For dog moms everywhere, the ultimate dream is being able work from home to spend as much time as possible with our fur-babies. Working a 9-5 makes this incredibly difficult. Not only do you have very little time to spend with our dogs, but the time you do have isn’t always quality time. After working an 8-hour shift, sometimes longer, you aren’t at your best. Your energy levels are depleted, you’re less focused and attentive, and you probably don’t have much left in the tank, so to speak. The good news is that you can make money online with very little time on your hands.
97% of self-employed entrepreneurs would never go back to traditional employment.
On top of this, you’re constantly feeling immense guilt. You feel guilty for being impatient with your dog, dismissing your significant other, or skipping self-care, like the gym. You wake up every morning at the same time, drive the same route, and go through the same motions, only to come home tired, and then do it all over again.
Not to make you feel even guiltier, but we really never get enough time with our beloved dogs to begin with. Each day that goes by is the equivalent to 2 weeks of time in your dog’s life! How many more days, weeks, months, or years do you think you can continue working a 9-5 and still feel you’re happy with your life? The COVID19 pandemic demonstrated that not only can most employees work from home and still get the job done, but also that many of them are happier doing it. Furthermore, people claim they’re more productive and happier when they work from home. This is especially true for dog-owners.
If you work a 9-5 job that you absolutely love, make good money, have a great boss, or just are satisfied with your work situation in general, that’s AMAZING. Seriously, I’m not suggesting you are in some way, unbeknownst to you, unhappy. However, this article probably isn’t for you. Feel free to read on anyway though, and maybe something will inspire you, even if it’s just to ask your current employer if you could work from home. Follow these steps to learn how to make money online. You will never commute to work and leave your beloved dog home alone again.
Step 1. Evaluate your Situation.
This article is going to explore your decision to make money online so you can transition from your 9-5 job and work from home. You may want to leave your job as soon as possible and are hoping for a way to make quick cash. You may want to start a side hustle while still working your 9-5 so that you can gauge your potential for earning remotely before quitting suddenly. No matter which approaches you take, there is one key thing you should do before taking any action: evaluate your current situation.
What exactly do I mean by “evaluate your current situation?”
You are reading this article because you are dissatisfied, to some extent, with your current employment. To determine the best course of action for fixing this, you need to understand two things: I) exactly what it is about your situation that needs changing; and II) how prepared you are to make changes.
What Needs Changes? (Factors to Consider)
There are a number of reasons why you might not be content with your current situation. In fact, you might not actually know exactly what it is you’re unhappy with until you really think about it. Carefully review the following factors regarding your current job. Why are you researching how to make money online in the first place?
Your Role
Do you enjoy your position at your job? Does the work that you do on a daily basis reflect your skills and talents, or do you feel your abilities are underutilized. Think about your duties in comparison with others at your workplace. Do you ever find yourself wishing you could switch jobs with someone else, not because of their pay, but solely because you want to do the work they do? Record your answers to these questions in a notebook for reference.
Your Pay
Money isn’t everything, but it is one of the most important factors in our lives, whether we want to admit that or not. When evaluating this, don’t just think about whether you get paid enough in general. Think about whether you feel you’re being compensated appropriately for the amount and quality of work you do. Do you bring a value to your workplace that is matched by your income? Are you struggling to pay bills or cover expenses? Do you ever resent your job for taking up so much of your time for insufficient pay? Note how you respond in a notebook.
Commute
Your daily commute is a major factor. For some, work is a bike ride away. The word “commute” isn’t really in their vocabulary. If this is the case for you, this factor isn’t relevant.
For others, however, the daily commute to work involves hours of driving and sitting in traffic, or navigating through public transportation systems. The latter puts you at the mercy of the scheduling issues or potential delays in said systems. In thinking about your commute, there are a few specific points to assess:
- The distance you drive, or miles you put on your vehicle (if you drive yourself)
- The amount of time you spend on your commute, AM and PM
- The variables that you can’t control but which can dramatically increase your time spent (i.e.. traffic, accidents, car problems, road closings, public transport issues, etc.)
- The consequences of lateness
Your Relationships
Consider your relationship with your employers and co-workers, but also how you got the job in the first place. Did you apply and interview for the position, only to receive it on merit? Did you have a friend of a friend, who “knows somebody?”
Most people who start at any job get the position through one of those two means. If you got your through a personal connection, you should consider how leaving abruptly might impact your relationship with that person. I am not saying you shouldn’t leave your job because your friend or family member got you the job. I am saying to consider this in deciding how to navigate your exit.
You also want to think about the network of people you’ve connected with at this job. Are there any people who might actually be helpful in starting an online business? Would you want to partner with any of them? Take a good look around you while you work and observe others’ behaviors.
