track/monitor your users behavior and engage them proactively.

I rely solely on Google Analytics for all my reporting and analytics needs. I am a HUGE advocate of measurable results and there is no better way to measure variables than with GA. From tracking sales from leads to page errors to visitor loyalty and bounce rate I don’t think you will find a better solution.

Book Genres I enjoy are…

Time Management
Leadership and Self Help
Finance
Technology (preferably O’reilly)
Card Games
Economics
History
Philosophy
Biographies

Authors I enjoy…

Jack Welch
Seth Godin
Michael Gerber
Stephen Covey
Brian Tracy
Guy Kawasaki
Warren Buffett
Tim Ferriss
Robert Kiyosaki

Magazines/Publications I enjoy..

Robb Report/Dupont Registry
GQ
Watch Time
Fight Magazine
Time
Baltimore Business Journal
Entrepreneur
Fast Company
Architectural Digest

Still with me? Wow thats impressive. You maybe thinking “OK, So you know all that, what do you actually do?”

First off, I would like you to know that i am very passionate and care a great deal about anything and everything that i am involved in. This is key i believe for any successful entrepreneur.

I primarily build, grow and sell web based business for a living as well as consult and coach clients on how to do the same. I check in with my virtual team from time to time to discuss new ventures, review current operations and systems and analyze and optimize my network or revenue producing websites. In a nutshell I have a large network of websites working for me 24/7 365.

I try to work smarter and not harder as much as possible; if it can be delegate or outsourced I do it. I have a vast network of resources that can do anything and everything related to e-business. It has taken me near 11 years but i finally feel i have the best virtual team in place. Tasks get done quickly, efficiently and affordably and I have a system in place to ensure clear concise communications to the team and in return i get measurable performance from them.

I have a number of teams that specialize in different fields. My three main teams reside in India, Pakistan and Chicago. I have a great design and interactive team in Egypt and Romania. I also have a few smaller teams here locally in Baltimore as well as Seattle and Indiana. Along with my passion, having all these teams makes my projects come to reality quicker and more efficient than i could imagine. I envision the idea and they make it come to life. I then work my magic to grow the business then i decide to manage it or sell it off.

I am a big believe in Ready, Fire and Aim. If a business idea hits my head I immediately write it on paper, work a budget and plan to make it happen, have it built and launch then I fine tune along the way.

THINK BIG, START SMALL, MOVE REALLY FAST!

I like building and acquiring websites and businesses that are mostly self sufficient, fully systematic, automated and require little to no supervision by me. Most of the sites within my portfolio are just in time or drop shipped product sites, affiliate sites by way of commission junction, amazon or clickbank (this means i dedicated a site to promote someone elses product and get a commission cut for making the sale happen) websites. I have several service based websites that are mostly self sufficient and require small time investments by my team and I.

I am a BIG goal setter and stay the course to achieve them.

I believe that working smart, timing and simply being in the game are the 3 biggest things to being successful. Dedication, focus, networking, discipline, asking A LOT of questions and funding also help.

I use 4 whiteboard to keep track of my tasks, open projects, site flow diagrams, goals, new venture ideas and current acquisitions and status.

I use technology and global arbitrage to my advantage.

I have several layers of e-business strategy that i try to inject into every project I start. These layers involve main site content and goals, the technology environment, customer service experience, optimization, education and site analytics, revenue models and social viral marketing.

I like to simplify things as much as possible.

I greatly enjoy setting up system and solutions for folks new to the web up to fortune 500 companies.

Can I help you or your business? Lets get started!

I would describe Nick as an internet techy with a high level of experience in Domaining, building Startups, developing and Marketing BUT with the Business Acumen to actually monetize them. – Eric Schultz -eBiz Magazine

In 2001 I was nominated for Entrepreneur of the year and featured in our newspaper.

It all started back in 1999 when I was still in college and working for Maryland Public Television managing a website for a show called ‘Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser. It was a great paying, excellent benefits job but I worked in a small cubicle and the drive was a good 45 minutes from my home where I stilled lived with my parents. I learned many great skills at that job which I shortly parlayed into a very small start up of my own; building and managing websites for folks on the side. This small design firm I started grew from word of mouth and before I knew it I was making really good money and growing my client base and building and managing more sites than i could keep track. I kept telling my parents I need to quit and work for myself full time much to their dismay. They kept saying, stay with MPT, its great pay, great benefits and you will work your way up through the ranks. I was really unhappy reporting to work everyday and knew this was not what I wanted to do so I  quit and focused full time on my up and coming web design company.

I will fast forward 2 years later where I started to build small sites for myself while still building sites for clients and small businesses, I was happier than ever and working from my small apartment. In the year of 2001 at the ripe age of 22 years old I was nominated for The Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year from The Jeffersonian Magazine and my first ever website was featured on their homepage as seen here and the phones started ringing and things really took off, Oh and by the way, my parents couldn’t be happier with my decision

The year is now 2011 and I am still happily self employed in the fast moving ever evolving internet world and learning more and loving every minute of it. Since then I moved out of my parents house bought a home and started a family. I now spend most of my time with family and traveling while consulting new clients and managing my evolving network of sites that bring in revenue every hour of every day.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

All my sites are built with automation and scalability from the get go so a simple check in of my systems and automation once every couple of days ensures everything is in line. In 2004 I was accepted into the Baltimore based ETC (Emerging Tech Center) where I launched several businesses and met great people while holding office space at that campus and still utilize their resources and facilities.

