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If you have an internet business, and like me, you have an accident which impedes your ability to work for a while, you'll find yourself with a lot of time to think.

If you are anything like me, you might decide to use that time to reflect on ways to improve your business. I did that, and was shocked to realize that I didn't even know my business, because since I started, I had changed it almost every week.

Although I had years of previous business experience, this was my first foray on the internet. I was completely green and had no idea what kind of tools I would need I don't think it even registered that I might need some tools. I certainly didn't know where to go or how to find the information which I very quickly realized I was going to need. I did have an email address, which I left behind like a trail of cookies wherever I went.

Suggestions soon arrived in my email box along with tempting sales letters and 'one time offers'. I tried different programs and systems, I even got my own domain, but what eluded me was a lot of basic information. I would start a new program, then, at some point I would get stuck in something, get frustrated and move on the next big thing.

Even today, somewhere, in the depth of my hard drive is a folder with dozens of programs, some of them still in the still in their original Zip files. I was going to study them ....one day. Now, I'm ashamed to think of it and I think it'll be awhile before I muster the courage to find that folder.

But then, I got lucky. I fell down some stairs and broke my wrist. That slowed me down and it kept me off the computer for quite a few weeks. To my great surprise, the accident turned out to be a blessing. My forced detachment from the computer meant I wasn't able to do anything for a couple of months. So I had to sit around and just read and THINK. I thought a lot about my business or, lack of, and tried to figure out what I was doing wrong.

I tend to adopt a 'can do' attitude and jump in head first. This is not a helpful personality trait when your knowledge is limited. My approach even caused me to get banned by Google before I had a chance to launch my first PPC ad. Why? Well, the training, which came with a very complicated program, confused me and caused me to make more than a few mistakes with the ads. So I figured, as the ads were no good, I'd cancel them before they were launched, and then just start over, fresh.

Little did I know that nothing is ever canceled in Google. It simply hangs around, like a bad smell, sending out negative odors to Google, who soon followed the scent to tell me that my ads didn't measure up to Google standards. I knew that! That's why they were canceled.

Of course, Google was right, I was totally green, but had I been given some easier instructions, it would never have happened. I finally canceled that program, and for once, I got my money back, but it was a big blow to my ego and cost me a lot of valuable time. On reflection though, it's probably fair to say that my ban saved me a heap of money in Google ads.

About a month ago, I was finally able to go back on the internet, for short periods of time, mostly to read and to practice my one finger typing. What really excited me then was to realize that there was now a fundamental change in my approach to my business. During all that free time, I had formulated a criteria which set out how to select any program to buy. So I started to look for a program that could fit, and yes, I said A program, just one, but it had to meet the criteria.

It works like this: For me to buy a program, it has to meet these conditions.

I want a system that I can be proud to recommend to my own family and friends.

It must be easy to understand and make sense to anyone, even to someone not involved on the internet.

The program must include the necessary tools along with an easy to understand, step by step training program for setting up and operating the system.

Under no circumstances can I add an additional new program unless it will enhance or benefit the function of the program I already had.

The program must be flexible and have more than one source of income.

And, by necessity, it must be very cheap.

The program must not be subscription based. To me, subscription programs will eventually cause a financial, terminal decease, and in the end, they'll kill your credit. That's because all those little, seemingly reasonable, monthly subscriptions, will finally add up to your monthly income.

This criteria has proved to be the best thing I have done so far. It's kept me in check, because it forces me to rethink my actions. These days it takes me a couple of weeks to make a decision to buy something.

So did I end up with a program to suit my criteria? The answer is yes, and believe it or not, it turned out to be free. It has everything I want, including multiple, passive streams of income, but I doubt I would have found it, if my accident hadn't forced me to stop and reflect on what is important to my business and my success.

I strongly urge anyone, who hasn't done it before, to develop their own criteria. It will keep you focused and protect you from costly, rash decisions. A critical part of the criteria should include a budget, based on your income and debt ratio, with a non-negotiable cap on the maximum you can spend on any product or service.