For 15 years, I struggled.

I started in internet marketing back in 2009, full of hope, ideas, and a strong work ethic. I took courses, followed the gurus, tried every shiny strategy that promised results. But year after year, I couldn’t crack it. No real traction. No real income. Just frustration, setbacks, and countless hours lost to technical glitches, content blocks, and half-finished projects.

The worst part? I knew I had value to share. I just couldn’t get it out into the world fast enough.

For example, I created a product out of Google Hangouts when they were first launched and had 600 buyers as a result of affiliate traffic!  The problem was that I had put so much time and effort into the product launch that I had nothing to market to my buyers list.  I just couldn’t capitalise on my 2000 subscriber list

I had a successful blog called businessrenegade.co.uk for a few years that ranked quite highly for traffic but this got hacked which also took the wind out of my sails.

The Software Bet That Almost Didn’t Pay Off

In August 2019, I bought into Groove.cm as a founding member. At the time, it was full of promise: an all-in-one marketing platform that would eliminate the need for juggling a dozen tools.  Mike Filsaime, one of the founders, and his partner John are experts at internet marketing and I knew they would create a great product.

The reality? It wasn’t ready. Bugs. Missing features. Long training videos. A steep learning curve. I barely touched it for years. But something in me held on. I didn’t cancel. I kept my lifetime access and hoped that one day it would become what it promised.

Fast forward to 2025. I logged back in. And to my surprise, Groove.cm has matured.

The platform was powerful. Polished. And this time, I got it. The tools made sense. The workflows were smoother. And I finally had another secret weapon that changed everything: AI.

The Missing Piece: AI as an Execution Engine

While Groove.cm became my digital toolbox, AI became my assistant, copywriter, strategist, and tech support all rolled into one.

Instead of spending days agonizing over copy, I now generate high-converting headlines, product outlines, email sequences, and landing pages in minutes. When I hit a technical wall, AI helps me debug it or find a workaround.

And here’s the real breakthrough:

AI helps me complete projects before I get distracted by new ones.

This is huge. If you’ve ever struggled with “shiny object syndrome,” you know how often a new idea pops up halfway through an old one. With AI and Groove.cm working together, I can move from idea to finished product in record time. That speed means momentum. And momentum builds confidence.

From Frustration to Flow

What used to take me weeks now takes me hours. I can create:

  • Full product funnels in Groove.cm
  • Email sequences and sales pages
  • Lead magnets and courses
  • Even automations and customer journeys

The friction is gone. The tech is streamlined. The creation is fast.

But more than the tools, it’s the shift in mindset that matters. I stopped seeing myself as someone who “struggles with tech” or “isn’t good at marketing.” Instead, I became someone who ships. Who finishes. Who shares.

Lessons from 15 Years of Trial and Error

Looking back, here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. It wasn’t me. The tools were under development and just weren’t ready. I just didn’t have the right systems yet.
  2. Speed matters. The faster you can execute, the more likely you are to finish.
  3. Consistency compounds. AI helps me show up every day. Groove helps me deliver.
  4. Timing is everything. Investing early in Groove.cm felt like a waste at first. But now? It’s a major asset.
  5. AI isn’t replacing us. It’s amplifying us.
  6. Coming up with ideas is not a problem – too many ideas can be, if you never follow through.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still in the struggle phase, know this: the game has changed. The tools are finally here. You don’t have to do it the hard way.

I spent 15 years stuck. I don’t want that for anyone else.

So if you’re sitting on great ideas, valuable knowledge, or a half-finished product… it might be time to give yourself new tools and a new start.

AI and Groove.cm gave me mine.  The combo is powerful.

I like to do DIY and I am firmly of the belief that there is the right tool for every job.  Groove has developed into the right tool for internet marketers as I knew it eventually would.

Check it out for yourself here.

( Please note:  This website is a WordPress website with the Avada theme.  All my marketing pages, my email marketing, product delivery etc is carried out by the Groove suite of tools.)