I am very fortunate because I get to live in the Caribbean and run a small business. However, a couple of posts on the internet this week made me realize that I am only living half of the “tropical escape” dream. Yes, I am my own boss, and I have made it to the Caribbean, but my business is currently an all-encompassing operation.
Presently I am not left with very much free time to actually enjoy my surroundings. There really isn’t any point to living in a great destination if you can’t even enjoy it.
In the name of my ongoing pursuit of personal freedom and a designed life, I am finally ready to start working towards my ultimate goal, which is to create some passive income streams. Let’s be honest, it is pretty hard to have TRUE personal freedom without financial freedom (just my humble opinion). Creating passive income streams will allow me to keep focusing on my small business but if tourism hits the skids, or I want to spend more time at the beach, and possibly travel the globe then I will still have a means of generating income.
A little background information
Earlier in the week my friend Skellie ran an extremely informative article on her site AnyWired titled Become a Lifestyle Entrepreneur: Complete Guide and 40+ Resources. While reading her post it really hit home that I have the (Caribbean) lifestyle but it’s now time to take the next step! In fact, I have contributed to AnyWired, and have also written guest posts for both Zen Habits and ProBlogger, all of them derive the bulk of their income online. If they can do it, so can I (and YOU).
My life so far has been semi-dedicated to pursuing a lifestyle that I choose and not one that is chosen for me. Truly, as I read the Lifestyle Entrepreneur post I was excited and I could feel the anticipation of a new project coming on. The posts that Skellie highlighted looked like they would help me finally get off my ass and stop contemplating, attempting to make money online, and take action towards actually making money online.
A couple of other pieces to the puzzle
During the research for my interview with Shana Albert I noticed on her website that she is successfully running quite a number of sites which include ABC Home Preschool, All Bookkeeping Resources, and All Work at Home Ideas and she is doing it FOR PROFIT.
While my entrepreneurial mind began churning, I also emailed an online acquaintance, Mark Blair, who creates websites for profit and he provided me with some general information to help me get started in the right direction. In particular, Mark’s email pointed my in the direction of Caroline Middlebrook’s FREE ebook on “How to Develop Money-Making Niche Sites with WordPress.” Perfect, I was ready to go.
Download here: How to Develop Money-Making Niche Sites with WordPress
The AnyWired – Middlebrook Make Money Online Challenge
Typically, I require a challenge in order to hold my interest when it comes to my goals, otherwise I tend to get bored and move on to something else. Hence the idea for the AnyWired-Middlebrook challenge was spawned.
Using the links that Skellie discusses in her lifestyle entrepreneur post and Carolines’ ebook I am going to attempt to create a blueprint for online success that I can follow in the hopes of creating my initial stream of passive income. I think this “self-imposed” challenge will be just the impetus that I need to start taking proactive action to see if I can actually make money online.
My homework
Next Tuesday I am planning to put up the next post in this series and until then I am going to start thinking about possible niches that I might try. While out running this afternoon I was thinking about possibly choosing one of the following areas –
- Travel
- Pets
- Health
- Home Improvement
By next week I will let you know which niche I will choose. Also, if you have any suggestions for OTHER NICHES that I might want to check out please let me know in the comments.
By next week I will let you know which niche I will choose. Also, if you have any suggestions for OTHER NICHES that I might want to check out please let me know in the comments.
In addition to coming up with a niche I will also be reading the first three or four chapters of Caroline’s book. Some of the concepts I am already familiar with but I am still going to read every page. And from Skellie’s post the links that I am going to start reading are:
- Five Ways to Create Passive Income With Little or No Money - byBrian Lee
- Automate Your Income by Simplifying Your Life — Leo Babauta
- Making a Profit Out of Passion: Lifestyle Entrepreneurship — George Rodriguez
I challengeYOU - That’s right, it’s game on :)
I am sure that many people would like to move beyond whatever it is that’s holding them back and attempt to earn some online income. For me, it was sort of the fear of the unknown (e.g. how do you make money online?); so as a way of helping others out I will write about the whole process here in an ongoing series called the AnyWired-Middlebrook make money online challenge.
If you have been thinking about making money online, NOW IS THE TIME to take action! I welcome participation in my little challenge, so if you are interested in participating either leave a comment below, or write a post and link to any article in this series and I will include your site in my post next week.
Until then, happy moneymaking and good luck on your journey to personal freedom…Oh yeah, if you enjoyed this post, please consider giving it a STUMBLE [thanks in advance for your support] and also feel free to sign up for my RSS feed.
