What counts as success?

Success level and success are different.
Success is to do something in the right way and got a positive result.
Your success can not be compared to other people.
Success level is rank among others who are successful + unsuccessful.
$1 profit is a success as it's a positive result. The highest may be $1,000 and the average may be $100. It doesn't matter if you made $1 or $2,000 to be counted as successful.
You are unsuccessful if you made $1 loss, more unsuccessful if you made $100 loss, most unsuccessful if you made the record loss.

Positive result in something is relative to other things you have done so far. It's still not comparable to other people.
You are unsuccessful if you made $1 loss or $1 less profit.
You are successful if you made $1 profit or $1 less loss. If you made $50 loss yesterday and if you made $49 loss today, it's a success for today to make $1 less loss.
Note that you are comparing your success to yourself only, not to other people even when you are making net loss.

If you can make $100/day from something, say from being taxi driver, you must make $100 or $101/day from domaining to be counted as successful in domaining. Because domaining must bring you a positive result, the same result can be counted success. But if you do domaining while doing taxi driving, $1 from domaining + $100 from driving = $1 extra is a success. Duration is comparable too, to itself. If you made $99 today you would be unsuccessful today and if you made $101/day in 2005, you are successful for 2005. If you made $100/day in 2006 you are unsuccessful as you made $1 less compared to the last year. If you make $102/day in 2005-2010 you are successful. If you made $101/day in 2010-2015 you are unsuccessful. But if you made $103/day in 2014-2015 you are sucessful.

Success is a positive trend compared to the past. $1,000/day may be the highest for the last 10 year in the industry and you may be #1 for the last 10 years. But it's not a success if you are unable to make $1,001/day in the next year or in the next 10 year period compared to the last 10 years.

Making a living, becoming rich, being debt free, buying a new apartment, having enough funds to retire, being the number 1 are level of success, not success.

Even if you are the #1 and continuously generating positive results, these are not enough to be counted as successful.
After a certain point you will reach to the ceiling of success and will be counted unsuccessful. Success brings loneliness and desperation. Success is not a good thing. If you are destined to be successful for the talents you own naturally, you will soon find yourself enjoying your failures as you keep avoiding to reach to the ceiling.

Lastly, instead of the general opinion, success is irrelevant to hard work, is just a result of pure chance. Therefore it's not the source of happiness, sadness, proud, or feeling ashamed. Success, especially success level in competition, is highly overrated in the nature/wildlife, especially by female mammals as success level is criteria for them in selecting their male partners. So success is a primitive impulse powered by sex impulse. It has nothing to do with hard work or other things pertaining to ongoing evolution of human being.

Maldo...i was introduced to this business/industry just 18 months ago, and I'm not even close to being your typical domain investor. I really didn't know what to expect, but I was told I was going about it all wrong. I was also told that creating and hand registering domains was wrong, and I was told not to invest in new nTLD domains. Finally, I was told domain renewals would be my demise. Basically I was told I didn't know what I was doing, I only registered "crappy" domains, and that I was wasting my money and I wouldn't be around very long.

Well, much to the chagrin of those insisting I was going about it all wrong, I'm still here and frankly I've built one hell of a foundation (book of business) by which to become a major player in this industry. While a lot of my time was been spent accumulating domains covering industries I'm intimately familiar with, more time was spent learning the domain industry, and getting to know registry/registrar owners and other leaders in the industry. For instance, Go Daddy has assigned a representative to help service the domains I have with them. Rob Monster, owner of Epik has become a personal friend, a teacher, and a confidant. And finally, just a year ago I learned I had a registry/registrar right here in my home town, Dominion.Domains that I was actually able to help because of something I learned here on NamePros.

Finally, success for me will be running a domain business/brokerage marketing domains directly to "end users".via traditional sales and marketing strategies that have worked for me in similar industries. Ie, email marketing, trade show marketing and personal one on one direct sales to end users.

Fortunately, intellectual capital is what is needed most to be successful. I've invested a total of about $15,000 or half the price of a new car in the US to build a business model that has the potential to return millions of dollars. I luv what I'm doing, and I luv the opportunity to be successful doing domains my way.

Good luck to you Maldo, and I wish you the very best.

You are successful when you quit it And do something that produces value

Managing to keep your sanity while being a domainer

I'd make up your own definition of success. Everyone's goals are different.

If you want my personal off the top of my head one right now:

Beginner: Under 3k per year
Intermediate: 3k to 11k
Professional: 12k to 35k
Expert: over 35k per year

Profit in domain business is not for everyone. There are people who will never make a dime in this business, no matter how long they stays. There are people who make a kill every week.

It all depends on knowledge and creativity. Some people think they know a think in this business but in reality they know nothing. The combination of Knowledge, Good instinct, and Creativity is what will make you excel in domain business.

