How you spend your time will correlate with how much money you make. This doesn’t need to be a stressful revelation. People that use this truism to rationalize or justify the endless hours they spend working on things they care little about just to make some extra money aren’t using it the right way. Their willpower will inevitably fail at some point, and then they’ll find themselves in even more stress, whether financially or simply emotionally.
Instead, why not cut willpower out of the equation (at least as much as possible) and make the time you want to enjoy profitable too? For many, this is easier said than done. It’s a goal to be reached, not something they can just do at the drop of a hat. It could be a gradual process, or it could happen very quickly. The question that should always be on your mind is: “How can I make more of the time I enjoy into a potential revenue stream?”
In this, you should take a systems, rather than a goals approach. Turning your enjoyable time into money will probably involve multiple streams of revenue, since you don’t want to spend all your time on one thing no matter how much you enjoy it. Fortunately, having multiple ways to make money is the best course anyway, so it overlaps perfectly with enjoying your time.
For example, I’ve already told you about how to make some more money writing about wrestling. With WrestleMania 34 next week, now’s a great time to cash in. I’ve been working on a big post detailing some of the best WrestleMania matches. It’s involved me watching a lot of great matches from over the years. I’ve certainly enjoyed the time, but it’s very fruitful time because it’s going to make me some kind of money which will add to the hundreds of extra dollars I get a month writing about this stuff.
While that’s a direct overlap between the time and money axes, that correlation doesn’t need to be obvious. You can lessen the impact of things that are “actually jobs” if you can control where and how, rather than actually what, you do.
As another example, suppose you want to submit an article for Listverse. This is a site I just found this month. It’s a very good opportunity because they pay $100 for every article they accept. If you’re knowledgeable about historical topics, urban legends, weird stuff, or interesting science, you’re probably a good fit for them. As a tester, I’ve submitted three for approval. I’ll let you know how it goes later, but my plan right now is to do 5-10 of these a month for 500-1000 more dollars.
Getting to choose what you want to write about helps. It certainly makes your time more enjoyable for your money. You can enhance this even further by choosing when and how you do your posts. I’ve often written about finding the best place to do your work, but this need not be a place simply for “work.” If it relaxes you, you’ll probably enjoy it more. In my case, going outside on an excursion need no longer be just an excursion, because I’ll be enjoying my time and earning money simultaneously.
This concept extends to “normal” jobs. Is there any way you can get to a more flexible working schedule, where you can do work from someplace other than the office, and on your own time? If so, you should try. Similarly, if you can find a remote opportunity that pays well, take it as soon as you get it. For example, a publisher hired me to do some remote work for them this month. So far, things have gone well, as I’ve gotten $500 and have been approved for a big, four-figure project. I’ve also been prioritized for more such projects. I’ve estimated that this work, should it come consistently (and it has so far) will get me several thousand more per month, probably in the $2,500-3,500 range, but it could be less or more – I still need to see what a full month is like.
As soon as the weather warms up, you can be sure I’ll be going out to make money and enjoy myself at the same time.
When you put this entire system together, you’ll realize that it’s very possible to make thousands a month – enough to live on, even in New York – and not only control your own time, but enjoy the time you’re using to make your money. If you add this to a “regular job,” the income is even greater.
Is it enough to get rich on? No, but it’s enough to be happy since your immediate needs will be met and you’ll be enjoying the overwhelming amount of your time. Equally as important, you won’t be relying on willpower to get your work done.
As for getting rich, it’s certainly possible, but that comes over a long period of evolution with your system. Life took billions of years to create human beings. It is very possible to get to six figures with, say, a part-time job and multiple good remote income streams. Rest assured, I’m working hard on figuring it out.
Most people separate the concept of “free time” from work, which is what brings in money. This doesn’t need to be so. It’s just a question of what wells you can potentially draw money from that are also consistent with your interests, seizing on them when you find them, and controlling when and where you want to draw that money out. If you’re having trouble finding those wells, this might be a good resource for you.
I’ll do a much more detailed post later on, when my system is more mature. Until then, I just wanted to introduce you to the concept. This month has been a major breakthrough for me in this area.
Part of that breakthrough has come as a result of the persuasion knowledge I’ve accumulated in the past few years. Companies always want to hire great, persuasive writers, no matter where they are. To improve your skills and make yourself more attractive to the people that might want to give you money, read Stumped.
