Affiliate Marketing - Do You Have What it Takes to Succeed in Affiliate Marketing?

I made the decision a few months ago to try my hand at internet marketing. Honestly, I had no clue what I was getting into. I had no idea exactly what the industry was like or how difficult it can be to make money. I read all of the ads and hype about how quickly I would be raking in the bucks as long as I followed such and such plan or bought this or that ebook. One concept that did catch my eye and made more sense than most was the idea of affiliate marketing. Creating passive income appealed to me. So, I did find one or two really good books on affiliate marketing and began my new adventure. I had no idea that there would be so much to figure out, and that it would take quite a bit of time and effort to start really seeing results.

Time and effort. These are the two schools of thought that seem to escape many people who go into affiliate marketing with the idea that putting a banner on a website or blog will be enough. I had the same thought. Since that's not the case of course, they become disgruntled and start blaming the industry rather than taking more time to learn and try new techniques. What are the most important skills and attributes that a person must embrace before they can expect to succeed in affiliate marketing?
Must be willing to invest time and effort into building their new business. The desired outcome will not occur overnight, there will not be immediate results, but consistency and determination do produce positive results.