Success is not easily achieved but if you are sure of it, then you can achieve any kind of success.
It may take some time, but if the intention is certain, then the chance will definitely

Maldo said:

I have been wondering what counts as success among domainers. And I mean in dollars. And over how long?

Beginners: ?

Midlevel: ?

Advanced: ?

Click to expand...

Advanced could be: $250k+ lifetime NET profit plus portfolio (big or small) of aged domains with retail value of $500k to $3m+

Success, for most people I know, in domaining, in internet, in life, in work, in all world - is to be Millionaire in dollars $$$.

I mean that if you have 2-3-4 MILLIONS dollars - you are in "Success".

In domaining Winning is nothing but getting away from feelings and proactive. The domain which you have (while thinking of selling for 100k) might be fit for grace delete. Simply drop it and find good ones. Don't get addicted to what you have. It is not your baby. It can be changed.

Starter 1k per year
Mid 5k
Good 10k
Success 10+

GenericDomainz said:

Success, for most people I know, in domaining, in internet, in life, in work, in all world - is to be Millionaire in dollars $$$.

I mean that if you have 2-3-4 MILLIONS dollars - you are in "Success".

Click to expand...

Then I am guessing you don’t know many “successful” people. Or so you?

Success is realizing that registering domains for resale is a fool's game.

Picking domains and sitting on them--marketing, renewal, opportunity costs--is highly inefficient. You could work at a pizza joint and make guaranteed income every two weeks.

Statistically, the odds are against you. 1-2% sell-through rate on a sizeable portfolio.

The industry exists to make money off YOU--not the other way around. Flippa, Godaddy auctions, Sedo auctions...they make a mint off your deluded domain dreams.

There are literally millions of domains for sale and most of them are garbage. Some even pay to promote garbage and demand outrageous prices.

INVESTING is when you pay money to have whole or part ownership of something of appreciable value--->your crappy hand reg has no value, in fact, it's a liability to you as your credit card statement now shows a payable balance.

The good names are all gone and they're never going to be dropped. If you do get lucky, well, you played the domain casino....but who seriously draws up a business plan on registering domain names?

No one who has ever lived...because the only guaranteed projection is net cash outflow.

No bank is going to open up a line of credit based on your hopes and dreams.

I mean, really look at it.

Low cost of entry (in some cases $1). Lots of competition (the world over). Widely available alternatives (gtld's). Not a good market to be in.

Those who don't have premium one-word of 1,2,3,4-char domains are clawing for scraps.

Those statistical anomalies that do sell, well, there's no telling how much in promo, renewal, auction, and other miscellaneous costs have been made up until that point.

This might sound like me being jaded...but domaining makes no business sense whatsoever unless you have a considerable initial outlay to acquire a top domain.

DomainGuy86 said:

Success is realizing that registering domains for resale is a fool's game.

Picking domains and sitting on them--marketing, renewal, opportunity costs--is highly inefficient. You could work at a pizza joint and make guaranteed income every two weeks.

Statistically, the odds are against you. 1-2% sell-through rate on a sizeable portfolio.

The industry exists to make money off YOU--not the other way around. Flippa, Godaddy auctions, Sedo auctions...they make a mint off your deluded domain dreams.

There are literally millions of domains for sale and most of them are garbage. Some even pay to promote garbage and demand outrageous prices.

INVESTING is when you pay money to have whole or part ownership of something of appreciable value--->your crappy hand reg has no value, in fact, it's a liability to you as your credit card statement now shows a payable balance.

The good names are all gone and they're never going to be dropped. If you do get lucky, well, you played the domain casino....but who seriously draws up a business plan on registering domain names?

No one who has ever lived...because the only guaranteed projection is net cash outflow.

No bank is going to open up a line of credit based on your hopes and dreams.

I mean, really look at it.

Low cost of entry (in some cases $1). Lots of competition (the world over). Widely available alternatives (gtld's). Not a good market to be in.

Those who don't have premium one-word of 1,2,3,4-char domains are clawing for scraps.

Those statistical anomalies that do sell, well, there's no telling how much in promo, renewal, auction, and other miscellaneous costs have been made up until that point.

This might sound like me being jaded...but domaining makes no business sense whatsoever unless you have a considerable initial outlay to acquire a top domain.

Click to expand...

People with good minds, intelligence, will power and perseverance can slowly but surely climb some rungs

DomainGuy86 said:

Success is realizing that registering domains for resale is a fool's game.

Picking domains and sitting on them--marketing, renewal, opportunity costs--is highly inefficient. You could work at a pizza joint and make guaranteed income every two weeks.

Statistically, the odds are against you. 1-2% sell-through rate on a sizeable portfolio.

