What I’ve Learned From Building a Blog: The Dirty Truth About Making Money Online
November 2014 I started this blog and began my online journey. I’ve learned a lot over the past few years and am now going to open up about the dirty truth. Here is what I’ve learned from building a blog.
The network I’ve built through this blog and the skills that I’ve gained have been more than any college degree would’ve given me.
I remember sitting in class listening to my professor teach me about entrepreneurship and small business.
He seemed to know what he was talking about so I began studying every word he said.
Then one day out of curiosity I asked him what businesses he had.
His response was that he had never run a business. He attempted to start an insurance company years ago but never even attempted the venture.
At that moment I lost all hope in college. I started skipping class and instead began reading books in the library on business.
Those books taught me more than my professor taught me. Luckily I had hands on experience before even getting to college.
Before I even made it to college I had tried my hand in over a dozen different ventures. They were all failures but I learned a lot.
I’m only now realizing what it means to be a Young Hustler in America.
You see on your path whether it’s online or offline you will have many ups and downs.
You will feel like you finally figured it out only to realize you’ve got a long way to go.
That has happened to me with Calm and Collected. It has also happened with other offline businesses I’ve done.
Guess what?
It will happen to you as well.
Nothing is perfect and there really is no formula.
Yeah, I can write you up a book with a step by step plan for making money but it won’t work for you. My cards are different than yours.
That’s why you will most likely never see a book on how to make money from me. With my upcoming book Think and Go Hustle I stripped away 15 pages of “how to make money” content.
I will tell you about it on here but I won’t sell you that information.
Instead, I want Think and Go Hustle to give you the mental stuff. The mental stuff is the foundation to this whole thing we call hustling.
You can’t get anything for free. You must pay the price for what you want.
Since going all in I’ve paid the price and yet I still have much more to pay.
As I’ve said before I pay the price for what I want.
Doing this whole online thing has cost me love and even times when I couldn’t afford a gallon of water.
I’ve had times where I wanted to just give up. Some nights I thought killing myself would be the solution.
But I am here to tell you that this path you are on is a great one. You will be broken down and then you will rise again stronger.
You must become unbreakable to last in this world.
Something that I hate is seeing people promoting this idea that you can just start a website and then magically you will make money.
They sell you on the idea of living like shit now so that you can live like shit in some foreign country.
Listen to me right now: You can have so much more than living in some shit-hole eating tacos while you sell a book a day.
While I’m not bashing you if you want to travel to some foreign country and build your website, I am saying to look at your options.
For some people moving overseas and hustling online is the answer.
Blogs like My Latin Life and Nomadic Hustle do quite well overseas.
But for others you can start right here in your city. You can start making money with Craigslist this week from your phone or laptop.
There is no need to go into debt and dig yourself into a hole just to leave behind your country and start your online business.
What I recommend you do is start a side-hustle.
Get some money coming in outside of your job and then as your side-hustle makes more money you can take a calculated risk.
Calculated Risk = Leave Your Job
If you aren’t sure of which side-hustle to choose don’t worry. If you join the Young Hustler Newsletter I will send you two free books.
One gives you the basics of being a Young Hustler and then the second book will help you decided on your side-hustle.
What is the “Dirty Truth to Making Money Online”?
The dirty truth to making money online is that you will fail. You will fail and then have to start again.
Don’t get yourself hyped up over your idea thinking it’ll let you retire. Most of the people that read me are 18-31.
That means that you have decades left on this earth if things keep going well for you. I am here to tell you that your little website won’t let you go down easy street for the rest of your life.
You will have to have many income streams. The beauty of having a website, however, is that you can create many income streams from that one site.
I see so many Young Hustlers get started thinking their blog or drop-ship business will be the thing they will work on for the rest of their lives.
That is such a depressing way to live. Not only that but you are delusional if you think that way. You will drive yourself crazy.
Realize that your one thing will become many things. You aren’t just trying to build a business. What you are trying to build is a life.
If you’re interested in drop-shipping then read this guide before you begin.
Your mission is your life and your life is your life’s work.
Who you are right now isn’t anything compared to the man you will be in five years or even six months.
As you go down your path you will learn new things about yourself and the world around you.
These new insights will show you the next step for your business and your life. After you take that step then there will be another one.
Your life isn’t just one moment that you will finally have or be something.
Your life is moment by moment.
In reality you have everything that you want right now.
If you are unhappy then just change what you’re doing right now.
Are you broke? Well, start adding more value.
You must change yourself now and not at some future moment. Start right now and then keep going forward.
That is why I feel that every young man needs 30 Days of Discipline.
You will begin learning a new way to live which will lead you to your own path. Begin slowly and then day after day you will get better.
Stop stressing about figuring out your path. Stop stressing out about what business that you should launch.
That is called overthinking.
If you overthink then you will die.
Instead, realize that you will always be going towards your goals. You will always be striving to become better.
