So I had said how I was planning to quit my 9 to 5 job when I earned a certain amount of income online. Well, today I just got laid off. I guess my quest to start living off of passive income is starting early – like today.
This is my first time being laid off, and even though my head is still above the water because I am making some money online (Thank God!), I still feel pretty terrible. It’s really easy for me to start thinking negative things like: I don’t have a job, my employers don’t think I’m skilled enough, why me and not that other guy…but I know I shouldn’t think those kinds of things. There was nothing I could do about it.
We are in tough times, as we all know, and especially for the industry that I was in, it’s a wonder why I didn’t get laid off sooner. Hardly anyone has the money, or the ability to create lines of credit to help construct and building anything these days, so of course no one is looking for the help of an Architect to design either.
A Blessing In Disguise
Someone from my other blog messaged me today and we had a small conversation about jobs. He actually offered me a position to work in Los Angeles at the firm he worked for, without even knowing I was laid off. L.A. is much too far away for me to commute to, so I thankfully denied his offer, even after I told him about my situation. He was genuinely sorry to hear the bad news. He then messaged me with something that I had to share with you today:
“Keep your head high – and thank [My Former Employer] for taking the chains off your potential.”
Those are some powerful words that really hit home for me. Have you heard of the saying: everything happens for a reason? Maybe this is God’s plan for me. Maybe it couldn’t of come at a better time. Isn’t it kind of weird that I just released an E-Book on my other website that is now making just about the same as my other job was?
A Sign
I’m going to take this as a sign. A sign that working online and earning a passive income is what I was meant to do. I don’t have a definite plan yet as far as my next step to increase my income, but now my 9 to 5 job won’t stop me from earning exactly what I think I deserve. There’s no holding me back from creating the lifestyle that I want for me and my future wife and family. (Yes, I’m getting married in February.)
I will keep my head up high for myself and for you. Now I’ll have more time to write about my plans for earning more income online, and hopefully some of my future successes and failures will give you some direction.
Last Words of Wisdom
I wouldn’t be as optimistic about the future after being laid off if it wasn’t for the residual income I earn from the internet today. I consider myself so lucky that I still make enough to survive, and it’s all from the hard work I did in the past. Even if you don’t ever quit your job, having that second stream of income is definitely something nice to fall back on.
If you do get laid off, follow the words of wisdom from my friend above. You should always keep your head up high (in any situation, really) and understand that you’ll find something better. Maybe it’s a better 9 to 5 job with more pay and more benefits. Or maybe, it’s an online opportunity. Either way, just know that nothing can break you. Nothing.
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{ 32 comments (Click Here to Leave a Comment Below) }
I am sorry to hear that you got laid off, but your attitude is impressive. Now you have all the motivation you need to take your online earnings to the next level. Best of luck!
You have an amazing attitude, and all I can tell you is that now you may focus 100% of your energy on online income. Who knows? Things could work out so well that you make as much money as you did with your 9-5..
Studenomics´s last blog post..When Should You Not Save Money?
@ Studenomics,
Thanks for your comment and your encouraging words. Actually, you’d be happy to know that I am currently making more than I was at my 9 to 5, and I hope to keep adding to that. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to hear from you again =)
Great attitude, and congratulations on the ebook! Your friends comment about the chains being removed from your potential was right on the money.
Your optimism impresses me so much! I have to admit, sometimes I wish I would get a concrete “sign” (like losing my job) that would open a new path for me. I feel like I’m too afraid (responsible?) to leave a salary behind, and would almost welcome that choice being forced upon me…
Lise´s last blog post..DIY Holiday Gift: Pinkled Pink with Jalapenos
@ Will
Thanks! I like how you said “right on the money”. Hehe!
@Lise,
It’s true, we all wish for a “sign” for us to take action. Sometimes, however, we have to make our own signs. By the way, I love your list of 101 goals in 1001 days. I think that’s a great way to motivate yourself!
