Interview With a Successful Entrepreneur: Noah Fleming

Noah Fleming is a successful entrepreneur and online marketer. He has created, managed and sold various internet businesses of his own. He then realized that his real passion is in working with others, to help them achieve the success they seek. His clients range from people starting their first businesses ever to large organizations that have been around for decades. He provides private consulting & mentoring for individuals and businesses looking to make more money using the Internet.

Some of his favorite techniques involve embracing social media and web 2.0, generating traffic through pay-per-click (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, and using effective advanced copywriting methods. He also teaches clients how outsourcing can save businesses time and money. He has paid for his house and is able to afford extensive travel.

He is also an avid supporter and outspoken advocate for Kiva.org, an organization that allows anybody to give micro-loans to entrepreneurs around the globe who have the entrepreneurial drive but are not as fortunate as most of us are.

He has created a strong community of online marketers and business people, ironically called rich-jerks.com, in response to certain internet marketers who promote themselves using such terms and are considered internet marketing gurus.

How did you become an entrepreneur?

It was in my blood early on. I can remember back to always having this urge to start businesses and try to earn money on my own terms. One of the first businesses I had involved pulling a wagon around the local marina with a cooler filled with cold soda and chocolate bars. Who could turn down a 10 year old with cold soda on a hot summer day? Not many people did. There were days where I earned possibly $60-$100 dollars. I learned very early on about making a profit. If I could buy a case a soda for $7 and sell it for $25, I was making money. It wasn’t too long before the marina discovered how much money I was taking from under their noses.

I have to give a lot of credit to my parents. They were and still always supportive of any of my ventures. Who do you think drove me to the grocery store to stock my wagon? I did manage to finish high school and even get an honors University degree. This led me into the working world where I tried a few office jobs. Needless to say I got bored pretty quickly. I also realized that my wages would always be based on what someone was willing to pay me. As an entrepreneur your income doesn’t have any limits. This is a good thing.

What kind(s) of business do you own?

For the past 5-7 years I’ve been involved in Internet Marketing and all aspects of the Internet. I currently own a Communications & Marketing firm which does just about everything from coaching & consulting to intensive surveys and research projects.

I’ve also created various digital information products over the years and continue to coach and consult with hundreds of people around the world. I guess you could say I’m an Internet Marketer but for the most part I prefer to consult others and help them earn more money doing things they love. Over the past 4 years I’ve worked personally with some 600 people many who’ve gone on to create insanely successful Internet businesses.

We’re still just scratching the surface of the Internet.

What are the major factors that have contributed to your success?

One of the major factors that have contributed to my success is the willingness to fail. I learned very early on is that not everything is going to work out all the time, not everything will make money, not everything will be a success but as they say, if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. I prefer to think of it more like shooting arrows or throwing darts. You may miss completely or begin to hit the outer edges but with enough practice you’ll begin to hit the bullseyes.

What major obstacles and pitfalls have you had to overcome?

One of the hardest things about entrepreneurship is that you will always be faced with criticism and rejection of your ideas. Everyone from your family to your closest friends will look at you funny. “You want to do WHAT!?!!” is usually a normal reaction from your spouse. Especially if you tell him or her you’re leaving a paid job to start your own business. This is one of the biggest obstacles.

You have to be willing to face that judgment head on. I have no doubts that most are actually jealous of your ability to take a courageous leap and try something new. Breaking away from the “norms” of society is very hard sometimes. In addition, failure is a huge obstacle and pitfall. When knocked down, learn to brush off the dust and just get right back up. Eventually you’ll become unstoppable.

What advice do you have for new entrepreneurs or those considering becoming entrepreneurs?

Go for it. Just remember time is your most valuable resource. I’ve spent years working on projects because they had to be “perfect” only to find I had missed the boat or competitors took the plunge before me. Deployment of your ideas and speed of implementation is the key. Don’t spend time worrying about the very minuscule details, those can be worked out after the fact. Take the plunge now. There is NO better time regardless of what you think. We’ve all had business ideas and entrepreneurship visions in our heads but they never see the light of day because it’s the wrong time or wrong place. This is nothing but procrastination and we all do it. Suck it up and as Nike says, “Just Do it.”

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are struggling to achieve success?

I remember reading once where Tony Robbins said something along these lines. Occasionally people struggling in business would approach him and say, “I’ve tried everything for 10 years and I can’t make a profit.”

Tony would reply, “Have you tried this….?”

“Yes.”

“How about this...?"

“Yes."

“And this?”

“Well we haven’t tried that.”

Tony would then respond, “Well then you haven’t tried everything.”

This can be a tough one. You may havel heard of James Dyson and the Dyson Vacuum. James created 5,000 prototypes before he created the right one. 5,000 arrows shot before he hit the bullseye. Imagine if James had stopped trying at 4,990, only ten short of hitting the dead center of the target.

The point here is don’t give up. We, as entrepreneurs, are going to be challenged every single day. If something isn’t working then we need to decide if we move on or we keep trying different things. But just remember with any venture it is very unlikely that we have actually tried everything. Keep trying.

For more inspiring stories, check out the other profiles in Bright Hub's Collection of Interviews and Biographies of Successful Entrepreneurs.