Having understood MY WHY (my reasons for wanting to earn more money and start a business) I was able to state my mission which you read in my 1st post BUT what was I supposed to do next? What shall I do? Where can I start? What are my options? What are people doing? I was out in the “wilderness”, Which way do I turn?, Where do I go? #Lost!
Investigate what others are doing
First port of call was to talk to friends and family and ask them what they do or if they do anything to earn extra money. There were the usual suspects of buying/selling shares, having a second property on rent, tutoring or selling on Ebay.
Investing in shares sounded great but I needed money to invest and more importantly I didn’t know the system and I am not savvy enough to play that game. The stock market is inherently unpredictable, and factors such as economic downturns, geopolitical events, or company-specific issues can lead to sudden declines. How would I deal with all of that? My lack of control over external factors and the need for continuous market monitoring would be emotionally and mentally draining for me I felt.
I didn’t have the money to invest in property and borrowing more money and getting another mortgage is not exactly going to help. That’s what I was trying to get away from. So this was a no, even though I would like to get some property in the future if I can. It would allow me to set the children up for the future. Inshallah (God willing).
Ebay was an interesting one because most people probably have dabbled in selling something around the house they want to get rid of. I had some gadgets, old mobile phones, a collection of iPhones, books and some automobile memorabilia. So I put them all up for sale and over a period of time I made about £2,500. That was great and came in useful BUT there are fees to pay, postage, packing to do and it takes time. Growing competition on eBay, coupled with rising platform fees, can reduce profit margins. Building and maintaining customer trust in a crowded marketplace is difficult. Also, dealing with customer disputes can be time-consuming and stressful. Also, this was a ONE-OFF, I didn’t have a constant supply of things to sell. This also doesn’t achieve my goal of earning $1 online as it wasn’t via a sustainable business model.
What made it worse is 1) One person didn’t pay me and I still haven’t had the payment and 2) One item that was apparently retuned to me never made it back to me. So loosing items and not getting paid with rising fees and costs put me off.
I had a word with myself
I had a bit of a brainstorm and thought about what can I do for people? What can I offer people as a service. How can I take their problems away? THIS IS THE KEY
I love cars and driving and I think I am a pretty good driver so how about becoming a Driving Instructor! The process of becoming a certified driving instructor involves navigating complex licensing requirements and obtaining adequate insurance coverage. I would have to buy a car with dual controls and again the costs to start are too high. When would I do this? I had a full time job, a family and other comittments.
What about washing cars for people door to door? The demand for car washing services can be highly dependent on factors like weather, location, and the availability of similar services in the area. Limited demand, especially during off-peak seasons, may result in inconsistent income. Competition from established car wash businesses could further impact market share. So, I knocked that one on the head. Imagine washing cars in the cold in London at my age! Moving on……..!
I had a collection of VHS video tapes from the 80s and 90s with TV programmes I had recorded on documentaries and car shows. I was transferring them from VHS > DVD for myself. Friends and family were interested in saving their 3 hour wedding videos and I did many for them. I thought I could do them for people at work, or people in the local area as a side business. This didn’t last, I wasted money on buying DVD blanks, printer supplies, DVD cases with no sales. The time it took to play the VHS tape in real time to transfer it was unrealistic. On we go……..!
Bitcoin was something that took off in a big way. I heard of people at work making millions from it. Teenagers driving around in Ferrari’s. It made no sense to me and so I avoided it after advise from friends and family. It didn’t sit well with me, it seemed false and not a satisfying way to help people and make money, which was my primary goal.
By now I was actively using Facebook (joining making money on-line groups) and Instagram etc. and used to see many adverts on Amazon FBA. Selling Products on Amazon where people were making $10,000 per month and more. Wow, I thought this sounds amazing. This is where I got serious about how it is possible to earn a lot of money online running your own business without me having to own or store a product. This sounded perfect and too good to be true. This was a formula or business model that appealed to me. Light Bulb Moment
I spent time searching and researching Amazon FBA, watching people on YouTube and Instagram selling the business model as a webinar or course. Watched this short video saying “we will show you EXACTLY how to sell on Amazon”. The videos leads you to a long 2 hour video where you are told we will coach you and It will cost $5,000 or more for the pleasure. I wanted to do it but I didn’t have $5,000 or more!
Stress and Anxiety
I jumped between various providers and honed it down to 2 people that sounded genuine and trustworthy. One sold a full course with every option for £700 which I purchased and followed the course. It was really good and the model works and I wanted to proceed. But guess what? I needed £3,000 – £5,000 for buying stock, fees and costs etc. I was dependant on the supply chain and its delays. Again, I was in the vicious cycle of needing money I didn’t have to make money. This was getting very frustrating. Losing confidence that this will never happen for me.
