Welcome back to the Saturday Success Series email!
In this edition we’ll have:
Five to Focus On: A quote, stock, book, show & a beer.
Master Yourself: The only key to success
Master Your Money: Assessing risk
And of course…
The Weekly Special: 14 of the Best Online Businesses You Can Start Now
The goal here is maximum value, so let’s get to it.
Oh, by the way, if you’re feeling generous, please share this newsletter with a friend.
Five to Focus on:
In a noisy world, it’s hard to know what’s good out there. Let me help.
Quote to ponder: “Everybody that’s successful lays a blueprint out.” - Kevin Hart
Stock to consider: Ethereum.
Not a stock, a cryptocurrency. But a good one. Many expect ETH to overtake BTC at some point. Mainly because ETH has many real world applications plus it powers the NFT world. And I know, crypto is getting its teeth kicked in right now. It’s temporary.
Disclaimer- this is not financial advice, I am not a financial advisor, and you should always do your own research.
Book to read: Killing Crazy Horse by Bill O’Reilly.
I love a history book that doesn’t read like a stuffy history book. We all kinda know the story about the struggle between settlers and Native Americans. But I don’t think most of us know all that went down.
Show to enjoy: Candy on Hulu.
The story is crazy, the show is well acted and the filming is next level. What better combo is there for TV? Go enjoy Jessica Biel looking very non-Jessica Biel-ish.
Beer to sip: Zombie Dust from 3 Floyds.
1, it has a cool name and tastes amazing. 2, check out the reviews on UnTappd and BeerAdvocate. These craft beerheads are notoriously nitpicky. Nothing bad to say about this one though.
Master Yourself
The only key to success is: consistent hard, smart work.
It’s a simple concept. Not easy to do. But extremely simple.
Don’t listen to anyone who makes it more difficult than this. You don’t need lists or a novel or a scientific research article. Just a lot more common sense and a lot less crap.
When you sit down to watch TV or Netflix, they’re reading or working on something.
When your hobby is beer and football, theirs is reading or learning a new language.
While you’re surfing the net watching funny cat videos, they’re working.
While you’re shopping and consuming, they’re working and creating.
While you’re sleeping in, they’re up exercising and meditating.
While you’re posting pictures to Instagram, they’re making real connections with others.
While you’re up late boozing with friends, they’re hitting the sack early.
They’re making the tough decisions, sacrificing now to have better later. The sort of decisions that separate the successful from the rest of the population.
They don’t make excuses, they make an effort.
Master Your Money
People love saying- “Investing is risky.”
Know what’s really risky?
One 9–5 job that could fire you tomorrow
No assets (no, your house doesn’t count)
No passive income sources
A savings account that actually loses you money
Use tools like this one, like Investopedia, Motley Fool, etc. to figure out which assets you feel most comfortable with. Then buy the hell out of them.
The real risk is in letting your money just sit and do nothing for you. Treat it like a tool.
Weekly Special:
14 of the Best Online Businesses You Can Start Now
The world is digital, as if you didn’t know.
The future is gig work, you might’ve heard.
Now, I don’t fully buy into that.
I think the move from full time work for one company to all gig work will be slower than some anticipate. On the flip side, while I love my full time job, I’m also a big believer in side work.
Here are 14 of the best online business opportunities for those of you willing to put in a little extra work.
1. Write for paid sites
What is it?
It’s exactly what it sounds like…you write for a website that pays you for your writing. Medium is an obvious example, but there are tons of other sites that will pay you to write for them. Actually many sites now will pay you for good content. Think of a site you enjoy reading and see if they accept new work.
Learn more: https://www.makealivingwriting.com/make-money-writing/
2. Self-publish books
What is it?
Self-publishing refers to an author who completes the entire publishing process on their own or with their own resources, including printing, editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, and book marketing. This is accomplished without the assistance of a typical publishing house or publisher. Pro tip- write about what you know, don’t prattle on about things that aren’t in your wheelhouse.
Learn more: https://self-publishingschool.com/how-to-publish-a-book/
3. Create handmade goods
What is it?
Setting up your own website/virtual storefront is one option if you wish to sell handmade items online. Using social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to sell. Selling on a third-party e-commerce portal such as Etsy.com or Amazon’s Handmade. I have a friend who is an incredible creator of art pieces, both her choice designs and requested custom work. She has built herself a strong online business by utilizing Instagram and Etsy, and her talent, obviously. Check her out: https://www.etsy.com/shop/carelanie/
Learn more: https://www.godaddy.com/garage/best-websites-to-sell-crafts/
4. Create an app
What is it?
