Progress Report – 1
STORY: The Milkmaid and the Sales Funnel
Once upon a time, a milkmaid named Clara carried a heavy pail of fresh milk on her head every morning to the village market. It was a long walk, and Clara, like any good dreamer, filled the time imagining what she’d do with the money she’d earn.
“I’ll sell the milk,” she thought, “and with that money, I’ll buy some eggs. I’ll hatch the eggs into chickens, and those chickens will lay more eggs. Then I’ll sell those and buy a calf. Then the calf will grow into a cow, and before long—I’ll be running the biggest dairy farm in the county!”
She smiled at the thought. The visions grew wilder with each step. Maybe she’d even build a house with a wraparound porch. Maybe a swing! A huge garden! She started to strut proudly, swinging her arms with excitement about her future empire.
But in her excitement, she forgot one small detail: balance.
One bounce too many, and the milk sloshed to the side. The pail teetered. And then—splat. The milk spilled across the dirt path, soaking into the ground like it had never existed.
Clara stood frozen. No milk. No eggs. No chickens. No calf. No farm. Just… a mess.
The villagers nearby shook their heads. One of the older women smiled gently and said, “It’s fine to dream. Just don’t forget to walk steady.”
It’s a story we all know—especially when building something online. We imagine the funnel, the sales, the tribe, the praise, the freedom. But if you skip the actual steps—like planning, sequencing, and finishing what’s in front of you—those dreams topple over fast. You end up back at square one, staring at a mess of scattered to-dos and spilled potential.
Dreaming big isn’t the problem. It’s starting without a map.
PROGRESS UPDATE
So here’s where I’m at: I’m building out a new funnel that introduces beginner internet marketers to the world of sales funnels—what they are, why they matter, and how to use them without getting overwhelmed. Most of the actual products are already developed (which is a huge win), and I’ve started creating the ChatGPT membership area that will tie everything together.
The biggest hurdle? Time. Or more accurately—the mental tug-of-war between how fast you want things to move versus how long they actually take. Every piece feels like it should already be done, but the reality is, each moving part demands focused time and energy. It’s like you want to build a rocket and be on Mars by Thursday, but you’re still fitting the fins on the model.
That said, the momentum is real. Every finished section is another brick in the foundation. The vision is solid, the tools are in place, and the clarity is growing. It’s just that classic builder’s paradox: you see the house in your head, but right now you’re knee-deep in sawdust and scheduling headaches.
And if you’ve ever tried to juggle AI tools, digital product creation, AND funnel building at the same time… you get it. It’s not a one-click magic trick—it’s a well-paced construction zone. But I’m in it. And it’s moving forward.
LESSONS & TAKEAWAYS
If there’s one thing I’ve been reminded of (again), it’s this: don’t skip the plan.
It’s tempting to jump into funnel-building with 100 tabs open and a head full of ideas. You start tweaking a landing page, then switch to email automations, then tinker with a product title, then somehow end up designing a logo for a product that doesn’t even have a sales page yet. Sound familiar?
Yeah. Same here.
But here’s the fix: map it before you make it.
Before you build, take 30 minutes and actually sketch the flow. What’s the path for someone brand new? Where do they land? What do they see next? Where do you want them to go—and why? That little bit of upfront planning can save you hours of “Where was I?” later.
Also: Done beats perfect. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to make every page, every word, every pixel flawless before launching. Especially when you’re just starting, momentum matters more than mastery.
And finally—don’t beat yourself up for slow progress. You’re building a system. That means you’re solving not just a tech puzzle, but a strategic one too. That’s going to take some time. The goal isn’t to rush—it’s to build something that works without you babysitting it 24/7.
So if you’re in the middle of a build, and you feel like you’re spinning—pause. Breathe. Plan. Then keep moving.
You’ve got this.
WANT A MAP FOR YOUR OWN FUNNEL?
If all of this funnel-building stuff feels exciting but a little chaotic, you’re not alone—and that’s exactly why I put together the Sales Funnels Roadmap. It’s a beginner-friendly guide designed to help new internet marketers actually understand what a sales funnel is, how it works, and how to build one without drowning in tech or second-guessing every step.
It doesn’t just show you the “what”—it shows you the “why” behind the flow, so your funnel actually makes sense to the people going through it.
So if you’re just getting started and want to skip the trial-and-error spiral, grab the Roadmap. It’ll save you time, stress, and a whole lot of digital head-scratching.
Come back anytime! And if you’d like more AI-powered tools, check out https://mikehelft.com .
