My First Official Blog Post

I actually had this great plan on 8/25/09 to create this fabulous blog about my work at home adventures and whatever else strikes my fancy.

I was FULL of ideas, posts, ways to inspire other people that are trying to work for themselves, be financially independent and be happy and healthy.

I was so EXCITED about all of my ideas that if I would have started on THAT DAY……I might have had 50 posts right out of the starting gate. Instead all I did was purchase my domain at GoDaddy. Added this site to my HostGator account (I already had one niche site up and running). Added in all of the Wordpress plugins that I needed. Started to add my privacy policy, etc. This site was even indexed a few days later…..lol

So, why in the world has it taken me so long to get this blog started?

Well, several reasons…….

1) FEAR. I think I might fear both failure and success.
2) Not sure if the cyber world would care to have this blog (probably ties in to that FEAR I just mentioned.)
3) I have tried and failed to get some actual money coming in from my efforts, although I’m still working at it and tweaking my methods.
4) I actually started 4 other niche sites/blogs instead and have been working on those rather than this personal blog. My business model is affiliate marketing and I’m putting a lot into place so that hopefully later…..I will actually start generating an income.
5) I feel silly having a blog detailing my work at home adventures and all that I have learned when I have no actual dollars to impress anyone with. No ClickBank screen shots on this blog. At least not yet.

I have been trying to focus on getting my affiliate business models in place rather than focusing on this blog and trying to pretend that I’m some successful internet work at home guru that has all the answers. Not that I would pretend to be making money when I’m not. Some people do though…..

I deal with health challenges which makes it difficult some days to stay focused on the task at hand. My other sites (which I will not be sharing since they are niche topics under pen names) have been a real undertaking. If anyone ever says that working from home (especially online) was easy breezy sip cocktails in the sun money-making euphoria is NOT telling the truth. No matter what their colorful landing page shows……

There is no get rich quick money online, at least nothing that isn’t somewhat unscrupulous or fly by night where you might make some quick money, but it won’t last.

Unfortunately, the reality is…..setting up online business models, whether affiliate marketing, MLM’s, creating your own products, etc. etc. takes WORK,TIME and DEDICATION mixed in with some blood, sweat, and tears. I think I cry more now than I did at any of my corporate jobs. At least it seems that way some days….

The thing that keeps me going is NEED.

I lost my job back in 2008 due to a health issue and I’m sort of in between a rock and a hard place. My household is now on one income when we have always needed two incomes. In fact, bankruptcy became my reality this summer. I will share that in upcoming posts.

The other thing that keeps me going is that I have always wanted to make this happen for myself. I wanted to work for myself going back to 1995 when I attempted to sell Mary Kay. I will also share that wonderful disaster later on….lol…..YES, people make money in that business. It’s a good business, but it wasn’t for me.

Of course, the other factor that keeps me going is that there ARE people out there that are making this “online thing” happen for themselves and have been for years. There IS money to made. There IS light at the end of the tunnel. There IS a pot of gold (or I’d prefer chips and guacamole) at the end of the rainbow. More on that later…..the chips and guacamole I mean….

Anyway, I only follow the advice of those that have been down this road and have something to show for it and who willingly share their knowledge with others. There are a handful of these people online. It has not been easy or quick to weed out the ones that are genuine, but they DO exist.

The person that I look to most for advice is Lynn Terry. She has been at this for 13 years and really knows her stuff. In fact, I have been on her site and forum all weekend. There is a great post that she did called Regrets(personal) It’s a good read. Well, EVERYTHING on her site is a good read…..lol

I think that is why I decided to finally take the plunge and get this blog moving.

Funny thing is……I discovered Lynn back in 2004! I guess that my skull is pretty thick because I should have taken more action back THEN instead of waiting until my whole world fell apart.

I also plan to detail in future posts my first “attempt” back then to work online…..

So, on this blog I will be sharing all that I have learned over the years. All the ways I have failed. All the great advice that I have discovered (and am slowly trying to implement) and any resources that I know are worthwhile. I will also share about things that I’m passionate about that I feel other people might benefit from. This blog will not be totally about my work at home adventures, but about my personal journey as a whole.

Thank you for reading.

Lynn from the Sunshine State (Sunny Lynn)