Being successful and especially making money on the internet can seem impossible, or at least overwhelming, but it is doable given the right approach and persistence.
Understanding the common barriers can help you overcome or work around them.
Personally, my biggest challenge is lack of self-confidence and that manifests as being shy, not taking risks, and playing things small. All of these things limit my earning power.
That said, through sheer luck, I started seeing success very early on in the 1990s by simply being online a lot and being helpful. My content got popular and I saw rewards despite myself.
If, like me, your problem is mindset, all you can do is work on yourself or partner with people who compliment and paper over your limitations!
With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose a starting point. Whether it's a YouTube channel, podcast, or social media platform, the key is to make a decision and move forward.
The fear of making the wrong choice can paralyze you, but remember that failure is part of the process. It helps you learn and eventually find the right path.
Once you make a choice, it's common to doubt it. This is called choice regret. To combat this, commit to your decision for a set period, such as three to six months. Focus on one idea and block out distractions.
This action biased approach allows you to gather just-in-time information that helps you move forward.
Establish a routine and dedicated work zone to maintain your focus. Set specific working hours and stick to them. Consider waking up earlier to work on your business before other commitments take over.
This structure helps you mentally check in and out of work mode.
Did I mention patience already? Patience!
Patience is crucial for building an online income. You have to put in effort on a daily basis without much in the way of positive feedback, with a lot of people who would hate to see you succeed.
Consistently work on understanding your audience and refining what you offer to them.
Remember, YOUR specific route to success is not going to be a straight line, these stories only appear that way in PR biographies of people who already made it. That is called survivorship bias, I think.
Making mistakes and going down the wrong path is part of the deal.
A few times I have tried to make it with advertising revenue, it just never seems to work out for me as well as other options I have tried. You have to find what works for you, and what can make you money while not keeping you awake at night.
With persistence and learning from each step, you will get there.
