I Have Both a Confession & a Point to Make…
I have been reading through the posts here on this blog as a way of recapping what I have been writing about and also to see if I can create a spark of imagination for creating a new batch of content, not just for this site, but for all of my sites.
As I read through this one I became aware of a possible message it may be sending out, which I want to address right here and now.
Travelling Money is NOT just a blog about "How to make money online!". I specifically made that distinction to myself when I started this blog that it would not be about that, seeing as the internet is just soaked with websites doing the same kind of thing. I’m not talking about developing your own online business because that can and should involve you engaging in your passions and creating a living from it, which I believe is one of the most fundamental secrets to happiness and fulfilment and is quite eloquently captured in the Online Business 5-part article series graciously contributed by my friend Maria.
After a perfectly innocent attempt at creating some publicity for this website, it was suggested to me that I was simply advertising ebooks that explained how to sell an ebook teaching you how to sell an ebook etc… I accepted the comment, but I was also a little concerned as to the mis-conception that had been made. I have publicised one ebook on this site as far as I can see and it is rather more than that. In fact it is one of the best ones I have read of it’s kind as it takes you through proper market research of your niche and developing your business/product in an honest and genuine way, providing value to buyers and not just a way to cash in on peoples dreams for a better living or their greed for a promise of a "get-rich-quick" idea.
So this is why I feel the need to re-iterate that this site is about developing a particular relationship with money, or more accurately, income. There is a paradigm that is prevalent in the majority of people about making money etc… and I want to shift that. It is possible to make money wherever you are. The internet is the most likely way to do it, of course because it is the most portable point-of-presence you can have. Your office, telephone, inbox, product inventory, shop window, showcase, portfolio, bank accounts can all exist here without having to carry them around with you.
It is important for me however to stress this point. You can generate traveling money without internet marketing depending on how you work as a person. For example, if your strengths are performing in front of people you can do a better job of making that pay you wherever you are than trying to earn commissions selling products & services online. You may be an expert in something that enables you take on consultancy work wherever you go, so please do not read this site as just another blog about making money online.
So what is this confession I aluded to in the title?
I don’t really know the first thing about internet marketing. I signed up to the Thirty Day Challenge and whilst I am really impressed with the quality & value of what those guys are doing for people who want to start an online business, my attention span is so short that online research is a real chore for me and I hate to say it, but I find it head-numbingly boring. I need a marketing expert working for me in order to get my musical creations out into the world, whilst I concentrate on creating my James Bond soundtracks and my solo albums.
To be honest, that’s all I want to do; make music, share it with people and teach what I know about making music and what I am learning about the importance of finding your true purpose. I want to be a creator and a teacher. that way I will always be fulfilled and I do still believe that with patience, developing websites on subjects I am interested in will bring me an alternative source of income from the internet to strengthen my ability to do all the things I want to do for me and my family. I want to live a life where I never find myself going back to working 9 to 5 EVER again.
This website was initially an extension of Leave The Office to carry the earning-money aspect of "being free" as Leave The Office grew in a more, dare I say it, spiritual direction. Powerbook Studio is an extension of this site in that it is, as I have explained already, the area that I am excellent in and able to do wherever I am. I have plans that I know will see me achieving a large chunk of what I am always writing about as a possiblility and thus, I hope providing some inspiration to people who will see that "this guy is actually moving on. He’s not just talking. He’s succeeding before our eyes. He is worth listening to!"
That is my intention and that is why I am telling you now that I can’t tell you how to make money online. I am here to discuss and raise the awareness of the concept of what I term Travelling Money, taking one step at a time and celebrating every small victory no matter how insignificant it may look to others.
Comments
Comment from Rob
Time: September 14, 2007, 1:44 am
Interesting comment Jim.
The answer to your question I suppose is both. Making music is my first choice, but I am also fascinated by the idea of creating an income from the internet. Not necessarily this blog, but I am new to this and learning as I go.
This blog may not be what brings me that success, but it will help me learn and develop ideas. It’s also a good way to receive thought provoking comments and opinions such as yours that may help me gain some clarity about my goals.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Comment from Jim
Time: September 14, 2007, 8:14 am
It is alluring, isn’t it? I found the only profit I have really made online was from settling a potential lawsuit with Scienologists. The problem is that it takes persistence, time, and (most of all) patience. I lack the first and the last, personally.
I guess the best case scenario for me (or anyone else, for that matter) would be to create a great site with great content, sit on it, and wait… but, unfortunately, people are into this whole “dynamic content” thing. Psh…
Comment from Rob
Time: September 14, 2007, 10:37 am
I agree Jim.
