best advice I've read today!

I read this today while trying to admittedly "hurry" through some text link requests. This is good advice, but especially important to read if you are new to this like I am.

Welcome to Commission Junction! You are receiving this automated message because you are submitting a question from an account that was established within the last 30 days. Because literally hundreds of people create a new Commission Junction account everyday, we have found that it is helpful to provide a basic introduction to some of the key things that are important to know in order for you to get started. And while it may seem impersonal, we have found that new publishers benefit more by receiving a summary of the basic things to start off right, than waiting for an answer to just one question. In order for you to be fully aware of all of the benefits and opportunities as a Commission Junction publisher and to create a program based on a clearly defined strategy, you are encouraged to devote a substantial portion of time to investigate on your own how your CJ Account Manager™ works. Because the CJ Account Manager™ has been developed for use by individual users with little knowledge of internet affiliate marketing as well advanced developers who are creating accounts for businesses or corporations, some of the terminology and processes can seem confusing at first. It is very common for a new publisher to create an account and dive right in and start applying for any and every advertiser program and putting up banners and text ads on dozens of web pages—then hope for results. While your enthusiasm and zeal is acknowledged this is definitely not recommended. The best advice you can take at this point right now is: Educate yourself! You are probably familiar with sayings like, “Don’t mistake activity for productivity” or “Work smarter not harder.” That could not be more profoundly applicable to internet advertising and affiliate marketing. The temptation might be to hasten your activity with an urgency that is driven by internet “Gold Rush” fever. If you do not take the time to educate yourself thoroughly with respect to affiliate marketing and do some thorough independent research into developing a good business plan you may find after all your effort that you are like a miner in 1849 in the middle of vast salt bed, without a pick or shovel, wondering why you haven’t struck gold. Before you generate a whirlwind of activity without doing your homework:
Familiarize yourself completely with the CJ Account Manager™.
Scroll through the topics available when you select the “Help” link.
Click on the link that says “CJU Online” and use the tutorials (for both beginning and advanced web publishers).
Begin researching articles online about affiliate marketing that have anything to do with tips, strategies, do’s and don’ts. Make sure that the source is credible. Avoid anything with a lot of hype and claims that are too good to be true. Remember that most of the answers to your questions can be found anytime and any day by using the “Help” feature in your CJ Account Manager™. We are constantly working on ways to provide current and thorough information there. If you can’t find your answer after performing a reasonable search on your own, we welcome your questions through the “Ask A Question” interface. Thank you for selecting Commission Junction. We sincerely hope that the dynamic capabilities of the Commission Junction system and the relationships with advertisers that we can help facilitate will help you achieve your carefully considered web-publishing model. Remember, if your intention is to simply put up random banners on a web site and then check back occasionally to see if you have made any money, your effort will probably not see the results you are hoping for. It can be successful if your willing to:
Commit yourself to learning, developing a sound strategy—
Dedicate yourself to employing the right resources for a professional presentation and execution of your business model—
Discipline yourself to analyzing what and why something is either effective or ineffective and adapt accordingly—
Realize that this is an endeavor that requires skill, effort, understanding, nurturing and commitment.