I’ve been thinking about my Alternative Income Streams recently. I’m trying to put them in context with the earnings from my day job. I’m at a bit of crossroads where I’m not sure what to make of this income stream.
A large number of you leave comments about how well I’m doing each month as I review these income streams. It’s very uplifting to me. However, I wonder if it’s really a lot of money.
The definition of a lot of money was discussed at The Simple Dollar (TSD). The conclusion that TSD came to was that a lot of money in terms of salary was 50% more than what he currently makes. As he makes more money, his definition of “a lot” changes. This makes sense to me, but I have to say that my income streams is nowhere close to being 50% of my salary.
My alternative income is a source of excitement for me. It seems a little odd to me, but sometimes I feel like I’d be willing to trade $10 from my day job for $1 of money from blogging. I was very confused by these feelings until I read this tremendous article from the Washington Post (if you click on any link to leave this site, make it that one). It would take too many words to give context to that article, but here is the key quote:
“At a music hall, I’ll get upset if someone coughs or if someone’s cellphone goes off. But here, my expectations quickly diminished. I started to appreciate any acknowledgment, even a slight glance up. I was oddly grateful when someone threw in a dollar instead of change.” This is from a man whose talents can command $1,000 a minute.
I don’t have that kind of talent at my day job, but I’ve become conditioned to a fairly high salary. In contrast, in the world of blogging and alternative income, I’ve been conditioned to earning very, very little.  I find that life’s experiences are in relation to the surrounding context – this is another case of that.
You are one of the reasons I developed “Thriving in a Global Economy” as a seminar/workshop. You can earn more from alternative income, but you need multiple revenue streams.
[editor: I judged this to be a comment to market a service so I de-linked it… If you are interested go to cheapogroovo.com.]
That article was remarkable. Thank you for posting the link. I actually feel guilty after reading it, fairly certain that I have not been “stopping and listening” nearly enough in my day-to-day life. I may make an effort now to appreciate things more– not that I’ll ever get a free concert from Joshua Bell on my way to work or anything, but there is much out there that we just ignore when we should be soaking it in.
Wow!!! I probably would have walked right past as well… What a shame.
I wish I could have been there and known. But I guess that defeats the purpose.
What does U Comment I follow mean?
What a great article, thanks for the link. :)
I think everyone has a common need: validation. Blogging is an extension of you, and earning income from blogging is a validation that what you do brings value to your readers. When I get a nice comment on one of my posts, or see that I have new subscribers, I feel that same feeling of validation.
I will stop and smell the roses more often!
Brother, you’re a software engineer. Writting software is an art. Don’t put yourself down like that.
You should see the software I write. It really stretches the definition of “art”.
I know what you mean. I made around $1250 from 4 months on MoneyBlogSite. Not a lot of money when you think about it, but when it comes to supplemental income, it is a ton. I think that might be the way you see it, as I am going down the road where I want to become a Web Entrepreneur. I am a long ways away from being able to live off internet money, but the dream of being able to keeps me going.
I have also been recently selling my old stuff, like I just got $60 for a surround sound system I bought 6 years ago for $400, or my PS2 I played for 6 years than sold for $100. When I got that $60 in cash, it was a lot to me because it was extra money. $60 coming in my paycheck every week is nothing because I know I am always going to get it. But this extra $60 for nothing was awesome, and I wanted to go out and spend it right away.
My point is that MY Blog Money wass supplemental, and the fact that it was, made it that more special.
Lazy Man, I follow your alternative income streams progress with great enthusiasm because I love the idea of establishing a “passive” (or at least something other than 9-5 job) income. You’re already beyond 1/3 of the way to your goal and your rate of increase is changing rapidly. If you want a little encouragement, plot a curve based on your monthly alternative income over time and see where the curve leads you. I’m not saying you’ll actually get there that quick, but I bet the projections will be encouraging.
My personal goal is very similar: use my current salary to pay off all my debt (hopefully including the house) over the next couple/few years while building alternative, preferably passive, income streams that will actually be something I could live on once the debt is paid off.
Alternative income makes the difference between making good money, and living the good life. Hopefully I’ll find my way through and my wife can quite her job. Man, it is good to dream!
Lazyboy ;-) , you are definitely a source of motivation for most of us!
Keep it up !
FB.
Tremendous article that you linked to. There is something about alternative income. My wife makes about 1/100th with her web business than she did at her job now that she stays home with our son, but she is infinitely happier with each penny than she was with each dollar!
I must say someting. The concept of passive income confuses many many people around the world and many start a second business to build a passive income… but totally ignoring the term ‘passive.’ A passive income should be a stream of income that requires little work. Not full time job.
Remember that when start.