The industry exists to make money off YOU--not the other way around. Flippa, Godaddy auctions, Sedo auctions...they make a mint off your deluded domain dreams.

There are literally millions of domains for sale and most of them are garbage. Some even pay to promote garbage and demand outrageous prices.

INVESTING is when you pay money to have whole or part ownership of something of appreciable value--->your crappy hand reg has no value, in fact, it's a liability to you as your credit card statement now shows a payable balance.

The good names are all gone and they're never going to be dropped. If you do get lucky, well, you played the domain casino....but who seriously draws up a business plan on registering domain names?

No one who has ever lived...because the only guaranteed projection is net cash outflow.

No bank is going to open up a line of credit based on your hopes and dreams.

I mean, really look at it.

Low cost of entry (in some cases $1). Lots of competition (the world over). Widely available alternatives (gtld's). Not a good market to be in.

Those who don't have premium one-word of 1,2,3,4-char domains are clawing for scraps.

Those statistical anomalies that do sell, well, there's no telling how much in promo, renewal, auction, and other miscellaneous costs have been made up until that point.

This might sound like me being jaded...but domaining makes no business sense whatsoever unless you have a considerable initial outlay to acquire a top domain.

Click to expand...

DomainGuy86, I agree with most of what you say with the exception, "good names are all gone and they're never going to be dropped. If you do get lucky, well, you played the domain casino....but who seriously draws up a business plan on registering domain names?"

The only thing I'm lucky about is just being alive. If you came to me and needed a "good" name for your business, I'm sure I could find you one in just a few hours. Would it be "perfect"...maybe not, but I can assure you it would be "good"

Take for example names like BrandBucket and Brandpa for a marketplace for brands/domains. Are they "perfect" names? I think not, but they are successful businesses. I own a few "brand" names for marketplaces that I hand reg'd like; BrandWik, CanDoBrands and BrandFertility or even BrandAccident Are these names "perfect", maybe not, but they're "good" enough that anyone who knows what they're doing can build a great business using any one of these names.

I may just be the only guy you know who can seriously (and successfully) draw up a business plan around registering domain names. Just yesterday I registered 757Brand(s).com and 757Guide.com. You probably don't have a clue why, but that's because you don't know what I know.

Finally, My Mantra is "Make Something Happen", and as long as I'm doing that, "Success" happens

Fancy.domains said:

My personal definition:

Beginner: Selling your first domain

Mid-level: Being profitable (total income greater than total expenses)

Advanced: Being able to make a living from it

Master: Becoming rich

Click to expand...

Thanks for your great answer to me. It would be helpful to us.

You're right, @ThatNameGuy, I'm not skilled enough to be an effective domainer--I'll readily admit to that...

...but, I have have a few skills myself.

It's called playing devil's advocate. You need to know the odds before beating the house. I want people, especially newbies, to learn the caveats of domaining as they are.

It should never be used as an income replacement unless you are skilled at managing a wholesale setup or are able to possess names with the sort of liquidity you can 100% rely on.

The funny thing is...even if you have a "good" name you might not even be able to offload it due to the oversaturation in the market. You could be sitting on it for years.

What about sustainability...do you reinvest earnings into renewal costs or invest in a few good names that could eat up all your working capital?

To all those members have hit it big, good game and more power to you. For those trying to make it...you need to be smarter and faster than 98% of domainers, some of whom have access to large capital reserves.

I talk out of my a** a lot but I'm just trying to assess the situation.

You are up against automated bidding and esoteric software, large registrars, trademark filings, wholesalers, eagle-eyed investors, millions of domainers, auction houses, marketplaces, and businesses large and small.

You have to outsmart them all. That's a tall order....at least to me.

DomainGuy86 said:

You're right, @ThatNameGuy, I'm not skilled enough to be an effective domainer--I'll readily admit to that...

...but, I have have a few skills myself.

It's called playing devil's advocate. You need to know the odds before beating the house. I want people, especially newbies, to learn the caveats of domaining as they are.

It should never be used as an income replacement unless you are skilled at managing a wholesale setup or are able to possess names with the sort of liquidity you can 100% rely on.

The funny thing is...even if you have a "good" name you might not even be able to offload it due to the oversaturation in the market. You could be sitting on it for years.

What about sustainability...do you reinvest earnings into renewal costs or invest in a few good names that could eat up all your working capital?

To all those members have hit it big, good game and more power to you. For those trying to make it...you need to be smarter and faster than 98% of domainers, some of whom have access to large capital reserves.

I talk out of my a** a lot but I'm just trying to assess the situation.

You are up against automated bidding and esoteric software, large registrars, trademark filings, wholesalers, eagle-eyed investors, millions of domainers, auction houses, marketplaces, and businesses large and small.

You have to outsmart them all. That's a tall order....at least to me.

Click to expand...

