passion Archives - Live Debt Free

Create Something Awesome and Sell It

03.16.2012 by Matt Jabs //

I used to carry a heavy burden of debt.

I pined away at an 8-5, M-F job I hated so I could pay for a bunch of crap I thought I wanted. I was an unhappy wage slave.

That was a few years ago.

Now I’m financially light on my feet. I wake up every day and aspire to create something awesome, in lieu of trading my time for money.

What about you? Are you where you want to be, or at least heading in that direction?

Answer these questions:

Do you earn a living trading time for money (a.k.a. salaried worker)?
Have you ever created something to sell (a product, service, etc.)?

Keep your answers in mind as we explore the intention of spending time creating something awesome, and selling it.

When I say awesome, I mean creating something that’s useful and meaningful, that embodies your passion. Something you could sell without even trying. Something you know other passionate, like-minded people will love.

If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to quitting your job and making money fast, stop reading now, close this browser tab, and keep surfing.

I’m writing this to inspire you to action! In this relationship I’m the cowboy with spurred boots, and you’re the horse.

Now let’s go for a ride.

Note: if you love your job, this post isn’t for you.

Trading time for money

The average Joe/Jane will never earn money from a creative endeavor, which is fine unless they’ve always wanted to but never have.

If you want to stop trading time for money, and transition into selling your own creations, I’m here to tell you it’s not only possible, it’s doable . . . I have done it.

Before proceeding I want to touch on several philosophical reasons we fall victim to the “time for money” trap.

If you’re unsure how you turned into an unhappy, salary worker, let me assure you, you didn’t get here by accident. If you were publicly educated, the first 20+ years of your life were spent in something I refer to as “wage slave training.” You were trained to work for other people – people who create something to sell.

You were NOT taught to solve problems and think with independence.

While we can’t place full blame on our grade school and college undergrad curriculums, it’s important to recognize the effects of our training. Most people in the wage slave role wonder how they got there, and why the heck they hate it so much.

I know because I was one of them, for a long time.

Right about the time Obama was promising hope and change, I was breaking ground on my transition from wage slave to entrepreneur. I wanted to move toward creative, meaningful work ASAP, but I wasn’t sure what it would be or how I would get there.

When I was just about to lose it, I took a “mental health” day to drive to my Dad’s and ask him how in the world he spent 35 years working a job he hated. This is what he said:

“When I was about your age I reached the point you’re at now, and a decision had to made. I could either quit my job to pursue meaningful, fulfilling work, or stay where I was and focus on finding fulfillment in my personal life, and use the job to support it.“

He retired from that job, and it supports his personal life to this day.

But it was then that I KNEW it had to be different for me, I had to make the opposite decision.

God bless my mother for her steadfast support through this transition too. I Love her!

Create awesome stuff and sell it

It was January 1st, 2009 when I started DebtFreeAdventure.com. The interest on my debt alone was costing me over $1,300/month (yeah, you read that right).

I had tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, a 30 year fixed 1st mortgage, a 2nd mortgage, around $7k in auto loan debt, and another $6k in credit card debt.

I was working a job that drove me frickin nuts – but – I was creating my own plan for hope and change.

I started DFA for 3 reasons:

To help me get, and stay, out of debt.
To help others do the same.
To earn money by creating something awesome.

Along the way I developed passions for simple living, doing things myself, and reducing my intake of harmful chemicals – and started diyNatural.com to nurture that passion.

Some goals for diyNatural were:

To simplify life and learn new skills.
To live a natural, sustainable lifestyle, and inspire others do the same.
To earn money by creating something awesome.

In late October of 2010 I quit my job and toyed with the idea of creating information full-time. For a few months I tried to make the transition but – for whatever reason – wasn’t quite ready to take the plunge. I explored other avenues of work including a 3 month, $800 investment to become a financial advisor. It was not in line with my gifts and desires the way I thought it’d be.

Finally in February of 2011 I jumped off the entrepreneurial cliff and committed myself to creating information full-time. I would succeed, or fail while trying my best.

