Annual Income vs. Affiliate Lifestyle
Submitted by Ryan on Sun, 04/27/2008 - 21:03.
Not to long ago I read a post on another forum from a woman who is an affiliate and quit her day job. Now, one might think right off the bat that she must be making 6 figures or more. Truth is, she makes around $30 - $40k per year, however, she maintains a standard of living that fits comfortably within that budget. Somethings she does without to maintain the lifestyle working at home affords her.
It's a mentality we sometimes lose sight of when focusing to narrowly on the height of our dream.
I'll admit I sometimes lose focus on what my ulitmate goal is: More Leisure Time - Less Work.
The woman described above may not have cable tv, a car payment, cell phone, etc, (she may - I don't know). What I do know is that she doesn't get stuck in traffic on the way to work, she takes breaks when she likes, she takes days/weeks off when she likes.
The only thing I might do differently in her situation is babysit 4-5 neighborhood kids and use that 4-$500 extra a week and invest it into PPC spend. ;)
Food for thought.
Hi Ryan,
Interesting read.
I have a question. How often have you babysat 4-5 kids?
Curiously,
Judith
Funny you mention it -
In the past and still on occasion when help is needed I supervise 10 boys of different ages at a group home. Some of the boys in there for deliquency issues, some for neglect/abuse issues, either way they all have unique behavioral challenges.
I've also served as a youth manager in a secure juvenile detention facility where I supervised or "babysat" 18 boys (all ages) with an average mandated shift of 16 hours - many times with no breaks.
Finally, I have a soon to be seven-year-old little one who often has playmates over.
Would it be challenging - yes ofcourse, but the concept still holds great validity; babysitting is a great way for someone, male or female, who works at home to bring in extra income to invest in ppc spend to grow their business.
Hi Ryan,
Just a note about your "baby sitting" suggestion. I get it!! It's a great idea for folks that have experience with baby sitting and like it. Other folks need not apply.
Dennis
Having control of your own time AND being able to do what you want is truly (in my eyes) what success is. If you have that, then you probably have enough of this: $$$$. It does not always work in reverse.
Derrick.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. - Walt Disney
http://twitter.com/derrickh
I think Wikipedia agrees with you Derrick: "Contentment refers to the neuro-physiological experience of satisfaction and being [at ease in one's situation]." :)
I really like that definition. No matter what our income levels are or are not, joy can still sustain in us if we allow ourselves to focus on the sweet peace that comes from living each day out '@ ease in our situations.'
Preachin to myself here. ;)
Twitter.com/RyanHakes
Hi Ryan,
I respectfully take exception with your premise. Working your job is not the same as babysitting 4-5 preschoolers. You imply that one would have the time, flexibility and money to build an affiliate marketing business with the $400-500 *extra* money. Hmm. For numerous reasons, I'm not buying it. :)
However, if you decide to pursue this career option, I wish you the best of luck.
Judith
There's an interesting sub-text to this discussion.
Feeling in control of one's life is a fundamental human need. We're all born with it (have you ever tried to get a two-year-old to do something they didn't want to?), and it stays with us for life.
There's an implication here for affiliate marketing. The more in-control a person feels when they visit your site, the more likely they are to become a repeat visitor (as long as you provide other value that they're looking for - good price, etc.) This is one of the reasons why "Web 2.0" websites have taken over - because they shift power from marketers/webmasters to consumers.
Anyway, that's a bit of a tangent, but thought I'd throw it out there.
Moe
Hey Ryan,
I realize your babysitting idea was just an example, but I have to agree with Judith and Dennis. Speaking from experience, babysitting is not for everyone. My late mother babysat out of her home for about 15 years--at least 100 kids through the years. I also babysat on weekends during my late teens and early twenties as a way to earn extra income.
While my pay was decent, my mother barely made enough to make ends meet. Obviously, different areas of the country may pay more. Also, when she retired from babysitting it was in the mid-nineties, but her pay for one child was only $35 per week. If there was more than one child in a family, she offered a discount to help out the parents. Out of that $35 per week she had to buy meals and snacks for the children as well as any toys she could afford. This left very little for her personal use.
As for time, hers was mainly spent changing diapers, feeding babies, preparing meals for the other children, reading stories, potty training, wiping bottoms, cleaning hands and faces, cleaning messes around the house, putting on shoes, tying laces, breaking up fights, consoling hurt feelings, rocking little ones, continually going to the window to check on the older kids playing outside while trying to put a baby to sleep and keeping a toddler from crawling or "toddling" someplace unsafe.
