The Dreaded Day Job…

I had to write a quick post to let you all know that I’m finally making enough money to make me think I’ll really be able to quit my day job.  I’m hoping to do so two months from now.  I’m so tired of sitting at a desk!

The time I spend building my own business has been so satisfying.  I work from home, I can go to a coffee shop and I can take breaks to play with the cats.  Come on, how is that not fabulous?

I’ve gotta say that I love me some Pot Pie Girl!  Her plan has helped me build everything.  My Online Income System got me started, but Pot Pie Girl’s program took my business to the next level. I recently launched my first two self-owned websites.  It was so intimidating at first, but she has a website built to teach you to do this using wordpress to build niche product websites.  This lady is brilliant.

Check out her system by clicking here.

As for me, I’m busy building www.selfhelpland.com, which is fast becoming my new favorite project.  If you’ve got a second, check it out!

I am truly so excited by all the opportunities I am finding online to make money.  It is so nice to feel that I am more in control of my future.

Good luck to you all!

All Hail Self-Help!

Self-help has been calling to me, and I find I must return to my roots...

I have always been a self-help junky.  Even as a kid, I wanted to talk about feelings and internal motivations.  It’s just how I was built.  And trust me, it’s given my mother more than just a little grief.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked, “Why do you have to think about that?  Wouldn’t it be easier if you just accepted everything and moved on?”  Of course it would be easier.  But, then I wouldn’t be me anymore.

In my search to become self-employed, I find myself incorporating the o of self-help into my pursuits.  Having recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in psychology, this feels pretty natural.

This leads me to an important point: find what you are passionate about and allow yourself to look at it from different angles.  I re-invigorated my desire to learn about internet marketing when I incorporated my passion for psychology and self-help.

I have started a series of other blogs and websites that go into more detail about various self-help ideas and resources.  I hope to continue expanding this virtual web I am spinning and use it to describe my process of becoming fully self-employed.

Check out my daily affirmations site and my new self-help blog if you’re interested!

How To Create a WordPress Blog or Website

Learn to blog, build niche websites and make money!

Blogging is fun.  Period.  Even if you don’t like to write.  Who doesn’t like to find appealing pics online and then spend a few minutes virtual-doodling out their thoughts for all to see?  It definitely satisfies the voyeuristic bits of my nature.  It also works for the parts that like to remain hidden, because truth is, you can’t actually see me.  Score!  I’m simultaneously exposed and completely protected, web-style.  Tee-hee, tee-hee.

More seriously, I do think there is one big reason some people don’t like blogging and/or creating their own websites: a lack of knowledge, which evokes fear and self-doubt.  Boo!  In order to get started and enjoy all the joys of blogging and web design, you have to learn some stuff.  Tedious, but necessary.  Once you know the basics, you can just play.  And that’s really all blogging is: play-time.  Like “bring something to share day” in preschool.  It’s your time to put whatever you want on display.

Problem: how do ya get started if it all looks like a foreign web-language, codes and intimidating jargon?  You find the right educational tools.  I started with whatever I could get for free.  First, I explored Blogger, which I found very user friendly.  Then, I progressed into the world of WordPress.  Yay!  I love blogging via WordPress.  I find it easier to create more professional looking blogs with WordPress than Blogger.  However, they’re both good.

Once I settled on WordPress as my primary blogging home, I realized I’d want more tools to make it easier.  I want my blogging to constantly get better and more professional looking.  But I don’t want to constantly struggle to figure it out all by myself.

When I first started blogging, I found myself figuring out a couple of things on my own and then hitting a wall when I realized I didn’t know how to do other things.  I’d google themes and templates and then realize I didn’t know how to import them.  I’d find a widget I liked, and then realize I didn’t know how to maximize its’ potential.

I finally bit the bullet and decided to make an investment in my WordPress education.  When making this type of purchase, I look for recommendations from others who have already used the product, service or ebook.  And I’m not talking about testimonials on the sales page.  I don’t think those are reliable enough.  What I found was Potpie Girl’s site on developing niche websites as an affiliate marketer.  She writes on one of her own blogs that WordPress Goldmine is absolutely necessary if you don’t already know how to use WordPress.  It’s an added bonus that WordPress Goldmine also focuses on how to make your blog profitable.  If you’re doing something fun, there’s no reason you shouldn’t make some money at the same time, right?!

So blog away.  Become a WordPress master.  Use your skills to make money.  Just remember rule #1: Don’t spend more than you actually have on your educational tools.  Unlike some, I dont’ advocate using credit you can’t pay back within a few months.  But if you’ve got a little money (and it’s really not that much) check out WordPress Goldmine!

Happy blogging, ya’all!

Inspiration: It’s usually right in front of you begging to be acknowledged

This morning I listened to one of President Obama’s press conferences.  He talked about the war, health care reform, and his nagging smoking habit (only because he was provoked by a press agent; he openly admitted that he struggles with smoking but is not a daily smoker, nor does he smoke around his family).

This past weekend, I had a discussion with a close friend about identifying a core sense of purpose in our lives.  We agreed it was a difficult but incredibly important task, and that we both want to spend this period in our lives focusing on.

Between the above two instances, I’m feeling inspired to identify and move toward my individual purpose in this universe in hopes of utilizing it to serve the infamous greater-good (I kid; the greater-good is obviously an awesome and infinitely valuable…thing).  So, what is my purpose?  Well, I can’t say that I know exactly.  I definitely know what it isn’t.  So far, I derive purpose from:

1. Nurturing my own self-care and the kindness I show others

2. Becoming self-sufficient and not being limited by the typical rules of society (hence the desire for self-employment)

3. Helping others identify their goals and have the courage to pursue them

I hope that this list will become more extensive and specific over time.  For now, it is a start, and I suggest you all construct a similar list.  It only has to take a moment to begin the process of focusing in on your goals.  You don’t have to do it all today.  Just set your intention in that direction and it will begin to happen naturally, even when you aren’t actively seeking out your life’s purpose by delving into the under-explored corners of your brain.  These corners will begin to unfurl and reveal themselves if you just give them a little space to play in–like a tiny playground for excess psychic energy.