Website traffic and earnings increased as I lived and grew the plan, and it’s a good thing because in July Betsy left her full-time job to avoid having a stress breakdown (she was in the same boat I had been in, but under a lot more pressure).

That summer she began writing for diyNatural and on September 1st we released our first ebook titled DIY Natural Household Cleaners: How to make your own cleaners… naturally.

Two and a half months later we released the book in print version on Amazon, and just a few days ago made it available on Kindle and other e-reader platforms.

We had never run websites for a living – but we made it work because we were passionate about creating and sharing awesome information. We had never published, marketed, or sold an ebook, print book, or Kindle book – but the book is selling very well.

Nowadays we’re content using our God-given gifts to inspire others in holistic stewardship. We have time freedom, we’re happy with our work, and we trust God to provide. He always exceeds our best expectations!

Now it’s your turn to create and sell

Betsy and I focus on creating information products. We give most of the information away for free, but sell enough to support the work.

Maybe you want to create and share your gift and passion for art. Maybe crafts. Maybe farming. Maybe you have a flair for graphic design and want to build awesome websites for people, businesses, or charities.

Whatever your passions are, start creating something awesome, and trust God with the details and provisions. He gave us the desires of our hearts to steer our lives in certain directions. Stop ignoring Him.

Don’t worry about selling – yet – just focus on a passionate interest, outline some goals, and start creating.

Who knows, maybe in 3 years you’ll be much happier with your answers to the two questions asked above!

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photo credit: Mickey van der Stap

Passion, Work, and Happiness

10.14.2011 by Dallon Christensen //

I love and admire my dad for many things. He instilled in me a great work ethic and respect for people. He spent over 30 years helping build a small seed corn company into a well-respected player in a very competitive market. My dad also taught me that you cannot rest on your laurels or expect the past to repeat itself. Since he started with his current company in 1981, the world of work has tossed and shifted like a rowboat on stormy seas… but that didn’t stop my old man from rolling with the punches and demanding success.

If we’re to succeed in our chosen profession, we must realize that we ultimately work for ourselves. I realize that the vast majority of people in the United States are employees. Recent Labor Department statistics show approximately 15 million employees are self-employed (source), a figure representing 20% of the current workforce. In other words, four out of five employees work for someone else… but we must realize that we always represent ourselves.

I have spent much of my time here on DFA highlighting the benefits of self-employment, including a lot of self-reflection as I work to launch Whiteboard Business Partners. My goals may be different than your goals, but we’re all pursuing our vision of financial freedom. Pursuing a calling and loving our vocation are critical components to finding that freedom.

Hard passionate work promotes happiness

I had the privilege of interviewing best-selling author Kevin Kruse for my upcoming Whiteboard Business Radio podcast series. Mr. Kruse co-authored the book “We” with Rudy Karsan. It’s required reading for anyone looking for more fulfillment at work. The first key point in “We” is how we’re responsible for our own careers, and how we must act like we’re always working for ourselves.

In the past, an unwritten social contract existed between employers and employees. As long as you came to work on time, worked hard, and did not commit any major mistakes, you could count on your company to employ you for life. You would work for 30-35 years and retire with a nice pension. Global competition, technology, and shifting mindsets are now combining to make any job temporary at best. When many publicly-traded companies face declining profits, their first reaction is to lay off employees. These workers may be great employees, but it’s “just business.”

The other side of the unwritten social contracts of the past were that employers could place you where they wanted. If you wanted to move into a different division, the company may not want to do that. If you wanted to try a different job, you were at the mercy of the company. If your skills became outdated, the company really did not care as long as you were in your particular cog.

This type of career progression left many people unfulfilled at work and the recent job market only accelerates these feelings; and now-a-days employees are let go much more readily. Which has exacerbated the “Why work hard for my employer, they don’t care about me?” attitude.

What can we do then? Adopting and holding to the understanding that we work for and represent ourselves will help us pursue more meaningful work, resulting in better performance. Think about it, would you rather perform poorly at a job you dislike or excel at something you love?