While everyday was not as hectic as this, even if she'd had the ability or desire to run an online business during that time, it would have been next to impossible. Sure, keeping older kids may make it easier, but if you're trying to earn money, you can't always pick and choose. You have experience with children. I'm curious also, how often are you able to actually sit down and work on your business without being interrupted by a young one wanting you to play catch or look at a tower they built out of Legos, etc.?
I'm not attacking you, Ryan. Again, I understand your theory. However, if I ever get to the point that I am able to stay home and work on my internet business full-time, I guarantee you that I will not be babysitting for extra income. That sort of defeats my whole purpose of staying home, working less, and having more free time. I have cats and sometimes they make it hard for me to get anything accomplished.
Just my two cents,
Deb
I appreciate everyone's comments. The whole point behind the start of this thread was to encourage everyone to think smaller regarding freedom one can find in affiliate marketing from home as the woman did that I mentioned in my post. She is comfortable living on her income from home and not bent on making six-figures and LOVES her freedom.
I just thought it was an interesting point to ponder.
The babysitting income was just a short-term extra income idea - just as it were if you spent that time selling things on ebay to raise capital or mowing lawns, washing cars, doing odd jobs for folk, or any other part-time means of additional income.
I totally agree in that the end goal should be full-time affiliate marketing - babysitting only your OWN little ones and enjoying the freedom found within that. ;)
Ryan,
You did raise a good point. While I would be thrilled to make a million or more dollars a year, my current and more realistic goal is to make just slightly more than I make at my present full-time, away-from-home job. Until then, in order to pay for any marketing courses or advertising campaigns, I can't quit my day job. I do agree, however, that everyone has different goals as well as different ideas of what they want their ideal life to be.
Have a good day!
Deb
Thanks Ryan for the Inspirational thread, I'm totally on the same page with you. Affiliate marketing can provide the lifestyle that I am looking for like no other job, or traditional brick and mortar business can. Even If I am not making six figures a month, I would be so overjoyed to make 30-40k a year as an affiliate. I'm totally hooked.
I want to:
*Quit the whole employee/boss relationship world
*Be my own boss
*Be responsible for my business success, moving forward in my own creative ways
*enjoy hitting new milestones from my own efforts
*take advantage of tax savings
*Have more time for a more balanced sane social life
*Have a flexible lifestyle with time off
*Be able to head to the mountains to spend time with my friends and family and tend to my business out there for a week or more instead of some jam packed friday after work to sunday afternoon trip that isn't very relaxing.
****and so much much more****
These are a few of my goals as a new Affiliate marketer. The lifestyle that is possible is so dang appealing even at a part time level, and the work is so fascinating to be involved with. What more could one ask for. I believe that persistence with this will tend to pay off increasing dividends. Wishing you all a success!
Hi Waylen!
About 5-6 years ago the owner of this forum we are communicating in was in your exact same shoes. He had goals, drive, vision, inspiration, and determination and he didn't let go of them. Now he's netting 6-7 figures annually through affiliate marketing and has reaped the blessing of that lifestyle because he never let go of his goals and vision.
When I stumbled across Jeremy's SearchMarketingVideos.com website and watched his presentations - it was like fresh rain water that litterally renewed my passion for affiliate marketing and sealed the reality of my own vision.
I encourage you to print out your stated goals in this thread and carry them around with you daily - and let them be the drive that motivates you to see them through..
It's obvious from your post that you already possess affiliate marketing blood, passionate drive, and admirable entrepreneurial spirit.
Best of luck to you - your in great company here.
ps - I think you could appreciate this movie if you haven't had the opp to see it yet (it's out on DVD):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2LAuzT_x8Ek
It is based on the true life story of this man: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aBXTltNyhH8
Twitter.com/RyanHakes
My goals are to make enough money online to enjoy the freedom that comes with being self employed. To be in control of my life! While making 6 figures per year would be nice, I just want to have the freedom. I would be happy with an annual income that affords me the same things I have now, but the freedom to enjoy them more.
Matt
I certainly don't make anywhere near six-figures a year from my websites. That, of course, is my goal. But, just making enough so that I don't have to get up everyday and work for someone else is a fantastic feeling! Now, I may not be able to afford some things at this point (okay, make that "alot" of things I can't afford at this point). But, I do just enough to spend all day on MY work, which means a lot.
Gigglesoup