Step 2. Determine if you want to make money online as a supplement or need to as an alternative.
If you’ve come this far, you’ve likely begun to think about these factors already. There are a lot of variables involved in job satisfaction. Working conditions, benefits, recognition, respect, opportunities for advancement, are a few more elements to consider. Anyone can make money online, seriously. However, not everyone will be willing to put in the effort. You can make money online in so many different ways, but none of them are instantaneous. You have to decide how willing you are to learn, and to what extent you can focus on your online earning.
Ask Yourself the Following:
Am I satisfied with my job?
Allow yourself to answer this ONLY with a “yes” or a “no,” despite how complex you feel the answer to be. You will learn a lot about how you actually feel.
Am I able to identify what I am dissatisfied with?
If asked to explain to another person, how would you describe the specific factors that you aren’t happy with. I am going to offer an example statement that is based on my personal experience.
Write a Statement of Intent
Use your response to this to write a statement. This statement is going to be your statement of intent- a crucial piece of the puzzle in your decision to make a change in your life.
Here is my statement of intent that I wrote when I decided to leave the daycare position:
“I enjoy the work I do, and my boss/co-workers are great, but I have decided that I am not satisfied at my current job. The commute is 45 min each way, so with traffic I spend almost 2 hours of my day driving. I also do not feel adequately compensated for my time and value. I will find a way to earn from home so I can spend all day with my dog.”
It’s not very eloquent or very powerful on its own, I know. However, the act of writing that down prompted me to take action. In writing your statement you will likely recognize even more the emotion you associated with your current employment. Perhaps you really are happy and are only doubting this because so many people aren’t happy with work. If you are, that’s genuinely rare and you’re extremely lucky.
Remember, you don’t have to be miserable to justifying learning how to make money online. Simplify your decision by deciding whether you are satisfied or not with your current job and go from there.
Essentially, you need to decide what role your online earning will play; are you going to build an additional revenue stream or planning to create and sell digital products when you have the time? Maybe you are going to build and monetize a blog, YouTube channel, etc.? Does your plan require that you develop a brand? In determining what level of effort you’re willing and able to commit to making money online, you can determine what adjustments you need to make to your current work schedule, if any.
My Experience
After closing my first sale as a license realtor, I realized I could make an incredible living doing real estate, but I just didn’t like the work. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I loved kids, so I applied for a job at a daycare. Having just gotten a commission check for a few thousand dollars, I applied for a position making minimum wage. I did this simply because I loved kids and wanted to be happy. This meant that I gave up money for fulfillment. I couldn’t afford to pay my bills, but I kept working there, dealing with it. I questioned my decision to quit real estate every single day, but at the time I didn’t know what else I could even do.
Step 3: Get Prepared
Some say that you must take great risks to achieve greatness, suggesting taking a leap of faith. Quit your job, right now, so there’s no turning back.
It’s bold, yes, but not realistic for everyone. This sort of “leap” is generally proposed with two underlying assumptions. The first is that if you quit your job without hesitation, you won’t have the time to reconsider your decision. You won’t be able to change your mind or back out. The second is that you will have to figure out a way to make it work. After all, you’ve suddenly cut off your stream of income, and you’ve got to eat, right?
Establishing Strong Foundations- Set Sail
The problem with this suggestion is that only a certain kind of person is going to actually respond to the shock of this new environment with resourcefulness and grit.
A person with grit will overcome obstacles, persevere in the face of adversity, and adapt to new challenges using any and all means of doing so. They are resourceful, consistent, determined, and unwavering in their pursuit of their end goal. If you don’t have the grit to cut it, you probably shouldn’t quit your job just yet. In fact, even if you do have grit, you really don’t need to quit your job to make money online. You just need to prioritize your time carefully and focus on building strong foundations. The best way to do this is through education.
The number one way to get better at anything is through practice. In terms of learning how to make money online, you have to first learn the different ways in which this can be accomplished. How can you practice if you don’t know what to practice in the first place?
You may want to dive headfirst into making money online,. That’s great and all, but you need a plan, a strategy, and a basic knowledge of the means through which you’re going to do it.
The Harsh Reality
I know this article is advertised as a roadmap to transitioning into a work from home position. That is my goal. However, I would be doing you a great disservice in overlooking the importance of your mindset and attitude in making this change.
By now, you were probably expecting to have read how much money to put away in order to quit your job. I am going to get to that, but simply establishing a safety net in case you fail is insufficient. That’s like bringing something to plug a hole in your boat before you set sail. If something unexpectedly large punctures the boat, you can only plug the leak for so long before it’s no longer adequate.
The specific amount of money you should be putting away before quitting is equivalent to the amount of material you will bring to plug a leak in your boat. I want you to first ensure that your boat is structurally sound enough to make the trip in the first place.