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20 comments ↓
I’m honored to have a challenge named after me! I like to organise my work into projects to keep myself focused so I can see where you are coming from with this challenge. Good luck with it.
look forward to seeing what niche you pick.
I’m also in the Caribbean working full time, but will be taking a look at Caroline Middlebrook’s e-book as it would be nice to have some passive income coming in.
Good Luck Mark
Hi Caroline - I have been thinking about creating some passive income streams for over a year…and I really don’t know what the time/mental block was? But, Skellie’s recent lifestyle entrepreneur post and your ebook really got me thinking!! So, I felt it only appropriate to name the challenge after both of you :)
Hi Coqui - as we all know, the cost of living is not going down.
At some point I would like to be able to travel freely again without financial worry… If my self imposed challenge works to help me generate some income, then great! If not, there are many paths and I look forward to learning as much as possible.
Very cool to have (partially) inspired this, Mark. I think you’re going to surprise yourself with what you can do. I’ll be keeping an eye on how it goes :).
Hi Skellie - THANKS! I have really been telling myself lately that it is time I “jump” into the game.
Your post and Caroline’s book provided just the extra nudge that I needed :)
How exciting…. I will be following your journey closely. And, I can’t wait to see where it takes you. Enjoy the ride, my friend!!
Hi Shana - Thank you! I look forward to utilizing your social media advice to help me make a good run during this challenge.
Mark:
Your blog has been my resource of Entrepreneurship since I found your blog (could not remember how). Your serial interview posts and some very inspirational and motivational posts are awesome.
Keep it up! You are already half way reaching your goal.
Good luck!
I will follow your journey as well.
Hi Terence - I am going to be coming to you for some pointers and advice ;)
Mark
I really should join you on this challenge, but it scares the crap out of me! I don’t know why.
I was also blown away by Skellie’s post (LOVE her blog - another awesome Aussie) and I downloaded Caroline’s book ages ago and it has just sat there on the laptop unopened.
Lately I have been thinking more and more about how I can make money online in my own business, rather than via freelancing (which is what I did before as a copywriter and I’m sick to death of clients!). The obvious advantages for me are that I can earn a living while being with my son and I’d still be able to write my blog and novels (aspiring novelist on premises).
I’ve ummed and ahhed over Wealthy Affiliate for months. I’ve considered e-books because I’m a reasonable writer and I’ve got a marketing background and I’m building a bit of an online following, but I just can’t seem to take action.
There’s so many options that I’ve become stuck and have no idea which way to turn, so I’m being a big chicken and doing nothing. So unlike me.
Agh, must break the paralysis and DO something. How scary can this be?
Okay, I pledge to you that I am also going to read the first 4 chapters of Caroline’s e-book in the next few days.
I’m breaking out in hives.
Kelly
I can’t wait to see how this progresses for you! Looks like you are off to a running start. :-)
I would like to wish you good luck for your future, its amazing to go through your profile. I feel happy to see people who are successful in their life with there hard work.
Hi Kelly – nice to have you onboard. Yesterday I read chapter one of Caroline’s book and I also read Brian Lee’s post “Five Ways to Create Passive Income” that Skellie pointed out. I will talk more about the book and the lifestyle entrepreneur blog posts that I am reading in my next post on Tuesday.
It is funny how we paralyze ourselves and then completely stop forward progression toward whatever our goals might be. Maybe, if we can get a few more people involved we can help each other come up with some great ideas and push one another to the next level…
Hi Mark - thanks for the input you have provided thus far! I look forward to seeing markblair.org completed :)
Awesome!
I cannot wait to see what you do my friend, and I wish you lots of good things.
I too have this problem of not enough time, not enough cash ;) - I’m struggling keeping up with everything I need to do, and this doesn’t leave me enough time to do what I want to do career wise.
I’ll be following closely…
Hi Lid - I can’t wait to see what I do either :)
Currently, I have NO idea but I do have many thoughts! I am hoping to set this little challenge up in the true spirit of “open entrepreneurship.” Meaning, I will openly discuss what I would like to do and hopefully others will do the same. If someone decides to take an idea I have and run with it I would be genuinely happy.
Hi Mark
I can see where Kelly’s coming from. I have many dreams but I find myself ‘comatosed’ by fear a lot of the time.
I wish you every success with this. I’m going to bookmark you.
take care now…
Hi everyone, I’m planning to take on this challenge also. I’ll post here again once something is about to launch.
Hi Chris - keep us posted! I am drafting a new article now that will detail my plans.
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