I am performing similar experiments for the same reason, but I just started like 2 weeks ago. I came across your blog and subscribed. Hahahaha. I completely understand. This is fun, though. Have you tried secret shopping on the side? They really pay you. It takes like 40 days, but you will get a check. http://myworkfromhometruth.blogspot.com
Amanda´s last blog post..eHow – Make Money Writing Articles
@ Amanda
I love experiments! Good luck with yours, and thanks for subscribing to my blog. I have not tried secret shopping, and I don’t know much about it. I’ll check out your blog to see if there is any information about it. Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving!
I feel your pain. I just discovered your website and I must say that it’s inspiring. I love the advice your friend offered. I was recently laid off from my job, too (Operations Manager for a hospital cancer center) and I have also been struggling to keep my head up and know that better things are in store. I have been reading a lot about starting my own internet info marketing business and I know that it’s the RIGHT thing to do. There really is no better time than now. I just keep 2nd guessing myself. I’m scared. There, I said it. I am scared. What if I fail?
I would like to offer my support to you in your current trials and ask that you do the same for me. Just a simple, “Hang in there. You can do it” can sometimes make all the difference.
@Damon Brown, Thanks for your support. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been laid off too, but just remember the advice my friend offered – and you’re absolutely right, now is the time to start something. The beauty about doing business online, is that it’s easier to start your own thing, and if you do fail, what’s the worst that could happen? So you lose a few hundred dollars for market research and a domain name. Big whoop. At least your not spending thousands or millions of dollars, hoping you’ll get a return later in the future. If you fail online with one thing, you just missed your target. Get the darts back and throw them at the bull’s eye again. You’re bound to hit a bull’s eye sometime.
But yeah, I know where you’re coming from. It’s a big leap to take – but you’ll never know what great things could happen, unless you give it a try. Right?
Anyways, again, thank you for your support, and I will say the same thing to you, Damon. Just hang in there, and opportunities will present themselves for you.
All the best to you.
@Pat,
I just listened to your appearance on the Internet Business Mastery podcast and the light came on inside my head. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science and I know what a struggle it was to study for the certification exam when I took it almost 10 years ago. I have a couple of study guides, and, for some reason, I kept a lot of my notes. I don’t see any reason why I can’t turn that into a successful website similar to yours. Do you have any advice on how to do that? Pitfalls? Things you wouldn’t do again? Things you would do different? I appreciate any help you can offer.
@Damon Brown, initially, I think that’s a great idea. I would research it further to see how popular that test is, how much it has changed, where there any updates, etc. But I love the study guide / info model because people will do a lot to find good material. I would probably start out with a blog kind of like I did, put material on it, add to it every once and a while, direct people to it from forums and other websites, and see what kind of traffic or response you get. If you get a lot of good feedback, it’s time to write a guide =)
i like this post. i’ve been laid off too buddy…and trust me…it was definitely a good thing.
p.s. i just found your site, if yer wonderin why i commented so late. gj man!
@Moon, btw when did you get the “red card” .Any luck with the new job hunt so far? No worries. Let’s be positive.
Man, I thought this new year would be better. I wonder how’s things for you now. Have you try checking out http://jobstaxi.com ? They really have quite a handful of jobs listing.
Best of luck!
Pat,
I just stumbled across your blog now – I really enjoyed the few blog entries I have read so far (and am sure I will continue to read more).
I know your passive income stream is quite strong, and the advice that I have may not apply to you, but I wrote a blog post about getting laid off and what one can do to best prepare that you can be found here:http://www.richerandslimmer.com/2009/01/22/layoffs-everywhere-and-what-you-can-do-to-best-prepare/
Best of luck with everything!
richerandslimmer.com´s last blog post..Vacation Update
@richerandslimmer.com, Hey! Thanks for the compliments and your link to your website. I think it provides great info that will help many people in America today. Best of luck to you too!