Stupidly I bought another Amazon FBA course thinking it was going to be different or cheaper, boy was I wrong. Now I was feeling it’s never going to happen. I felt that I was stupid and not capable. It was affecting me mentally, that I couldn’t support my family like I wanted to. It was affecting my mental health. I was chasing my tail.
I decided that I will do Amazon FBA once I have the money to do it. Where that would come from I didn’t know. Maybe it will fall out of the sky. That’s what I was hoping for, the problem was my mindset and attitude towards building a business. It was driven by the need for money but it should have been driven by change and thinking different but it wasn’t……….BUT I didn’t realise that yet!
Then something happened which shook my very core………
I found Forex, I thought I had struck gold………….how wrong was I……………..?
Thank you for reading and I hope it helped you navigate your thoughts. Do you behave like this? Is this what you are thinking and doing? Let me know your thoughts.
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Atif
#Atif’s Academy
Well one thing comes across loud and clear…. you are determined. I love that you are willing to give things a go…. I think we need to be prepared to try and to be willing to fail if we are ever going to try and then succeed.
Have you found the thing that is working for you yet? I look forward to finding out if you have.
I too have tried several things, MLM, door-to-door selling, etc, but the thing that has bought some money in, and that I am now beginning to get serious about is Affiliate Marketing and Digital Product creation.
I wish you all the best
Tony, thanks so much for your words. Yes determination is something I have when I really want/need something. I have found what works but I need to tell the story and lessons learnt with it for it to make sense. I am still learning and tweaking as I go. I wish you well and talk soon. Many thanks.
I could relate to everything you wrote, here. Your in-depth perspective was engrossing. We can help each other get to the other shore.
You mentioned mindset! YES! That is the key to finally gaining traction and momentum in the online world!
Kate, thank you. You are right we can help each other. 71 brains are better than 1. I do get carried away in detail but I need logic and structure to get the message across to all types of people and learning styles. Thanks, talk soon. Atif
Atif, It never ceases to amaze me about what we will look at doing to better our situation. Many of the thoughts on extra income that you shared are ones that I have looked at as well. Crypto was a roller coaster ride for sure, and I couldn’t find the inventory I wanted for eBay… Your dedication will be the key to your success!
David, the problem was that I didn’t know where to start. So I had to try what I thought would be easy or possible. As I found everything has pros and cons. I stayed clear of crypto as I didn’t have any guidance and it felt like it was not a way I was comfortable to earn extra money for my family. Many thanks, Atif
Atif, you are committed to your goal and it’s awesome! I find that there is a common story successful people have, that they try different options and don’t quit until they find the business model which works for them. As it’s said, if the plan isn’t working change the plan but don’t quit on your goal. Good for you and keep moving forward! I also have tried a variety of online businesses, and found affiliate marketing to be my favorite now. Look forward to your future post! All the best!
Denny, thanks so much my friend. Yes, I had to try different options otherwise I would have just given up. When I thought of HOW I can do it rather than I CAN’T do it, it makes you think and explore for other ways. We are often our own worst critics and create our own road blocks. How are you getting on with Affiliate Marketing? Talk soon. Atif
Atif, I can sympathize with you. I too looked at so many business models and sank money into several of them only to find out I needed to spend more to get it to work. Several turned into a bottomless money pits where I just had to cut my loses and move on.
What helped me get way from this is the business yardstick exercise I created. You can read about it on my blog if your interested.
I just want to encourage you to keep at it. I know you can do this.
I believe in you and your success!!
CJ
CJ, you are right, when you realise we are throwing good money after bad then you have to just stop. You loose some times, and that’s ok, it’s part of the process. Just don’t give up, keep going! Yes your yardstick exercise is great, thank for that tip, very useful. Thanks for your efforts and help as always. Atif
Wow, you have tried a lot of things, it shows how determined you. With that type of determination and relentlessness, I look forward to watching you make things happen! Look forward to your next post!
Alison, thanks for your message, people do say to me that I am determined, I see it more like desperation sometimes but I suppose that is determination if you turn it into an aim or objective you have to achieve. Look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks. Atif
Finding the perfect business model is not easy, especially when there so many different methods of making money.
But as long as you don’t give up, I am sure you will eventually find the method that suits you the most.
Alan, at times it feels like you will never find the right thing to do. But you won’t find that until you start looking and focus down and you learn and eventually you will find the right thing for you. Also your circumstances and finances can dictate the best route for you. Thanks so much. Atif
You determination is inspirational! Well done for showing so much resilience. It can be so hard finding the right path, and I’m so pleased you have found it.
Don’t give up!
Sarah, I am happy that you feel I am inspirational it feels good that I am of some help to people. We can’t stop until we find the right path and even then we can’t stop. I wish you well and please let me know how you are getting on. Atif
Atif, Your Subject line says it all, “What on Earth is going on?”.
You definitely point out all the questions that run through anyone’s head when trying to figure out where to get started.
Many first-timers ARE wandering around investigating what others are doing.