Passion improves life

Mr. Kruse’s most memorable moment as an employer came when an employee’s spouse came to him at a company gathering. The spouse thanked Mr. Kruse for providing such a great place to work, and shared how their lives were better thanks to the changes at work. His marriage was improving, his life outlook was improving, and the entire family was generally happier.

A bond exists between fulfillment at work and overall happiness. Mr. Kruse and Mr. Karsan dismiss the concept of work-life balance, opting for “work-life blend” where your work becomes an integral part of your life, and I agree. In my own life, I can see that I was most happy when doing work I enjoyed. In fact, I met my wife while working my favorite job. Coincidence? Perhaps not!

We have a unique opportunity in today’s economic environment. Sure, the traditional employment contract no longer exists, but that makes for less contraints to finding work that matters.

Know your passion, find what truly fulfills you, and watch your earning potential – and happiness- soar!

How To Make [Earn] Extra Money

08.31.2011 by Matt Jabs //

Who couldn’t use an extra $1,000?

Getting out of debt happens faster when lower expenses are combined with making more money. Historically we’ve written a lot about the former but less about the latter… it’s time to change that. I mean, who couldn’t use an extra $1,000 right?

One month to $1,000 Challenge – 1M21K

First let’s cover a sweet new challenge created by an awesome friend of mine – Josh Gordon aka The NonConformist Pa – that will help you earn and extra $1,000 in one month, then I’ll share a few specific ways you can earn extra money. Cool stuff. Basically Josh created the 1M21K challenge to help motivate you to earn an extra $1,000 in just 30 days – with a full money back guarantee. Sweet right!

Who is Josh?

Josh Gordon is an awesome new friend of mine who, like Betsy and I, left a life of corporate servitude to create a more meaningful life – on his terms. Josh left a job making $60,000 annually to focus instead on helping himself and others lead nonconformist lives of passion, mission, and meaning. He’s a great guy with a big heart and big ideas.

What is the challenge?

I’ll let Josh explain,

“The challenge begins September 1st, 2011 and costs only $67. You get 10 hours of ridiculously practical audio material, 12 killer guides / mini-ebooks stuffed with practical, applicable tips, and 4 tele-seminars covering the questions and hurdles that we’ll inevitably face. And, you’ll be hearing from peeps like Dan Miller, Justin Lukasavige, Pierce Marrs, Deb Ingino, Matt Jabs, and more.”

That’s right, I’m one of the people in the challenge helping you earn extra money! It’s going to be a blast.

Josh and I shot a video to introduce him and to further explain the challenge. Watch the video then head on over to Josh’s website to learn the specifics of the challenge.

Like what you see? Could you use some extra money? Been looking for something to push you to action, and a group of like-minded individuals to help you along the way? Good. Head over to Josh’s website to join the 1M21K challenge so you can earn extra money, build key relationships, and hopefully help others along the way!

Ways to make [earn] extra money

Now let’s give you some money making ideas to use for the challenge, or just to use of your own accord. Always remember to strive toward meaningful work you’re passionate about so you can enjoy what you’re doing and help others along the way.

Note: recent Census Bureau data shows that 26% of start-ups require zero capital and 36% require less than $5,000 – so even if you have no money starting your own business is always an option.

Have a garage sale and sell your crap.
Create your own art and or products and sell them on Etsy.com.
Start a website/blog about something you’re passionate about and want to help others in and monetize it with your own products or with affiliate products.
Tutor local children or adults in something you’re an expert in like music, art, social media, marketing, computer repair, etc.
Make your own homemade cleaners and sell them to your community at places like your local food coops and farmer markets.
Start a window cleaning business in your community… you’d be surprised how much you can make.
Have a nice riding tractor and a trailer? Mow lawns for your neighbors in your spare time.
Start a handyman service and market to single mothers, there’s a lot of them out there who need your help!
If you’re a very organized individual try starting a business aimed at helping wealthy women organize their homes, lives, and wares.
Become a coach either in your local community, or on the Internet, as a way to help others and make extra money.

There, now you have 10 ideas to get you started… now go join Josh’s 1M21K challenge so he can meet his goal to help you earn an extra $1,000 in one month!

God bless.

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