You’re probably sick of hearing how your mindset is the key and are ready for the actionable steps here. I have made such a point about this because you need to realize the truth: you will not succeed outside of your comfort zone if you don’t know how to adapt. Also, if you’re really ready to make some serious changes in your life, you will be receptive to people speaking from the place you’re trying to get to.
Financial Preparedness
Your financial situation is one of those tricky topics when talking about leaving your 9-5. A resourceful person will likely be able to succeed after abruptly leaving their 9-5, but they also may fail simply because they didn’t have enough money to sustain them. Unfortunately, money is necessary when you have to pay to keep a roof over your head, eat, or feed children.
Many very successful people tell their stories of going through really rough times, being homeless and hopeless, and overcoming this. However, there are also ways to build great wealth without making a pit stop in complete poverty. I promise. You just have to approach it strategically and patiently. You could get lucky and make money online instantly because you created a digital product and then a post you made about it went viral. It can happen, and it has. However, this is the exception, not the norm.
A few things you should do right now:
- Take inventory of your finances
Possibly the most important thing you should do is calculate your current living expenses. Determine how much you have to spend monthly just to survive. You will also want to figure out how much you spend to maintain your current lifestyle. Then, decide what if anything you’re willing to adjust. Multiply that number by the number of months you think it will take you to comfortably earn enough. Personally, I would aim for about 6 months. If you have kids and a mortgage, however, you might want to do a year. That number is the amount of money you should save before you actually leave your job.
- Prepare for Lifestyle Adjustments
As mentioned before, you will want to take into account adjustments to your lifestyle. If you are used to regularly getting manicures or expensive spa treatments, your new budget might require you to stop. Figure out what you are willing to compromise on, and what you value most.
- Estimate costs of quitting
You might not realize it, but quitting a job often has costs associated. For instance, if your job offers healthcare, you won’t be covered if you leave. You will have to either buy your own plan or spend out of pocket if you have a medical emergency. You should never assume you are going to make money online as soon as you decide to do so. It’s possible to get lucky, but not a plausible assumption or reason to jump ship if you have a reliable income.
- Create a budget and be consistent
After determining your estimated monthly expenses, create a budget. Don’t overspend unnecessarily or indulge. If you are planning to leave the security of a 9-5, you have to establish goods spending habits.
- Prioritize Saving
The first number you calculated is what you should aim to save before quitting your job. Yes, you might feel like that is impossible. That’s why I’ve included the next item.
- Add revenue streams.
Start taking paid online research studies. Offer to babysit your neighbor’s kids for a low rate. Sign up for Door Dash or Uber. Today’s gig economy makes adding revenue streams easier than you think. Essentially, you can make money online without even thinking about changing your current employment situation, and you should. Take a few minutes to look into freelance gigs or online jobs every night after work. Apply to the ones you are qualified for and see what happens. The worst-case scenario is that you fail to get a single one of them. The best is that you get a few gigs, including a recurring one, and add a revenue stream you never knew existed.
When I was in between jobs at one point, I signed up for Door Dash. I made deliveries for 10 hours a day, for 7 days a week. Taking gas into account, my total weekly revenue was $1200! I only did this for one week. Then I started a job. I know you won’t have time to do that many hours while working full-time. My point is, anyone with a driver’s license can make extra money if they’re really committed to doing so.
- Be steadfast in your purpose.
This might seem abstract, but what I mean by this is to focus on your goals. Do not be a people pleaser when it costs money. If you’re invited to take part in a wedding you can’t really afford, say no. It’s easier said than done. However, if it was easy, everyone would do it. You’re going to need to if you want to make this work. Think about it this way, is another person’s feelings about your choice more important than your financial well-being? Why would you willingly do something you know you shouldn’t so someone else is please with you?
At this point, you have evaluated whether you are satisfied with your current job. If you decided that you aren’t, you have explored the reasons why. This demonstrated what you value in terms of job satisfaction. Whether its money, time, freedom, skills used, or benefits, you know. You’ve defined your specific intent and made the definitive choice learn how to earn money online.
Step 4- Make a Decision
The reality is that you can and should begin exploring online work before ever making the decision that you’re going to quit your job and work from home. You might just want to add an additional stream of income to your finances. You can do that without leaving your 9-5. However, having personally abandoned the practice of going into a job altogether and working entirely from my home, I am a huge advocate for remote work. It has been truly liberating in a way I had never imagined possible.
For some, however, it’s just not feasible or logical to take such a leap. In fact, despite claims that you have to make huge leaps in order to succeed, a person who recognizes that the risks are too great and listens to logic is much more likely to become successful in the long run.