And then you hit the nail on the head…figuring out what will help people out. Figure out what’s important to them and try to help them solve their pain points.
Then eventually the newbies to online work have their light bulb moment – when they come upon a business model where they need no store front nor any products of their own.
But that’s not where it stops. In order to achieve a good intended outcome, one must stay focused or the anxiety will build when reading about that next shiny object.
Robert, very wise words thanks so much. Seeing what friends and family are doing first I thought was a good start as you trust them and they help and guide you. You soon realise that what you should do is help people fix their problems and pain points. That’s what adds value to people. Wishing you all the best, thank you. Atif
Atif, You are correct when you say there are many ways to make money, but what is right for you is the question. I feel your determination in this blog, and I know you will find it. I look forward to following your journey.
Sherri, thanks so much for the support. How are you getting on, what challenges are you facing? Atif
Great post Atif.
Looks like we’re on the same path at some point. I was determined to become financially free through properties and it worked. I’m still thinking about buying a few more properties to secure my retirement. You do not always need plenty of money to profit from properties. Have you heard about services like rent-to-rent or rent-to-service accommodation? This way you don’t need to own the property to get the income from it, but you need some money to get everything ready and it takes a lot of time to find a deal and then run the business.
You didn’t write too much about the Forex journey, but I think it was probably the same as mine. I actually lost a deposit for a house for all the courses and bad trades. I didn’t try Bitcoin and I will never touch it like forex.
I also had a good experience with eBay when selling stuff I didn’t need from my property renovation projects. Surprisingly I found Gumtree a good way to flip things without paying any fees. You wanted to be a driving instructor. I decided to become a taxi driver 🙂
Atif, stay determined and focused, you found your path now. I will wait for your next post.
Tom, great to hear you got some properties. I would like to do that once I have earned enough in this venture. The forex journey was too painful, maybe one day I will do a full post on it. It affected me in so many ways. How are you getting on? What challenges are you finding? Thanks for your guidence. Atif
Hi Atif! This is indeed the journey that most people will experience in their quest to make more money. However for the sake of making an online business, most would have quit well before you. Your tenacity will pay, no doubt about it. Keep believing in yourself, focus on the process like you started to do very well. I really enjoyed reading your post.
Regards,
Martin
Martin, thanks so much for your support, it means a lot. If I gave up nothing would change and I would be the reason why. We have to keep going. Thanks. Atif
Your insight on all the different things you have been involved with is an eye opener on whats out there . It’s nice knowing there are people out there like yourself that we can learn from and get advice . Nice read Thanks
Jon, it’s strange when people say I have helped them. I am just trying and telling the story. It’s great if what I do helps anyone, I suppose we all learn from each other. Many thanks. Atif
Well Atif, you certainly took your time and went deep into searching what may work for you and who you are. Thank you for your honesty in sharing your journey as it isn’t a linear way for sure. Looking forward to seeing what is working for you now.
Brigitte, yes I dug deep and kept going. It’s the struggle and lessons you learn along the way that makes you. How are you getting on? What challenges are you facing? What is working for you? Thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
You are a determined man, that I must say. You researched and searched for the perfect situation to grow your online business. I’m glad you found Internet Profits, I think you hit the lottery with that one. I am a complete newbie at this. I didn’t have much experience with looking for other ways to make money. The only thing I have done is try to expand my private practice. Oh, I just remembered there was another expensive training I took on becoming a hypnotherapist, but I didn’t really find that to be something I wanted to do, so I eventually just bailed on it. I think I was just lucky to have found IP right off. But I did do some research and listened to a lot of stories, and I agree there is a maelstrom of possibilities. It is just hard to nail one day. Dean often says, “Find one thing and stick to it.” And that is definitely what I am practicing now. I’m just sticking to it, not switching it up, looking for that shinier penny. I am glad you found what you are looking for.
Best,
Steph
Steph, thanks a lot for the comments it means a lot. You have just proven why me doing this blog is worth it. Sharing each other’s experiences and learning from others mistakes ready adds value to people. I’m really happy for you that you found Internet profits relatively early. The journey I’ve been through it was difficult, but to be honest I learnt a lot from it and I don’t see it as failure. I see it as opportunity to learn. It’s those things that provide comfort to others and at the end of the day we all benefit and learn. How are you getting on? I hope things are going really well for you. Take care. Thanks, Atif.
Hi Atif,
Really enjoyed reading the blog.
I am at the beginning of my journey and a lot of your experiences resonate with my thoughts and emotions that I am going through at this time like should I pay for the expensive courses being advertised on the social media channels, all along thinking will it be worthwhile and of that won’t end up wasting the little money I have. Do I become a driving instructor, become a teacher, etc, again with the hurdle of the upfront money needed proving daunting.
Inspired by your focus and determination I look forward to following your whole journey, learning from it, and hopefully being able to find my way and become successful in this too.