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In 2019, I was making $84,000 per year as a software developer—a salary that many would consider stable and successful. But there was just one problem: I hated it.
The long hours, the work itself, and the lack of fulfillment made me realize that I needed something different. I started exploring new opportunities and ultimately built a business that allowed me to leave my job behind.
Through this journey, I learned four critical lessons that completely changed my approach to work, money, and success. If you’re feeling stuck in a job that no longer serves you, these lessons might be exactly what you need to hear.
1. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Make Money Online
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about making money online is that you need to be an expert. The reality? You just need to be one step ahead of someone else.
I first discovered this when I started a blog about security cameras and smart home devices. I wasn’t an expert, but I documented my research and shared my experiences. Soon, people were finding my content and using it to make their own purchasing decisions.
Later, I started a second blog on small home appliances and realized that people were searching for answers to simple questions—questions that I could answer without being a professional in the field.
What this means for you:
- If you have learned something valuable, there’s an audience for it.
- Teaching what you know—even if you’re just a few steps ahead—can be the foundation of an online business.
- You don’t need credentials or years of experience, just the willingness to share valuable insights.
2. The Key to Success is Solving Problems, Not “Influencing”
Many people want to become influencers, but influence fades—problem-solving lasts forever.
The best way to build a sustainable online business is to create evergreen content that answers real questions people are asking.
For example, every day, thousands of people search for things like:
- Best side hustles for beginners
- How to start an online business
- How to make money online
By creating content that answers these questions, you can build an audience without relying on trends.
This approach also opens up multiple income streams, including:
- Affiliate marketing (recommending products and earning commissions)
- Selling digital or physical products
- Partnering with platforms (like YouTube’s Partner Program or TikTok’s Creativity Fund)
Instead of chasing viral content, focus on creating solutions that people will always need.
3. You Will Fail (A Lot), and That’s Okay
One of the biggest reasons people never succeed online is that they can’t handle failure.
Most people expect their online business to be an easy, straight path to success. They see others making thousands of dollars per month and assume it’s a simple process. But the truth is, failure is part of the journey.
Here’s what failure actually looks like when starting an online business:
- Your first few videos or blog posts won’t get views
- Your first landing page might not convert
- Your first product may not sell well
What separates successful people from the rest? They keep going despite the failures.
Think about professional athletes—baseball players succeed only about 30 percent of the time, yet they’re considered elite. That’s exactly how business works. Most things won’t work, but the ones that do will make up for the failures.
Instead of seeing failure as a sign to quit, use it as feedback and keep improving.
4. People Don’t Care About You—They Care About Their Problems
This lesson might sound harsh, but it’s one of the most important things I learned.
When people search for solutions online, they’re not looking for you—they’re looking for answers to their problems.
This means if you want to succeed, you need to make your content about them, not you.
For example:
- Bad approach: “Here’s my story about starting an online business.”
- Better approach: “Here’s how you can start an online business today.”
Your audience will start caring about you after you’ve helped them solve a problem. Until then, focus on delivering value first.
Even the biggest personal brands in the world—like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, or Oprah—became known because they solved problems first.
Bonus Lesson: Consistency and Persistence Matter More Than Anything
If you take only one thing away from this, let it be this: consistency beats talent every time.
Most people give up too early because they think success should come quickly. But the reality is:
- The first six months will be slow.
- You’ll feel like no one is paying attention.
- You’ll doubt yourself at times.
But if you stay consistent—posting content, learning from mistakes, and improving your strategy—you will start to see results.
Every successful online entrepreneur has faced the same challenges you’re facing. The difference? They didn’t quit.
Final Thoughts: What This Means for You
I was able to quit my $84,000 software development job because I followed these principles:
- I stopped waiting to be an expert and just started sharing what I knew.
- I focused on solving problems instead of trying to become an “influencer.”
- I accepted failure as part of the process and kept moving forward.
- I made my content about the audience—not about me.
And most importantly, I stayed consistent even when things weren’t working right away.
If you apply these same lessons, you can start building a real online income, too.