Explorking

How to transform what you love to do into a passive income the allows you to live the life you want to live, work from everywhere and live anywhere.

We’ve written about our online business, and you may be wanting to do the same thing… but you may be stuck. Maybe you’re unsure of what area you could focus on, you’re unsure of your skills, or perhaps you believe you don’t have anything that others will care to hear about. Don’t fool yourself; you’ve got something, trust us.

We have had this conversation many times, and we will undoubtedly continue to have similar conversations. And figuring out how best to build an online business boils down to this question: What skill or information do I have, that others will want? Although there is no one answer, we’re here to help provide you with some examples that may lead you to a starting point.

Let’s get started…

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EXAMPLE 1: TEACHING OTHERS

You are an avid hiker and nature enthusiast in the Colorado area. Many of your evenings are filled with organizing the next hiking or camping trip. While you may love the fresh mountain air and enjoy this wonderful hobby that allows you to connect to nature, start seeing your passion in another light – as a skill you could use to generate income.

If you’ve been at it awhile, you’re likely sitting on a treasure of information and skills that others would be very keen to hear about or maybe even pay for. If there is a family, say from Germany, who has saved up for years to afford to visit the incredible United States of America — well that family could be very interested in a resource for their trip planning that’ll take their vacation from good to great, effortlessly.

Pictures and videos to show them the beauty, and maybe a 3 or 7–day program for the area that can be purchased.

Remember, even though there may be other programs out there like this, your program is unique because it comes from you.

EXAMPLE 2: SELLING GOODS

Knitting is your escape, and if you could knit all day, every day, you would be infinitely happy. Leanne and I went on a multi-day date, a knitting class. I very much enjoyed knitting, probably because it allowed me to create something that I wanted. That being said, I was awful at it. Knitting is another incredible subject with an opportunity to not only provide a resource to newcomers but also experts.

I would not be surprised if there are some less-common materials that can be used to knit things with. Surely many would love more reviews of patterns, materials, and the tools-of-the-trade. If teaching isn’t your thing, why not setup an online shop for your projects on a site like Etsy?

If you don’t want to teach, there are other options out there, like selling the goods you make online. By selling online, you’ll likely be able to charge a touch more for it.

EXAMPLE 3: SHARING YOUR JOURNEY

You recently discovered an interest in fixing cars and trucks; this newly discovered passion has led you to the decision to become a heavy duty mechanic. Wow, this is a great adventure – My journey to becoming a heavy duty mechanic. Has a ring to it, doesn’t it?

Not only are there many people who are too unsure about a career change who would love to follow your journey, but there are also many do-it-yourself people who’d pay for a bit of advice from you as you learn. Maybe a guide on how to change and maintain an alternator on Cummins engines — okay, that’s very specific, but I’d buy that guide in a heart beat.

Or, because you’re sharing your journey, you’ll likely be learning the ins and outs of many products – which are good, which are bad, and people will rely on your expertise in choosing the right tool for the job. This is where affiliate marketing comes in, something we’ll chat about in future posts

Your journey is interesting to people. It may encourage them to do something they’ve always dreamed of doing, making the world a better place, and allowing you to continue capturing your dreams.

There are infinite possibilities that these three examples seem minuscule, but we hope this helps to highlight that whatever your passion is can actually become your full-time gig.

BUT! BECAUSE BUILDING A BUSINESS TAKES TIME…

Building a business takes time. It’s very, very rare that you’ll hit it “big time” in the first year. Creating income of your own takes patience, and sometimes patience is something we just can’t provide. So if this is you, something you may want to look at is working for someone else (ideally as a contractor) in the field you’re hoping to create in.

A great example could be becoming a VA (Virtual Assistant) to someone who is doing something similar to what you want to do. This way, you’re able to learn from them, develop skills surrounding things you will be managing in the future, and get a glimpse into the life you’re looking to lead.

Other online job opportunities that may help you hone your skills include helping other businesses with their:

• Social media management
• Affiliate management
• Account management
• Communications
• Content writing
• Video production
• Audio editing
• Development

You can learn, while doing, and getting paid. A great place to go to find possible jobs is Freelancer or Upwork. If you’re unsure of the task, read up on it, study it, then watch for jobs and apply!

Do NOT doubt yourself. You will always find an infinite number of reasons why building your own business is a waste of time, or how you can’t provide anything of value. There will be hordes of people who will tell you, directly or indirectly, that your idea will not work and will be a waste of time. Let the naysayers slide past, give it a try, and be open to change!