How to Make the Transition to Working Online

How to Make the Switch to Working Online is a short series on how to transition from a 9–5 job to a life of freedom and flexibility through working online. This is how I made my move, and this is how you can too, with no BS.

To begin with, it is not working online, but rather playing online and earning money. It wouldn’t last a month if I didn’t enjoy getting up in the morning and doing what I do. The most difficult obstacle to overcome when considering working online is to ignore what others have done to make money online and instead do what you enjoy.

When people first start out online, they look to people like Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki and think to themselves, “I can do this.” After about a month of trying, most people realize that it doesn’t work that way. Earning money online can be much more difficult than it appears.

The steps outlined below will assist you in making the best transition from working offline to working online.

Step #1. Start

That may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many people only think about and discuss making positive changes in their lives. So go ahead and do it! Learn about the various ways to make money online and what you are capable of.

Step #2. Find out what you enjoy doing

Motivation is a key factor in achieving success. When you enjoy your job, you are not working. The most important aspect of doing what you love is probably having fun. Aside from enjoying what you do, you will frequently know a lot about that specific niche, which will increase your credibility and knowledge of market trends. Knowing as much as you can about your niche market gives you an advantage in addition to the desire to pursue it.

It astounds me that even after only a short time blogging, you will see so many other bloggers come and go as they gradually give up on their pursuit of money. The pursuit of a dream will see you through.

Step #3. Begin your online work.

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to work online. I began by reading blogs. Then I began subscribing to blogs that I enjoyed. I created a free blogging account on Blogger.com and other sites to learn how to create a dynamic website online. I learned how to make money online and how not to make money online (selling ebooks is not going to get you anywhere unless you know how to market online well). Make the transition from part-time Internet entrepreneur to a self-employed Internet marketer. Begin small and give yourself permission to have a life outside of the Internet and your work.

As your online business grows and expands, you will have to decide when to quit your day job and pursue your online business. After about 4–5 months, I did this. I planned my vacation and paychecks to provide me with as much coverage and financial cushion as possible. This was not an easy process, and I had to live on almost nothing for a few months in order to complete the transaction. I recommend that you save as much money as possible before starting this part, or that you already have a steady income stream from your part-time online ventures. Both are excellent suggestions.

Step #4. Find a routine and a balance in your life

Working for yourself opens up a whole new world. There is no longer anyone ensuring that you complete your tasks. You must be your own boss. Consider your time to be a commodity that you can no longer reclaim. Time is no longer worth a fixed monetary value. It is equivalent in terms of value-added. You are now compensated based on your performance and the value you provide.

It is no longer important how long it takes to complete tasks in order to be paid, but rather how much value you provide your customers. Never deceive your customers about the value you provide. You may discover that in order to generate the income you desire, you only need to work 4 hours per day. It is critical to strike that balance and treat time as if it were pure gold because it is.

Step #5. Diversify

The days of setting up a storefront and selling hardware supplies to locals are quickly passing. You cannot afford to be stagnant in a world that changes in a matter of minutes online. As soon as you start making a good living from your main blog or virtual business, you should start working on the next one. When you have 4–5 different but related online businesses, you protect yourself from failure due to income loss.

If one of those businesses or income streams fails, you still have others to tide you over until your next idea comes to fruition. Online, the winds of business change so quickly that no one can predict what the coming year will bring. People who claim to know are lying.

Step #6. Give something back.

Giving back is an important aspect of business and branding. Giving back does not always have to involve money; it can also be in the form of time spent on charitable causes, giving advice to others, talking with and answering questions from customers, sending thank you cards and notes, and anything else. Never forget where you were at one point in your life, and always remember to give credit to those who helped you get there.

I hope you find this useful, and whether you have already begun working online or are in the process of doing so, I wish you the best of luck.

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