Good luck becoming the best version of yourself possible!  You are worthy and deserving of nurturing this version of yourself.  It might mean mediting or educating yourself about something that might help you.  Just make a little time in your life each day to allow your potential to begin to manifest.

EzineArticles Works!

Yay Ezine!

I just received Platinum Author status with EzineArticles, which means I can submit as many articles to them as my little heart desires.  So far, article writing is my favorite form of online marketing.  It allows you to be creative and express yourself, which I love.

I have to admit, some of my articles are really just a form of personal expression.  It’s nice to vent and offer my perspective.  Other articles are more focused on specific products and marketing.  It’s really up to you what you choose to submit based on what you want to get out of the process.

I like EzineArticles more than other articles sites because it gets a large amount of traffic, has a user-friendly platform, and is somewhat regulated.  Many article sites just let anyone put up an article.  At Ezine, you have to get approved and are given different types of author status based on the quality of your work.

I’ve submitted eleven articles so far, and I get more views this way than by using my Squidoo page or chatting in online forums, (although these are also good ways to get your material out into the cyber-sphere).

If you haven’t tried article writing, give it a go.  If you’re already a writer of any sort (even if you just wrote a bunch of papers in school) it might turn out to be really satisfying.  And that’s the ultimate goal for me: to find a way to make money online, and from home, that is personally satisfying.

Good luck all!

New Resource Page!

Find what you need to do what you want to do!

Check out the new page about the most  Popular Resources to help you build your home based business or just make extra cash.  They are all excellent ways to make money online or in your spare time.

There is a list of different resources in a few different categories.  For example, you can find programs designed to help you work as an affiliate marketer, make money by developing websites, sell your digital photography, make money on ebay, or even write a novel.

The key to success is finding the right resources to help you accomplish your goals.  Make sure you find something that interests you and fits into your budget.  Most of the programs listed have a reasonable one time fee.

If you are looking for a certain kind of business opportunity but don’t see it, let me know by posting a comment and I’ll try to find it for you!

New Pages!

To the right, you’ll find some fresh new pages.

One features a review of One Week Marketing.  It includes useful information and suggestions about how to best utilize the program if you decide it suits your needs.

The other is a page that features some programs and services that I don’t recommend.  This is simply based on my own experience and what has not worked for me.  It doesn’t mean these things won’t work for anyone.  I just wanted to add my two cents in the chance they might be useful to anyone.  I will update this page as I learn more!

As always, good luck and stay tuned!

Learn about Squidoo and One Week Marketing

Keep Your Eye on the Prize!

A quick Sunday post:

Squidoo

I’ve been creating a second Squidoo lens, submitting articles to EzineArticles, participating in online forums for home based businesses, and brainstorming about ways to improve my blogs. There’s so much to learn and so many opportunities to build your online business. It can be overwhelming, but I’ve already seen what can happen when you persevere, which keeps me going.

One Week Marketing with Potpie Girl

I’ve gotten some intriguing emails from PotPieGirl about her One Week Marketing course. I like the overall tone of her informative emails and how involved she is on Squidoo. Her One Week Marketing course includes an action plan similar to that of My Online Income System.  However, the plan last for one week and is more advanced than that of My Online Income System.  It’s good for people who already know a bit about online marketing and are ready to move fast.  Just Google her to find more information. As you already know, I’m using My Online Income System, so I’m partial to it. But, like I always say, do your research and find what’s best for you. Google, Google, Google!

My Online Income System

This is what I dream about to help keep me motivated

I have been trying to make money online for a few months now, and I finally found something that is helping me build my home based business.  It’s called My Online Income System and it’s fabulous!

By using it, I’ve learned so many things about how to operate my business online.  It’s been easy and I’ve been hand-held the entire time by the 60-Day Action Plan.

Check out Review: My Online Income System on the right of this page if you’d like more information.

I’ve done a number of searches on My Online Income System, read articles and looked it up in work at home forums.  I have yet to find one negative review.  Everyone I have spoken to benefited from it and is out there recommending it too.

Here’s the Rant

Grrr!! I take my anger and laugh in your silly face!

Here it is.  The rant.  You had to know it was coming.

Truth is, anger can be a great motivator.  That’s what got me going on my search for better job opportunities.  I was so upset by the thought of having to sit in an office for the rest of my life that it was making me crazy.

Think about it.  Sitting in front of a computer all day long doing what other people tell you to do can’t be good for you.  You miss out on being exposed to things like sunshine and fresh air.  You feel yourself losing muscle mass while you do less and less physical activity and get more and more used to snacking on whatever makes you feel better.

All right, that’s too many “you’s.”  The fact of the matter is that this is how I felt.  Like a part of me was becoming a little less human every day.  That’s why I had to do something different.  I can’t work for someone else forever and just wait for my ship to come in.  I’ve got to find my ship, raise the sail, and head toward the horizon to see what else might be out there.  FYI: I have no idea how to sail, it just seemed like a nice metaphor.

I feel awful when I think about how many people are struggling financially right now, just trying to pay the bills and take care of their families.  I wish the economy was better and people had more opportunities.  Part of me wants to believe that we can create our own luck if we simply refuse to give up and keep looking for something better.  That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning: the hope for change and progress.

I really hope that we, as individuals and communities, have the power to make our lives better.  I’m doing what I can to improve my life.  When I encounter a lack of support or understanding, I’m laughing off all my frustrations and choosing to persevere!