The good news is that you don’t have to go all in “all or nothing” to make money online. You don’t have to quit your job or do anything drastic; you just have to make a choice.
My Deciding Moment
After I worked at the daycare for about 2 or 3 weeks, I knew I was going to have to quit. I couldn’t afford my bills, the commute was too straining for my old car, and I had consistently experienced administrative issues, problems with my paycheck, and insufficient communication with the staff. Still, I kept showing up to work every day. I absolutely adored the kids in my classroom and built strong relationships with all of their parents and my co-workers.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that my emotions were clouding my reason. I cared deeply about the kids and valued my new relationships with their families. Despite struggling on a daily basis, I worked there for about 6 months. I spent half of an entire year at a job that I was 100% aware was not worth my time or energy.
I came home one day to my dog having a seizure, and upon taking him to the vet learned that it would not be the first time he had had one. Right then and there I realized I had to quit my job. Not only was I barely scraping by financially, but I was out of the house for 8 or more hours a day. I couldn’t imagine him going through that all alone, terrified. I put in my two weeks the next day. It took an extreme circumstance to push me over the edge of my indecision regarding quitting what was realistically a terrible job. It shouldn’t have.
Explore your Options.
Once you’ve made your decision to make money online, the logical next step is to determine how you will do this. What kind of remote work suits you best? COVID-19 demonstrated that almost any job can be done remotely, but you may not want to take on another job working for someone else. You may want to explore other options, but don’t yet know where to start. Some of the most popular methods of earning include:
- Freelance Work
- Digital Marketing
- Remote Admin
- Online Education
- Remote Sales
- Customer Support
- Data Entry and Transcription
- Research Participant
- Testing and Quality Assurance
- Blogger
Remember, the key is to be decisive. Move with purpose. As cheesy as it sounds, you will only make money online if you’re committed. To have to commit to self-management and are dedicated to the pursuit of success. The most useful thing you could do is start learning as much as possible. Do research on the types of remote work you could see yourself doing well with. Start taking in information like it’s water and you’re dying of thirst. Star applying to remote jobs through online platforms.
Step 5-Learn to Work from Home
After evaluating your current work situation, you might be thinking, “I can’t wait to quit. I didn’t realize how much I hate my job. I can just make money online!”
If you’ve made it to this part of the article, you’re on the right track. You’re receptive to new information. You’ve started the work on your mindset. Now, you just need to collect enough information in order to know which steps to take. It might sound exciting to think about quitting your job and going all in on an online business. However, how can you do that without money coming in to pay the bills? Unless you’ve saved up enough money to live on for about a year, at minimum, enough for emergencies, and enough to also invest into your new business, if necessary, you really shouldn’t remove your only stream of income. At least not yet. I know I sound like a broken record, but it’s so incredibly important that I emphasize this. So many social media creators post content that suggests the opposite, and I don’t want you to fall into the trap.
I also don’t want to scare you, but here’s the reality: you probably won’t make any money at first. Even if you do, you might not have the skills yet to know how to sustain it. The good news is (you probably know what I’m about to say here)- you don’t need to quit your job to start. You just have to manage your time. You need to be in relentless pursuit of knowledge. Since you’ll be turning down more social invites, you’ll have more time to study. The most valuable step you can take now is to educate yourself. Learn how to make money online while you still have an income.
If you’re like me and need tangible results immediately, there are a few things you can do right now.
Set up a Space
You will want to have a designated area to work from home. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be designated for work so you can focus on work while you’re there. Don’t go crazy or spend money on aesthetic items. Instead, utilize what you already have to optimize the space you’re working with. The more personalized and creative, the better. Look at your work area as if it were your actual office in an office setting- make sure your distractions are limited and you have access to everything you need to succeed.
Consider your Dog.
Working remotely will benefit your dog immensely, but it’s also a big change. Take this into account when scheduling your day. Make sure you have things to keep them occupied. You will eventually be spending much more time at home, but you won’t be as available when you’re there as you are now. That’s because home will become work, in a sense. Since your dog (or cat, or bird, you get the idea)- is the whole reason for your desire to make money online, you want to keep their needs in mind. It’s easy to get caught up in work when you know how to make money online. Once you get the hang of it, you can easily spend 9 hours straight on your laptop. That’s way longer than you would at the office.
Choose how to Make Money Online
Okay, now that you’ve gotten all of the decision-making, emotional reflection stuff out of the way, you’re prepared to make money online, How are you going to do it? There are so many remote jobs available, and if you’re not much of an entrepreneur, this may be the best path.
If you’d rather build passive income or start a side hustle, you could look into affiliate marketing, UGC creation, or digital product sales. Drop-shipping and print-on-demand models are great for beginners as well, but every single one of these methods requires time, effort, and most importantly, education.
