One of the dreams that I am pursuing is to own a financially thriving online business. The idea is to one day make enough "passive" income to cover my basic living expenses - and a lot more. I'm mature enough to know that it will take a lot of work and failure to create this reality. The first step towards creating that big goal is to earn that first $1.
At this juncture, I've learned several things about what it'll take to earn this first, glorious dollar. I'll break it down into three sections for ya.
1) It Takes Time
As the cliche goes, if it were easy than everybody would do it. Like any other business, you don't typically see the profits roll in until you've established a customer base and a product that the customers value.
Not only does it take time to create valuable products and set up the platforms that will attract customers, but it takes time to develop a brand that people value, trust, and are happy to give money toward.
2) Dealing With Limiting Beliefs About Money
I honestly believe that I could easily have my first dollar by now, but my limiting beliefs around money prevents me from seeing the opportunities or taking the actions that would lead to that first dollar.
The truth is that we create our own value. Whether the market is willing to pay for it is a different story. But for example, I'm having the hardest time deciding if my upcoming ebook will be free, $0.99, or $4.99.
There's so much tied between self-worth and money. In my mind, the conversation I'm having is whether or not the book is worth that money, which is more like if the time and effort I put into that book is worth that money. And then there's also this fear of people rejecting me.
As I'm writing this, I am actually realizing that my fear of being rejected and neediness to be liked are what's stopping me from making this first dollar. "Oh hey, you don't have to pay for this book that took me years of experience to create, just have it for free so I can feel like I'm good enough and you won't reject me."
Amazing.
3) Getting My First $1 is Like Having Sex For the First Time
This is a tad TMI (too much information), but I'll just go with it anyways.
I was a virgin up until I was 17 and a freshman a college. Prior to my first time having sex, there was so much insecurity and lack of self-worth attached to being a virgin. It took some doing things I never did before, and pushing past self-doubts that always held me back, that finally led to the breakthrough of having sex, lol.
It's very similar to this first dollar. As an online business virgin, I've created a lot of meaning and desperation behind making this first dollar. Similarly, it'll take some stepping outside of my fears and worries in order to produce the massive results I've set out to accomplish.
BRING IT ON!
I Urge You To Create An Online Platform That Makes You Money
Unless you want to trade your time for money the rest of your life, it is wise to create an online platform that makes you money. By doing this, you will free up the need to be somewhere, or do something, in direct exchange for money.
For example, if you have a 1k following on Instagram, you can promote a book or affiliate product and make money off the people who see that post and buy it. All you have to do is put in the initial work, and once it's on the internet, it can "sell" for you potentially forever.
THAT'S the power the the internet and an online platform. The idea is that you wake up with more money than you went to sleep with.