With regard to creating great content, that is easy when you find a way of writing about a subject that you love regardless of whether it will make money or not.
I could be doing this on the subject of music production, but I have somehow decided that I want to do it in a different way to the existing music production websites out there and thus I am stuck because I haven’t thought of a unique way to present it yet.
After this comment, maybe I should just start and enjoy it and see where it leads.
Thanks Jim. You’re the first real commentator on this website. The other past comments were made when those posts were made on my other blog “Leave The Office”.
Comment from Jim
Time: September 14, 2007, 12:01 pm
No problem man 
You know what might be fun - if you talked about music production and incorporated a song in your posts. Like, you’ll talk about producing a song then post it at the end of one of your posts. Or you can talk about something that may have inspired you, post the lyrics, then post the actual song. Just a thought
Comment from Rob
Time: September 14, 2007, 1:44 pm
Yes I have had thoughts along those lines.
The main hurdle is getting over my, at times, chronic procrastination and changing focus.
Thanks for the advice though. Just knowing someone else actually took some time to think about it and suggest something makes me feel obliged to get off my ass and do something about it.
Cheers!
Comment from Jim
Time: September 14, 2007, 2:25 pm
If only I had a million dollars for every time I decided to change my direction on a website… I’d be a multi-billionaire. I think what websites all boil down to is the fact that you are happy with what you are doing. Not that I’m trying to play Ghandi or hippie stoner here, but if you aren’t happy or aren’t really interested - why do it? Even if it IS something that has been reproduced 100,000 times - there is a difference between doing it first and doing it well.
I sometimes find it very hard to post on my website. So what do I do? I get honest with my audience (of maybe 2 people) and say I have nothing to say. When it comes to talking about web design and development, everything eventually becomes painfully obvious or simply redundant. This is the reason I am so jealous of Problogger (I’m assuming you have heard of that site?). This guy will sit there and churn out article after article of the same stuff, but a different presentation. Great guy, good writer, but poor content. He’s a freakin’ millionaire (maybe not THAT rich), though.
This discussion really got me thinking about what I want to do. What is the most effective way to assign a role of something I enjoy and have a bit of expertise to something I could potentially do to be profitable? That’s really what you have to ask yourself. If you are anything like me, web optimization just seems to be a watered down area of discussion… assuming that is the main topic of your website.
Comment from Rob
Time: September 14, 2007, 2:52 pm
Wow this is becoming a thread! Great stuff though.
I agree with what you say about certain subjects becoming very thinly worn and watered down. I think if I am honest I started out on this blog thing with no prior knowledge of anything. No web design knowledge or internet marketing, SEO or anything at all, so I jumped into an all too obvious subject. That subject was something I wanted to achieve (making money online), which I realize now is not a good subject to start on. I don’t have any knowledge to teach anyone anything about that!
Still I find all of this valuable learning experience. This website in it’s current format is not really what you could call good quality (except for Maria’s articles), but that’s OK. It will help me in my ongoing web development.
Comment from Jim
Time: September 14, 2007, 3:06 pm
Sometimes writing about the development of your knowledge in a certain area is a niche people are into.
Also, if you aren’t satisfied with your web site, why not change it? I think it looks fine. If you want to make any revenue with it, though, you may want to consider changing some ad placement.
Comment from Rob
Time: September 15, 2007, 2:03 am
Thanks for the input Jim.
I wouldn’t say I’m not satisfied with the site. I think I have hit a sticking point as to what to write about. I am certainly not satisfied with my web earnings at present! That however is an ongoing process and one which will change as soon as I find my exact niche.
I still have other sources of income through my music outside of the internet too of course. I am searching for a good way to link them up.
Cheers.
Comment from Jim
Time: September 15, 2007, 8:16 pm
Anything more than $0 would be making more money than me, haha!
Comment from Rob
Time: September 16, 2007, 1:28 am
Does making an amount less than Google’s minimum payout count?!
I seem to have made a few small amounts from affiliate sales, but no payouts yet. Very frustrating.
I’ll keep an eye on your blog. I like the name of it!
Comment from Jim
Time: September 16, 2007, 12:05 pm
Well I guess if you count that, I have about $10 over the past 4 months.
Comment from Jim
Time: September 13, 2007, 4:50 pm
Well, here’s my issue with this. I do believe your intentions are not to make another “Get rich quick!” site, but the presentation is deceiving. I have read this article twice now and am lost. Are you trying to prove success through music or through marketing your blog?