Native apps are usually created by a developer using the platform’s own programming language. These apps are downloaded to the smartphone from the relevant app store and saved in the device’s memory, making them available for usage at the touch of a button. You can now create apps for free (Appy Pie App Builder is a popular choice). Of course the market is saturated, but what market isn’t? Be mindful that most apps don’t make any money at all. So make sure you have a good idea, good design, etc.
Learn more: https://www.appypie.com/how-to-create-an-app
5. Sell other people’s products
What is it?
Reselling isn’t anything new, but it’s still lucrative. You can find things at yard sales, flea markets and thrift stores then clean them up and resell them. You can purchase popular products from China for cheap and resell them on Amazon for a hefty profit. Affiliate marketing is another technique to make money by selling other people’s items. Affiliate marketers promote products from a variety of companies in exchange for a commission (a percentage of the total sales price). This can be accomplished through your website, social media, or paid advertisements.
Learn more: https://www.sidehustlenation.com/best-items-to-flip/
6. Create an online course
What is it?
An online class is a class that takes place over the internet. They’re usually run through a learning management system, which allows students to monitor their course syllabus and academic progress, as well as connect with their classmates and instructor. I’m actually thinking about doing this with a course in personal finance for people in their 20s. Do you write a lot about the same topic over and over, from different angles? Then you could combine everything into one valuable course that people pay for.
Learn more: https://www.wix.com/blog/2020/04/how-to-create-an-online-course/
7. Start a paid newsletter
What is it?
Paid newsletters are email campaigns that users subscribe to for a cost, usually on an annual or monthly basis. They’re a terrific way to complement your business, as well as a useful tool for people who wish to generate money by promoting their own brand. You could also create a free newsletter and sell advertising spots, which might be simpler to start with.
Learn more: https://signum.ai/blog/how-to-launch-a-paid-newsletter-and-make-a-fortune/
8. Internet domain selling
What is it?
Buying and selling domains is a lucrative business that you can run from the comfort of your own home. It’s basically the process of you buying domain names, then selling said domain name to a buyer who wants it. When buying and selling domain names, there are trademark concerns to consider too.
Learn more: https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0412/how-to-make-money-with-domain-names.aspx
9. Open a dropship store
What is it?
Dropshipping is a fulfillment method in which a store does not stock the items it sells. Instead, the retailer buys the item from a third-party vendor and has it delivered to the buyer directly. As a result, the seller is relieved of direct product handling.
Learn more: https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-start-dropshipping
10. Curate subscription boxes
What is it?
In a nutshell, a subscription box is a regular physical delivery of curated niche-oriented products wrapped in a box designed to create an experience and add value beyond the products themselves. It’s not only about the items that are provided; it’s also about the experience that comes with them. Think of some popular niches- pets, health, self-care, etc.- and build a box around it.
Learn more: https://www.cratejoy.com/sell/guides/how-to-start-a-subscription-box/
11. Become a virtual assistant
What is it?
A virtual assistant can make anywhere from 15–30/hour and you can do it from the comfort of your home. You can really be any kind of virtual assistant. You’re basically helping a business do whatever they need to do, from a remote location. This could include, but is not limited to, email management, content creation, bookkeeping, graphic design, social media, and the list goes on.
Learn more: https://gatheringdreams.com/how-to-become-a-virtual-assistant/
12. Do copy for other people’s social media
What is it?
Copywriters for social media create the messages that businesses utilize in their posts. They spend their days collaborating with company reps, clients, and account execus to put marketing concepts into hashtags, phrases, and longer posts for various social media platforms. An example I’ve seen is a husband/wife duo that charge a flat price (300/month let’s say) for a set amount of social media posts (1 blog post, 4 Facebook posts, 8 Twitter posts, etc.). Nothing earth shattering here, but a very solid idea if you’re good at writing and social media marketing (free certification available from HubSpot!)
Learn more: https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/english/careers/social-media-copywriter/
13. Start a coaching program
What is it?
Coaching is a type of development in which an experienced individual, known as a coach, provides training and advice to a student or client in order to help them achieve a specific personal or professional objective. A coachee is a term used to describe a student.
Learn more: https://nudgecoach.com/blog/how-to-create-a-new-coaching-program
14. Build your own freelance site
What is it?
Freelancers are self-employed people who work for themselves. They are also known as independent contractors. Other organizations use freelancers on a part-time or short-term basis, but they do not receive the same pay or have the same level of commitment to any one company as full-time employees. Building your own site, publishing your own content, and attracting high quality clients will take a lot more time and effort on your part. But it’s much more profitable and sustainable than working on a platform someone else owns.
Learn more: https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/04/how-to-create-freelance-website-guide/
Thanks for reading and if you found this valuable, please share with someone who could use it, see you next Saturday!