Beginning Again

One of the best things that can be said about working in a virtual world is that it is possible to make changes and reinvent yourself, revisit your goals, adjust, and move forward. In some ways it is much easier than in the world offline. At the same time there are some hardships involved. You must often take a step outside of your comfort zone in order to bring in the big results that very well may be your goal.

I have been a freelance writer online for four years now. During that time I've made a few transitions, had some successes, and a few fatal flops along the way. I could have quit at any time but I've kept on keeping on and am making steps each day to grow and expand my horizons.

Unfortunately, I'm not very good at stepping outside of my comfort zone. I've recently decided that I'm going to make the move into affiliate marketing. I think it's a worthy goal and the real appeal of passive income - at least in theory because it certainly doesn't seem very passive at the moment - is appealing.

So, what's the problem?

I've failed to take my own advice in all honesty. I've written countless articles on the importance of creating a business plan. I've stressed the importance of making that plan both aggressive AND achievable. I've even mentioned that it is important to put it in writing, tell others about your plan, and to write down what action needs to be taken in order to make the plan work. For some reason though, I haven't managed to do these important things for myself and my own affiliate marketing business.

Perhaps I haven't been taking my affiliate marketing business as seriously as I take my writing business. That needs to change. The other problem I have is time management. Doesn't everyone? There's this mental war I have going on. If I write for clients, I can have money tomorrow. If I write for myself, I might have money two months for now. It never seems to get through the needy screaming voice in my head that is crying "but we need..." to focus on the fact that the writing I do for clients pays me once.

The writing I do for myself and my own affiliate marketing business has the potential to pay me many times. With this in mind, I will make my next few posts about goal settings, my personal goals for my affiliate marketing business, and the things that I will do in order to achieve these goals. My first goal will be to make a new post by August 9. Let's see how well that one works out.