The economy is so bad right now that everywhere I turn there are stories that make me scared. I’m really scared about the future and I’ll bet I’m not alone. Actually, the fact that so many others are concerned makes me even more scared!
My wife isn’t working, I lost/quit my job a while back, and the only way I make money now is through this blog and a few others. I’m really scared of having to go out and find a real job sometime in the future. The thought of having to do that terrifies me as I have been self employed since 1997. I not only don’t know what kind of a job I could get but more importantly, I don’t think I could work for someone again. I am too used to doing my own thing and making my own decisions.
I have another problem / decision:
I live in Seattle but would REALLY like to move to Phoenix to get out of the rain and into the sunshine. I’ve lived in the rain almost 30 years and enough is enough. Problem is, there aren’t as many good jobs in Phoenix as they mostly seem to be in the service industry. Seattle is a much better place to find work but I really can’t stand the rain anymore. I’m stuck. It would be a big risk to move to Phoenix and expensive too as we have a houseful of stuff.
In times like these, caution would probably be the best choice. Taking risks now when the future of our economy is so uncertain might not be the smart thing to do. The problem is though, who knows when things will get better? This 9%+ unemployment might be around for the next 5 to 10 years or even longer. Who knows what we have in store for all of us with the 14 trillion dollars of debt this country has racked up.
But then I read this morning that Steve Jobs was in the process of having a super yacht designed and built for himself.
Now he is dead.
I don’t want that to happen to me so maybe I should move now, while I’m alive. You can’t guarantee there will be a tomorrow so maybe I should get busy doing what I want to do today.
Are you happy trading your time for money? With any “normal” job, that is exactly what you are doing and it is the only way most people know how to make a living. They get hired by someone else and provide their time and knowledge to help their employer make money. Ideally, everyone makes their employers a bit more than the employer pays them. That way, both parties make money and the business can sustain itself and grow.
Hourly And Salary Jobs
Most people have hourly or salary jobs and they know in advance what they will make for the day, week, month, and year. They get paid that amount no matter what and while their income can vary a little based on bonuses, it is always within a certain amount. Unless they have a high paying job, their ability to earn and save money is limited. That is the way most people feel comfortable because they have something steady that they can count on. (of course with unemployment so high, no one can count on having any job anymore)
Commission And Self Employment
People who work on commission or get a high percentage of their pay from commissions are in a little bit different boat. They could really be considered self employed in many circumstances as they can influence how much they make by putting in longer hours, getting better at the service they provide, and being creative in getting more business.
Being self employed and/or being your own boss is often where the “real” money is. When you own your own company you are no longer receiving a set salary and your earnings potential can increase or decrease depending on many factors. The risks to you are much greater than having that “steady job” but so are the possible rewards. The problem is, most people are too risk averse to ever take that kind of gamble and go out on their own.
Starting A Business Online
The Internet really is a wonderful thing for creative and hard working people who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and figure it all out. It’s not easy but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get started. All you really need is time. And the good thing about the hours you put into your Internet business is that it can be time better spent than the time you put in at your job. That’s because you might be able to actually create something online that will pay dividends for months or years after you are finished working on it.
Building a website of your own isn’t easy to envision for a beginner but it is most certainly a necessity if you want to succeed with any online business. When you start researching how to make money online, building your own website should be your ultimate goal if you want to ever get to the point where you are making money 24 hours a day. A website is your store, and a store can make money whenever it is open, which on the Internet is all the time.
If you ever want to get out of the rat race where you give up most of your day working long hours for a set wage, starting an online business is the cheapest and easiest way to do it. There are lots of different ways to make money with a website and much of it will depend on where your interests and talents lay. A good place to get started is the Keyword Academy and you can read my review of it and watch a video I made here – The Keyword Academy.