This month you will make more money. Then next month you will decide that you want to change up your style.
Each moment that you work on yourself and your business is you on your path. Your path isn’t some fixed moment in the future.
Do you understand what I am saying yet?
Live each day the best that you can. Work on your side-hustle and then become a better man.
You will pay the price for what you want in blood and sweat.
People will come and go. You will lose friends and girlfriends. If need be you may even lose family members.
You will have lonely nights where you don’t know what to do next. You’ve got bills to pay but nothing to pay them with.
This is all the process of becoming a Young Hustler.
Tell me about your path in the comment section below. If you have any questions I will answer them.
Read What I’ve Learned From Building a Blog Part 2.
Tune in next time for some more…
REAL DEALIN’ With The Real Dylan
Think and Go Hustle is Now Available.
See what other people are saying.
Read the intro and first level. I almost cried.. the level of authenticity and the lessons you share in an easy to understand way are incredibly relatable. Can’t wait to get through the rest of the book this week. Continue to walk on water my friend. Really have something with this book. I mean it.
-K.P
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Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so
I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly
enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to
the whole thing. Do you have any tips for inexperienced blog writers?
I’d genuinely appreciate it.
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different website and thought I may as well check things out.
I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking over your web
page repeatedly.
I have read so many articles or reviews regarding the blogger lovers but this
paragraph is in fact a pleasant post, keep it up.
Welcome to the journey brother. You’ll find plenty to read.
“I’m just turning up everyday and enjoying the process.”
That is the “secret”. Get up ready to put in the days work. Enjoy the process of writing or whatever game you decide to play. You’re doing great.
Great article man. Just reading through some of your old articles, catching up on everything you’ve written.
I’m here right now, at this point. I’m early in my journey of building a blog, and there’s a long way to go. We’re all at that point somewhere in our lives. Early in a journey.
I’m just turning up everyday and enjoying the process. I’ve always wanted to write regularly, and having a blog (and things I want to say) are a great outlet for that.
This is real knowledge:
“Who you are right now isn’t anything compared to the man you will be in five years or even six months.”
Seriously a lot of superb material! https://bucketlist.org/idea/6LiG/ideas-to-assist-properly-deal-with-nervousness/
You learn helpful skills from MLM for sure. Ultimately it’s a waste of time. You can learn much more from running your own business and studying the greats. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a good book but keep in mind MLM companies paid him lots of money to be supportive. It’s all business.
That’s the secret. Let’s get it!
Its hustlin time.
Every day, day in, day out.
To clarify – *i heard from the MLM was the Statue part haha
Damn cool right!! I heard that from years ago from one of those motivational training in one of the MLMs I joined..it kinda stuck through the years.
I have read Kiyosaki wrote that one must join an MLM for at least 6 months- and not expect any income (like promised by MLMers) but just to change your mindset in life. I never earned money from my MLM days but I’m glad I also learned quite a lot (including the value of not giving up and doing whatever it takes)
Fantastic comment George. You are the type of people I want on this blog. People with the fire.
Side-note my goal is to have a statue built of me and wealth for generations. That’s why I work like I do.
I love the post, Dylan!
Nothing can be more true!! Its a painful path and anyone trying to sell you some fuckin “get rich” steps are freakin liers and assholes (big middle finger to them).
My best advice to young hustlers here is to stay single if you still are!
When I decided to hustle I already have a kid and a woman. It just makes things more complicated for you (but still doable).
I always though that if only I had this hustle mindset when I was a bachelor (I’m 29 now btw), I would have lived with very little and would have been able to put a laser focus to my hustle and would probably wont have a problem leaving my day job.
But anyways its like a Catch 21 for me as my kids have been the reason I have changed my values anyways.
But for you bachelors reading Dylan’s work..you obviously didn’t need a kid to change your mindset..this is a great thing right in your reach! Keep it up! Don’t look for that “love” now establish your shit first and the time will come you will become a successful modafuka! And your wealth will not only feed you kids but your grandchildren and the next generation of you might even build a statue of you… The hustler who ended the circle or brokeness in the family.
Godbless you all!!
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Thanks for the comment Conner. This will be a bible for those who want to take their life to the next level.
The hustlers ambition.
The book will be a game changer…as someone who’s already read draft Alpha. This will be a bible.
Yeah it comes down to making the jump. Once you find a way then you have to go all the way in. Thank you for your comment.
It took me three years before I finally found a way to make money online. The most difficult part for me has been the step of quitting my day job and working online full time. I’m in the final stages of taking that step and I appreciate the information and words of confidence that you share on your site. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Very true brother. Whether that be in the Dominican Republic from a laptop or Charleston shaking hands, it’s hustle time.
Made love for the love, man!
No matter where you want to hustle, one thing is for certain…
There’s never been a better time to be a young hustler.
Easy take care of your school work and then select a hustle from this list.
Im in college now and want to be a doctor. How can I have a side hustle while going to school?