Quick and Easy Money?
It’s sad when I see people seeking quick and easy money.
Often, they seek it because they are actually exhausted with work, and life. “If I could only solve this problem of money, then I can really have the freedom to live life on my terms.”
That mindset provides little defense against unscrupulous people who are selling some system that will supposedly earn quick and easy money.
Unless you’re already a business genius with enough of a warm audience, the truth is that quick and easy money is possible only if you leave out being ethical and authentic….
First rule: try not to lose money
“The first rule of an investment is don't lose money. And the second rule of an investment is don't forget the first rule. And that's all the rules there are.”
--Warren Buffett
Avoid investing with anyone who tells you that they can make you quick and easy money, with little risk. The way that they make money is by selling you a fantasy.
Money is quick and easy to make when one is willing to deceive, hype, or manipulate people into giving them money. I recommend that you look into the greater fool theory.
I know this very well because, growing up, my family had been duped out of a great deal of money.
And at the beginning of my business, I almost became that kind of salesman too. I thought it was justified because “I’ll focus on making money first, then I’ll do meaningful work later.”
The result? A guilty conscience and a bad reputation among my early fans. Not worth it.
Return to your heart
When tempted by quick and easy money, we’re usually tired (not just physically but emotionally) and by extension, spiritually disconnected at the moment.
To make wise decisions, we need to first be well-rested. It’s important for many reasons to attend carefully to one’s self-care, which includes reconnecting to one’s life’s deep purpose and higher values.
When well-rested and connected to higher purpose, we may then come to see that perhaps the most important thing about money-making is to engage with the activities that feel ethical and meaningful to us.
In other words, making money authentically is what will deeply and sustainably satisfy us.
A desire for “passive income” or “financial freedom” will diminish and dissolve when you’re feeling fulfilled everyday in how you approach your work. The way I’ve found to get there is detailed in my articles about joyful productivity.
Once we’ve established the priority of making money authentically, what about making it quickly or easily?
Realistically, you must pick one: do you want it quick or easy?
Authentic and Quick money
To achieve this, you must already have these assets:
Not impossible, but most of us don’t begin with those assets. It’s not easy.
Giving yourself that kind of goal -- making real money, authentically, within a few months -- is unrealistic, and you’ll experience much unnecessary pressure and strain.
Authentic and Easy money
It is absolutely possible to make real money, ethically and meaningfully… if you are willing to be patient, not requiring that the money come quickly.
This is done by building a real audience you love to engage with, then developing (or sourcing) a product or service that they really want.
It’s not hard, if you are willing to take it step by step, learn along the way, and allow enough time to bear fruit.
How much time will it take?
This depends on what you already bring to the table.
I have written about a 10-year authentic business plan. Following that plan step-by-step allows you to make money by Year 2, and replacing a full-time income by Year 4. It is a spacious and doable plan, if you follow it step by step. It allows you to make “authentic and easy money” but it’s not quick.
Truly, no one can tell you exactly how long it'll take you. The more skills, diligence, network, and experience you bring, the quicker you can make authentic money.
I recommend that you simply give yourself to the journey, with a commitment to joyful productivity, letting go of any pressure-filled timeline, and you will see real money sustainably appearing to support your life and dreams.
It seems like a miracle… until you see yourself doing it!
“The first rule of an investment is don't lose money. And the second rule of an investment is don't forget the first rule. And that's all the rules there are.”
--Warren Buffett
Avoid investing with anyone who tells you that they can make you quick and easy money, with little risk. The way that they make money is by selling you a fantasy.
Money is quick and easy to make when one is willing to deceive, hype, or manipulate people into giving them money. I recommend that you look into the greater fool theory.
I know this very well because, growing up, my family had been duped out of a great deal of money.
And at the beginning of my business, I almost became that kind of salesman too. I thought it was justified because “I’ll focus on making money first, then I’ll do meaningful work later.”
The result? A guilty conscience and a bad reputation among my early fans. Not worth it.
Return to your heart
When tempted by quick and easy money, we’re usually tired (not just physically but emotionally) and by extension, spiritually disconnected at the moment.
To make wise decisions, we need to first be well-rested. It’s important for many reasons to attend carefully to one’s self-care, which includes reconnecting to one’s life’s deep purpose and higher values.
When well-rested and connected to higher purpose, we may then come to see that perhaps the most important thing about money-making is to engage with the activities that feel ethical and meaningful to us.
In other words, making money authentically is what will deeply and sustainably satisfy us.
A desire for “passive income” or “financial freedom” will diminish and dissolve when you’re feeling fulfilled everyday in how you approach your work. The way I’ve found to get there is detailed in my articles about joyful productivity.
Once we’ve established the priority of making money authentically, what about making it quickly or easily?
Realistically, you must pick one: do you want it quick or easy?
Authentic and Quick money
To achieve this, you must already have these assets:
- You already have a large and trusting audience.
- You already understand their buying patterns.
- You are able to quickly create and deliver (or otherwise promote) an excellent product that matches the audience’s wants.
Not impossible, but most of us don’t begin with those assets. It’s not easy.
Giving yourself that kind of goal -- making real money, authentically, within a few months -- is unrealistic, and you’ll experience much unnecessary pressure and strain.
Authentic and Easy money
It is absolutely possible to make real money, ethically and meaningfully… if you are willing to be patient, not requiring that the money come quickly.
This is done by building a real audience you love to engage with, then developing (or sourcing) a product or service that they really want.
It’s not hard, if you are willing to take it step by step, learn along the way, and allow enough time to bear fruit.
How much time will it take?
This depends on what you already bring to the table.
- How good are your work habits? Or do you need to develop a lot of it?
- How much of a loyal audience or supportive network do you already have, in the field in which you want to make money? Or are you building that kind of audience from zero?
- How much skill do you already have in marketing, or do you still need to learn a lot?
- How tech-savvy are you? If you want to make money online, tech-savviness is essential and can be developed, with lots of patience.
- How clear are you on which products/services you want to offer? It depends on much experimentation you’ve already done.
I have written about a 10-year authentic business plan. Following that plan step-by-step allows you to make money by Year 2, and replacing a full-time income by Year 4. It is a spacious and doable plan, if you follow it step by step. It allows you to make “authentic and easy money” but it’s not quick.
Truly, no one can tell you exactly how long it'll take you. The more skills, diligence, network, and experience you bring, the quicker you can make authentic money.
I recommend that you simply give yourself to the journey, with a commitment to joyful productivity, letting go of any pressure-filled timeline, and you will see real money sustainably appearing to support your life and dreams.
It seems like a miracle… until you see yourself doing it!
