Attain Bliss and Easy Money

(Disclaimer: There is no such thing as

easy money

.
Pursuit of "easy money" is likely to lead to ruin.)

Let's call it relatively easy money, defined as money that doesn't involve doing too much that you don't want to do (You'll always have to do some things you don't want to), money that can be made from the safety and comfort of your own home or some other enjoyable place, money that can be made by dealing with people of your choosing, money that can allow you to tell the assholes in your life to go take a flying effing leap.

It's really all about freedom, that much-used but little-understood word. Freedom starts in the mind, can't be bought, can't forced from the barrel of a gun.

I believe (touch wood) that I have recently cracked the code. The trick to easy money is to stay busy and pursue every avenue that might lead to riches. A financial advisor would tell you to "diversify" your investments, but what most people fail to understand about investments (and money in general) is that how you invest your time is just as important as how you invest your money. If you're spending all your time at your job, you're not diversified.

Additionally, almost anything you do presents an opportunity to make money. It might not be a lot of money, but -- then again -- it might. A friend of mine is successful in business precisely because he has created multiple small streams of income for himself. MBA programs might teach you to "focus on your core business," but look at the current state of Wall Street if you want to know what their advice is worth. No, I believe the key is to not have a core business but to have a number of activities in your life which bring you pleasure, add value to the world, and bring some modest amount of money.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I make 50 bucks a week off my websites. You can't live on that, right? No, but you can also build websites for other people. Say you build one a week for a profit of $200. Now you're making $250 a week off only one activity -- website building -- that you would do anyway. You can do a million other things -- on your own time and on your own terms -- that also bring in a little money. It's not that hard to make money. It's hard not to make money once you decide to make it.

The other thing about taking in lots of small amounts of money in different activities is that one of those activities might just be a home run. Let's say somebody finds my blog and recognizes my sheer awesomeness as a writer. They offer me a book contract or a syndicated newspaper column. Bam!

But, you see, I don't need to count on that. I'm open to its happening, but I don't need to chase it desperately. A lot of "writers" spend a lot of time waiting tables. They spend a lot of time writing query letters and calling agents in the desperate hope that someone will appreciate their work and offer them money. When do they write? They are not diversified -- too much time at work and too much time chasing the impossible dream leaves them drained. Sadly, their true work suffers.

You have to pay the bills, though, right? Yeah, but you can minimize your bills and maximize your efforts at attracting money. As you attract more money, you can afford larger bills. The old fashioned way really is the best: save your money. Don't buy stuff that you don't need. Fuck the Joneses. They suck and who cares what they think of you!

A lot of small gains, a few smaller losses. That's the code. Things really do grow exponentially. The MBAs will talk about "incremental" (linear) growth, but they don't know shit. Bill Gates didn't have an MBA (or even a BA) and neither did Warren Buffett. It's like this: Earn $2 this week, $4 next week, $8 the week after that, $16 the week after that... proceed like that and you're making $1024 a week after ten weeks. Get it? Got it? Good. (Your time reference and starting point may vary, but the point is that patience gets you there.)

If you're stuck in a dead-end job, get the hell out of it and follow your bliss. (Make sure you find your bliss first, though. Following the wrong bliss can be a total drag.) First you might have to pay off a few bills, and you'll definitely have to work ("work" being a relative term) your butt off until your love becomes your gravy train. But you can do it! I know this because I'm doing it right this very instant!

I bow to the divine in you. Good luck!