I believe you are right. That’s why I’m now only gonna give brandables a go for a while - and only those that get accepted into and owned by marketplaces. That way I’m only wasting my time. All I want is extra $ for some extraordinary expenses at the moment. Thanks for your realism.

ThatNameGuy said:

Maldo...i was introduced to this business/industry just 18 months ago, and I'm not even close to being your typical domain investor. I really didn't know what to expect, but I was told I was going about it all wrong. I was also told that creating and hand registering domains was wrong, and I was told not to invest in new nTLD domains. Finally, I was told domain renewals would be my demise. Basically I was told I didn't know what I was doing, I only registered "crappy" domains, and that I was wasting my money and I wouldn't be around very long.

Well, much to the chagrin of those insisting I was going about it all wrong, I'm still here and frankly I've built one hell of a foundation (book of business) by which to become a major player in this industry. While a lot of my time was been spent accumulating domains covering industries I'm intimately familiar with, more time was spent learning the domain industry, and getting to know registry/registrar owners and other leaders in the industry. For instance, Go Daddy has assigned a representative to help service the domains I have with them. Rob Monster, owner of Epik has become a personal friend, a teacher, and a confidant. And finally, just a year ago I learned I had a registry/registrar right here in my home town, Dominion.Domains that I was actually able to help because of something I learned here on NamePros.

Finally, success for me will be running a domain business/brokerage marketing domains directly to "end users".via traditional sales and marketing strategies that have worked for me in similar industries. Ie, email marketing, trade show marketing and personal one on one direct sales to end users.

Fortunately, intellectual capital is what is needed most to be successful. I've invested a total of about $15,000 or half the price of a new car in the US to build a business model that has the potential to return millions of dollars. I luv what I'm doing, and I luv the opportunity to be successful doing domains my way.

Good luck to you Maldo, and I wish you the very best.

Click to expand...

Honestly, I do not understand what your ranting is all about. I was reading with hope to see some successful sales you've made that proves what you were told are wrong. So, everything you were told still stands until you prove them wrong. Believing you're building an empire when you haven't made any sale is a recipe for failure in domain business.

It's good to make friends with industry players but that won't add a silk to your purse. Believe it or not, those friends are mostly interested in the money they can make off your ass, because they are in this business to make money not to make friends.

For now, all you have is just expectations, everything you were told are still valid. Spending like a drunken sailor is not a guarantee for success.

Peace!

DomainGuy86 said:

You're right, @ThatNameGuy, I'm not skilled enough to be an effective domainer--I'll readily admit to that...

...but, I have have a few skills myself.

It's called playing devil's advocate. You need to know the odds before beating the house. I want people, especially newbies, to learn the caveats of domaining as they are.

It should never be used as an income replacement unless you are skilled at managing a wholesale setup or are able to possess names with the sort of liquidity you can 100% rely on.

The funny thing is...even if you have a "good" name you might not even be able to offload it due to the oversaturation in the market. You could be sitting on it for years.

What about sustainability...do you reinvest earnings into renewal costs or invest in a few good names that could eat up all your working capital?

To all those members have hit it big, good game and more power to you. For those trying to make it...you need to be smarter and faster than 98% of domainers, some of whom have access to large capital reserves.

I talk out of my a** a lot but I'm just trying to assess the situation.

You are up against automated bidding and esoteric software, large registrars, trademark filings, wholesalers, eagle-eyed investors, millions of domainers, auction houses, marketplaces, and businesses large and small.

You have to outsmart them all. That's a tall order....at least to me.

Click to expand...

I'm not skilled enough to be an effective domainer either. My skills are registering "good" industry and portfolio specific domains. And unlike a typical domainer who's a hoarder and scalper (Verisigns words not mine), I'm just a simple business guy who starts, names and runs businesses like Credit Control Corporation, Acsel, Inquisitor Investigations, Contact USA, and Domain Gourmet. Oh, and I've had some failures too like, JudgmentScore, Knucklehead Investing and SOB Nation

My vision for success in this business goes far beyond the "solo" guy or gal who buys a handful of domains, then lists them with the likes of a Uniregistry, Sedo, Afternic, Flippa or Drop Catch then hopes and prays that an "end user" accidentally finds them....sad Seriously, "end users" like me have never before heard of any of these domain sellers/brokers who fall under the category of "hoarders and scalpers".

The one thing I have discovered along the way is that I'm more of a brand guy than just a simple domain or name guy. While the lines are pretty blurred, a brand guy envisions an entire business plan/model behind each name, and can either run the business or tell someone else how to run the business, while a domain guy/gal is purely into the name aspect of this industry.

My success could be defined as finding this industry, learning how screwed up it is, then exploiting the opportunities. Sound simple? It really is, but you have to know what I know

excellent sharing of views