The last few months have been a nearly continuous cycle of working on school work until clients scream and then work on client work until a school deadline was looming: not much fun for being self-employed. I’ve lost a couple of clients, gained quite a few, and been busy keeping all of these fine china plates spinning.
The Dream
Something I’ve been struggling to get my mind wrapped around for nearly 3 years is the whole concept of residual income. What do I know, what can I write, what can I sell? With the highs and lows of life, that sends one into a single-minded passion for something until hitting a brick wall and taking a turn for a new path. For now, everything I earn has required dedicated time spent to earn money. If I’m not around or available to work on something, we don’t eat or pay our mortgage. The dream has been to create a business model that allows for more freedom of travel, health and fitness, and allowances for periods of bad health.
The Options
There are actually quite a few options available out there for living that kind of lifestyle.
- Online product sales
- Book royalties
- Online training material
- Affiliate marketing
The problem is deciding upon the product(s) to use or create for any one of those. After that, there is the need to support the product or market the book/training. Obviously, there is still a lot of work involved in those methods of income, but daily involvement isn’t necessary to make that day’s wages.
The Decision
All of the above, but not all at once. Long-term, I’d like to be an author/speaker. Over the course of 13 years of college, I’ve come to realize that I am gifted in both of those areas and will be a full-blown certified professional writer (i.e., B.A. in Professional Writing and enough blog credentials to support it) in May. Of course, no one wants to hear me speak yet because my material is all over the place, both in terms of URLs and my topics: a symptom of being a jack of all trades. Thankfully, I am becoming a master of one or two over the last 4 years of dedicated work in a few subjects. I think online training will be my start, leading to a book, leading to in-person training/speaking/coaching, and rounded out by product sales and affiliate marketing.
No point in putting all of my eggs in one basket, yet there is success in single-minded purpose, thus there will be single-minded purpose in launching each one to see what works best and is most sustainable. My money is on the training/speaking/coaching, but I’ll need the other elements in place to achieve “The Dream” or the whole thing is “just work.”
Welcome to the club Jesse, and I say that with a big Aloha hug! I cheer for your courage in exploring your full capacity in a way that speaks to the passion of living your life to its full joy. This is how Ho‘ohana happens Jesse!
Know that while I love having you work on my stuff in the WordPress help you give me as one of your clients, you are destined for “more betta” as we say in Hawai‘i, and I will support you in this learning sure to continue for you.
Thanks, Rosa! I LOVE that saying: “more betta.” It’s very much the kind of catchy phrase we love to say in our family. I’ll be your WordPress guy as long as you’ll have me.
Aloha!
Welcome to the club Jesse, and I say that with a big Aloha hug! I cheer for your courage in exploring your full capacity in a way that speaks to the passion of living your life to its full joy. This is how Ho‘ohana happens Jesse!
Know that while I love having you work on my stuff in the WordPress help you give me as one of your clients, you are destined for “more betta” as we say in Hawai‘i, and I will support you in this learning sure to continue for you.
Thanks, Rosa! I LOVE that saying: “more betta.” It’s very much the kind of catchy phrase we love to say in our family. I’ll be your WordPress guy as long as you’ll have me.
Aloha!
Good on you, my friend! You’ve always had the bravery to put your intentions “out there” – I remember the first thing I ever read by you; it was much the same thing. And look what happened on that one! I bet this latest intention will have the same effect. But hey, you’ll still work on my blog, right? 🙂
Go for it!
Terry
I remember that article as clearly as the day I wrote it (I Want to Make a Difference, Too Dec. 27th, 2006) and sometimes get a little shaken up about it. It was truly a game-changer.
Yeah, I’ll still be your WordPress guy, too. If I move on to another platform if one comes around to trump it, I’ll move you with me. 😉
Good on you, my friend! You’ve always had the bravery to put your intentions “out there” – I remember the first thing I ever read by you; it was much the same thing. And look what happened on that one! I bet this latest intention will have the same effect. But hey, you’ll still work on my blog, right? 🙂
Go for it!
Terry
I remember that article as clearly as the day I wrote it (I Want to Make a Difference, Too Dec. 27th, 2006) and sometimes get a little shaken up about it. It was truly a game-changer.
Yeah, I’ll still be your WordPress guy, too. If I move on to another platform if one comes around to trump it, I’ll move you with me. 😉
Good deal! It’s like a splash of water on the face to realize this change is needed. It’s like a kick in the arse to bring it out and public and take ownership.
Now that you’ve spoken we can of badger you about your progress.
I expect to get regular updates now. 🙂
Cheers,
Go for it,
Yours,
Todd ‘tojosan’ Jordan
I’ve always been one that needs to either start something NOW or write it down so I don’t stray or forget. I’ve got my training planned on a piece of paper on my desk marked “Do Not Throw Away” in case somebody cleans the desk off. [/wink]
Now that you’ve said you will badger me, I expect to be badgered. 😉
Good deal! It’s like a splash of water on the face to realize this change is needed. It’s like a kick in the arse to bring it out and public and take ownership.
Now that you’ve spoken we can of badger you about your progress.
I expect to get regular updates now. 🙂
Cheers,
Go for it,
Yours,
Todd ‘tojosan’ Jordan
I’ve always been one that needs to either start something NOW or write it down so I don’t stray or forget. I’ve got my training planned on a piece of paper on my desk marked “Do Not Throw Away” in case somebody cleans the desk off. [/wink]
Now that you’ve said you will badger me, I expect to be badgered. 😉
Bravo- let me know how I can help!
@Barry Moltz: Thanks, I sure will. When the book comes along, you’ll be on the advanced copy list. 😉
Bravo- let me know how I can help!
@Barry Moltz: Thanks, I sure will. When the book comes along, you’ll be on the advanced copy list. 😉
I’m in the same boat. I’ve just started back at school full time and my freelance business has been booming. So much so that I’m actually turning down work, which I didn’t think I’d ever do. But it’s taken a toll. I’ve already reached a crossroads in what to do. I’ve got ideas (folks like us always do) but how to implement them is another story.
@Norcross: Definitely! I may have even turned down people that may have been willing to wait back when I was totally jammed. I think the biggest trick to this is balance in all areas.
I’m in the same boat. I’ve just started back at school full time and my freelance business has been booming. So much so that I’m actually turning down work, which I didn’t think I’d ever do. But it’s taken a toll. I’ve already reached a crossroads in what to do. I’ve got ideas (folks like us always do) but how to implement them is another story.
@Norcross: Definitely! I may have even turned down people that may have been willing to wait back when I was totally jammed. I think the biggest trick to this is balance in all areas.
Good for you, Jesse, and a big ol’ tip o’ the hat! I admire your determination and goals. Not to mention the courage to put it “out there” like you did. We’ll be cheering you on from the wings!
Thanks, my big-hatted friend. I’ll keep on putting it out there for progress monitoring.
Good for you, Jesse, and a big ol’ tip o’ the hat! I admire your determination and goals. Not to mention the courage to put it “out there” like you did. We’ll be cheering you on from the wings!
Thanks, my big-hatted friend. I’ll keep on putting it out there for progress monitoring.
Jesse, this is awesome and I really look forward to following the progression of this.
Im inspired.
Progress has begun, though slowly. The book is taking shape simply by completing course work.
Jesse, this is awesome and I really look forward to following the progression of this.
Im inspired.
Progress has begun, though slowly. The book is taking shape simply by completing course work.