The recent publication of Trust Your Heart: Transform Your Ideas Into Income, compiled by Marnie Pehrson, revealed the stories of 19 entrepreneurs who trusted their instincts (gut, heart, intuition) and were able to build successful businesses despite many obstacles and challenges. One of my favorite parts of each chapter are the "Lessons Learned." This is where you get true insights into how each entrepreneur was able to prevail and create the business of their dreams.

While I know you expect tips and tactics for for marketing your business on the Web, it's also important to look beyond the marketing tactics to the strategies and activities necessary to establish your awesome business.

I want to know what lessons have helped you on your path to entrepreneurial success. So, I'm having a contest and giving away a copy of Trust Your Heart. Simply answer the following question…

What's the most important lesson you've learned as you have created your business and transformed your ideas into income?

Two ways to enter:

1. Post your lesson learned in the comment box below. 
2. Use the Twitter or Retweet button to share this post and your lesson. Use hashtag #bizlesson so I can track the tweets.

The contest is open through Wednesday, June 8 and I'll pick two winners: one from the comments posted and one from the tweets. I'll announce the winnes on June 9.  

That's it. Here's one of the lessons I learned and share in Trust Your Heart:

Model the leaders. I was following the leaders [in my industry], but I didn't stop there. Implementation is everything when you're in the "idea to income" phase. When you discover a strategy or tactic that is working for someone else in your industry, study it and figure out how you can adapt it to your idea.

In addition to the "lesson learned" contest, you also have a chance to win a copy of Trust Your Heart when I interview Marnie Pehrson next Tuesday, June 7.

I'll be giving away a copy of the book during the interview. The interview is going to focus specifcally on how Marnie turned her idea for the book into a bestseller on Amazon using social media to build massive visibility, buzz and drive traffic and sales. Marnie used some creative tactics to hit bestseller status in less than 24 hours. You'll want to be on this call and it's free! Register here to get the dial in details and post your questions for Marnie. You've got to be on the live call to be eligible to win the book.

There you have it…I'm looking forward to reading the lessons you've learned on the road to entrepreneurial success…now go post and tweet!