Shortly after graduating from ETC I opened up a physical retail brick and mortar sporting goods shop. After running that (and realizing that I STILL Hated retail even as an owner) I sold it to my shop manager and an investor. Even after I cashed out of the business I still earn revenue from my experience as you can see here…. Rather than go on here with my touting, you can see my updated profile of experience, things I like, things I do, Things I have done and so on by clicking here….

I am often asked how big my company is – how many people I employ full -time. The answers is one.

Most people  lose interest at that point. If someone were to ask me how many people run my network, on the other hand, the answer is different:between 50 and 100.

I am the ghost in the machine

You might wonder what do I do then. I manage my automation and systems that I setup to keep things scaling and running smoothly, as long as I have internet access wherever I am in the world I can perform my tasks 100%. I am not a tollbooth through which anything needs to pass, I am not a micro manager, I clearly layout my instructions and goals for my team and let them perform their job. I act like a police officer on the side of the road who can step in if need be, and I use detailed reports and measured analytics from my team to ensure the cogs are moving as planned. I check reports from my drop ship account sites, I review my affiliate and ad earnings, the health of my sites and services, I check bank accounts online and I then I look for opportunities to grow my business which still excites me and I love teaching people how to do the same.

I  dont build all these sites by myself anymore, I leverage a large network of offshore and US workers using websites like elance.com, fiverr.com and the likes. I have been delegating work to a set group of teams now for near 6 years and have found the magic formula, I share that in my consulting and coaching classes as well.

Each site we build has a specific niche that we fill as well as a specific revenue stream, there is alot of research that goes into preparing a new site to launch but luckily thanks to the CMS system we use the power of the internet the site is quick and fast to get up and running and making money.

My mantra is THINK BIG, START SMALL, MOVE FAST!

I have pretty much worked with every major internet technology, site, service, software and applications. I have built drop ship product and service based sites, blogs, full scale eCommerce sites, dating sites, religious sites, and so much more.

I estimate I have create and helped create near 1,000 + websites and businesses to date.

So you might be wondering what topics I consult and coach on. Pretty much everything I have learned in the past 12 years I am teaching which covers….

Internet Basics
How to search and register your new domain name
How to host your website
How to use CMS (content management systems) and open source software to manage and publish to your site  if your NOT a techy
How to create a popular NICHE and Revenue stream that earns for you with minimal effort
Which Revenue models to use
Internet Marketing basics such as pay per click, organic site preparation and affiliate advertising
How to create scalable systems, automation and much much more.
I get no greater enjoyment than from consulting a client whos goal is to quit there job and work their site they started with me and seeing that dream come to life. I have done it countless times and it never gets old.

Whether your are brand new to the web or an experienced techy I am sure i can help you grow and learn new things for your own company or small business. I have learned so many amazing things in the 12 years that I share with my clients to help them grow and create their small site or network of their dreams.

Whether you have one specific business site or goal in mind or if you want to take your brick and mortar store online i can help. If you dont know what you want but know you want to free your time and earn money by using the web i can also help. I spend much of my free time learning the latest and greatest trends, system, automation tactics, revenue models, new business tricks and tips so that you dont have to and I love learning and sharing it.

I consult and coach via phone, skype, email, live chat, Google Plus hangout or can meet you in person at your location. I am very flexible and very easy to work with. My rates are published on most pages and you can purchase a session via the application if you wish or call for a free consult to learn how I can help you or your organization.

I truly look forward to working with you!

Nick Collins

Pssst, still want to learn more about me? Click here

It was seven years ago when she was stereotyped for being a “hippie and a flamingo dancer”. Today, with her brand Camilla, she has created an exceptional niche that still falls under the “gypsy” outlook. Albeit a luxurious gypsy.

This internationally acclaimed designer has done it all, from working in Los Angeles at the Grammy Awards to launching a charity-driven coffee table book that raised over AU$80,000 for UNIFEM. “We used the money raised from Women of the World the book, and built a school in Lao. We are teaching women how to work with silk there. I have been on the most fascinating roller coaster ride. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly,” says Franks.

Ironically, Franks was not always enamoured by her infamous title of the Kaftan Queen. But her disapproval didnt last long. “When I first got that title, I was still trying to evolve as a designer and it really frustrated me. But now I am really comfortable with it. At the end of the day, it brings me back to what I do best,” she says. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Praesent aliquam, justo convallis luctus rutrum, erat nulla fermentum diam, at nonummy quam ante ac quam. Maecenas urna purus, fermentum id, molestie in, commodo porttitor, felis. Nam blandit quam ut lacus. Quisque ornare risus quis ligula. Phasellus tristique purus a augue condimentum adipiscing. Aenean sagittis. Etiam leo pede, rhoncus venenatis, tristique in, vulputate at, odio. Donec et ipsum et sapien vehicula nonummy. Suspendisse potenti. Fusce varius urna id quam. Sed neque mi, varius eget, tincidunt nec, suscipit id, libero. In eget purus. Vestibulum ut nisl. Donec eu mi sed turpis feugiat feugiat. Integer turpis arcu, pellentesque eget, cursus et, fermentum ut, sapien. Fusce metus mi, eleifend sollicitudin, molestie id, varius et, nibh. Donec nec libero