A Better Option to Make Money on the Side
There is an audio version below.
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On my flight last week from Tel Aviv to New York I watched a documentary called, “Paycheck-to-Paycheck.” It was about a single mom of three who is working hard to provide a better life for her children. The father got hooked on drugs and left her alone to be both parents. It was a sad and eye-opening documentary.
I’ve had several very long and heated debates on Facebook about this topic. One thread was 1,000 comments long and was my breaking point as far as talking about political issues on social media. However, I think I didn’t see the full picture and was generalizing.
In the documentary, the single mother thought her escape would be to go back to school. Maybe that could be right for her, but she needs student loans, and that would make me nervous. The student loan situation in this country is out of control. Many people that get student loans end up spending their whole life paying them off.
To me, starting an online business on the side is a viable option. You take a topic you’re passionate about, create a foundation, build an audience, and sell digital information products, courses, and services. You can build this from anywhere in the world.
I realize starting an online business isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t work for every single person’s situation. For some, this is foreign or would be too hard to even attempt. I’m a firm believer in online business; however, I see it as a great option to create a life of freedom.
Freedom
The thing that I love the most about online business is the freedom it can provide. I have traveled the world this year and have still managed to run my business from hotel rooms. It creates the freedom to earn an income from anywhere in the world doing something you enjoy doing.
It gives you freedom and flexibility in your schedule so that you can focus your time on the important things in your life. Starting an online business can also be cost effective. You can start one cheaply and build as you start to make money. It’s a great way to build a dream in a cost effective way, and that leads to a life of freedom.
Impact
One of the best benefits of an online business is being able to help people and make an impact in their lives. You don’t need to be some guru or expert. You don’t need ten years of schooling on a topic. Life experience is the best way to help someone else. If you have gone through something and overcome it, you can help others do the same.
When someone sends me a message saying one of my books has helped them in a specific way, it gives me the fuel to keep going. You can help people. You can make a difference. You can give them hope when all they see and feel is despair. An online business gives you the opportunity to help people from all over the world because the Internet connects us.
I realize with a post like this I’m probably preaching to the choir. Starting and growing an online business is an option that too many don’t give a fair chance. It’s hard and will take years to build. There will be many failures that will make the typical person quit.
If you can find a way to keep going, what’s waiting for you is worth it. To be able to travel the world while making money is a life most can only dream of—it can be your reality. They key is to realize this is a viable option and then start doing your research.
This month we’ll focus on the basics of building a profitable and successful online business. But, your online business has to begin with a greater why, which is why we started with this post before we got into specifics. Before the next post, I want you to think about your greater why.
Audio version:
Have you or will you start an online business in the next year?