Sorry, the link for the lay-off post didn’t come out quite right in the first comment. Here it is again:
http://www.richerandslimmer.com/2009/01/22/layoffs-everywhere-and-what-you-can-do-to-best-prepare/
richerandslimmer.com´s last blog post..Vacation Update
What a lucky coincidence that your passive income reached this level just in time! I know from my own experience that you can work for a long time and then everything just comes together at the same time to take you to a new level (sometimes without much of a direct cause). It looks like we’re both trying to repeat that experience now. Best of luck with your business ventures – now that you can focus on them full-time you should be able to go far
Excellent Blog! It gives me hope! I am trying to use the internet to generate income (since I’m on it so much anyway) I started blogging the other day which I have never done before, but I am nowhere near as good with my words as you are. I started a blog about my situation in these hard economical times. Thanks for the inspiration!
here it is http://economicstruggle.blogspot.com/
nice blog cheers
congrats on getting laid off
Looks like it was about time you went solo!
You did it man !! hats-off
Good post. It’s interesting to go back and read these when you know that it turns out pretty good. The nervousness in the writing and the unsure plan of attack. It looks like you made a good choice. Would you have taken the job offer if it was closer?
I just had this blog suggested to me by a friend. I really like how it goes into detail about your websites. So few internet marketers are willing to share their money making websites.
However, I find it suspect that you coincidentally got fired after only 3 posts from this blog AND was already making money. Possible. Of course. I don’t mean to be rude but I’ve grown so tired of Marketers blatently lying to my face. Telling me how if I just buy this product then it’s like a button to push to make money magically appear.
Still, great blog. I’m only at the beginning. Plan to go through the whole blog. Thanks.
Hey Tim, thanks for the comment, and I totally understand your skepticism. I was making money the month I got laid off, but I didn’t start on the website that was earning that income the month i got laid off – I had started it a year prior (greenexamacademy.com). It was when I learned that it was a possibility that I was going to get laid off that I decided to give monetizing the site I had up for a year building that authority and following which made it much easier for me to release an eBook in October of 2008, and immediately see an income from it. If you’d like to talk to me more about my story and how it all happened, feel free to email me or contact me directly on skype at my skypename: patflynn3.
I don’t sell any of my own products on this site, so you don’t have to worry about me pushing anything in your face. If you have any questions, please let me know. Cheers!
Hi Pat, I really enjoyed reading your blog and podcast. I have some questions.
1. So you mentioned you were earning thru adsense from greenexamacademy.com, but I don’t see any adsense there.
2. Do you straight away purchased GreenExamAcademy.com domain while organizing your notes, or you purchased after you’ve started earning?
3. Do you do any links building to that? And how long it takes for you to start seeing traffic coming in?
Thanks! You really motivated me to move on.
Hello Pat. Im having a bit of a bump at work so I decided to see if you had posted anything about when you lost your job. Thanks, this post makes me feel better about what can be done under times of stress expecially knowing where you are today.
“Either way, just know that nothing can break you. Nothing.” My favorite line from this post. I have found that almost everybody will try and want to break you. I don’t know why.
This one hits home with me. I haven’t been laid off but I have decided to leave the US Army after 8 1/2 years of service and 3 combat tours. I have 3 weeks left of serving and then I desperately need to move on to bigger things with my life.
Leaving such a secure job after so long (the entire duration of my adult life) is extremely scary and advised against in the Army. I don’t care, though. I do what I know I need to do for myself and nothing less.
I’ve been playing around online for about 4 years, though, and I’ve never taken it completely serious. Now is the time. The transparency in your blog is motivating. It just might be what I need to make a smooth transition from security to living my life.
Thanks
Getting laid off is would be pretty scary but you’re right when you say that everything happens for a reason.
Thankfully you already had some money coming in before that happen. I like the idea of preparing just in case. It gives you options.
The way I see it is that if you work for someone else, you only have a single source of income. Working for yourself means you can potentially have as many as you like. By arranging these sources, it is actually more stable from a business perspective. As you progress and gain confidence in what you do, you wonder how you could really survive as an employee….I know I couldn’t.