Forum Moderators: skibum
I have a lot of time to go workout, and practice guitar and take some fun classes at the local community college, but geez, I only have so much initiative through the day to find things to keep me busy.
I'm not the most gregarious guy either (ok, pretty introverted) so during the day the few friends I have all work or have SO's and I'm not one to just go out and hit the bars every night... - i.e I'm becoming a hermit!... I'm actually even calling my folks to have someone to talk to!...
what to do?...should I get a talking parrot or paint a face on a volleyball?
I ended up doing a hunt on Craigslist last fall to find other people who were off during work hours on weekdays, so I've got a couple people to play with. Maybe something worth trying.
As diamondgrl said do volunteer or partime work or better expand you business so that you can rent an office and hire employees!
As it were, necessity is the mother of invention:
Just yesterday I was browsing craigslist for people to hang out with.
No SO, so I am planning on a major trip (6 months plus) to Europe parts-unknown-wherever-I-end-up come end of March, with the intention of staying in Amsterdam for a few months, get a part time job and see where it goes. There ain't much to plan though - pack up a suitcase with clothes, grab my laptop and my digital camera and go...
Been coming here a lot and posting :)
I suppose I could be doing more sites - but that can get a bit boring - programming 24 hrs non stop day in day out...
Some other things to do in your spare time:
1. Travel.
2. Learn. Read books. Work through OCW classes at MIT.
3. Spend time here on WW.
4. Build more sites.
5. Add new features to your existing sites.
6. Check your stats.
7. Go to the movies at 1pm. There's usually only about five people there.
teach other people what you have learned..?
Done the movie thing too - one day I watched 3 movies in a row... what a waste of time, I was this close to walk out from "Alone in the Dark", but I didn't want to leave the theatre all empty ;)
But the more people get involved in affiliate marketing, the more competition and likely also a slower growth or even decrease of earnings for all of us..
Zygoot: you realize that we're all here on WebmasterWorld learning and teaching one another, right?:)
I've learned quite a lot from hanging out here - in fact, you could say I am the 'new competition' you speak of. A year or so ago when I was fresh off school my thought was 'hey I can create a textbook price comparison engine' (because in college that's one of the main things that are constantly an issue of contention) - the thought of actually trying to sell something else didn't even cross my mind. Then I came here and the rest is history. My 'flagship' college site now only holds an honorific title as the first site I started - but the moneymaker(s) are elsewhere...
and all because of you wonderful people here in WebmasterWorld - you've given me a way out of the rat race and changed my life! (now if only I knew what to do with it...)
I'm actually even calling my folks to have someone to talk to!...
I'm just glad I'm not the only one doing this! :)
Just remember how much better this is than the alternative. Just keep repeating this to yourself until the phase ends ...
But I just wanted to warn that in case everybody and his dog starts doing affiliate marketing there will be almost no profit anymore in doing it.
I sure know this is still better than the alternative of working a 'real' job, but we humans are never quite satisfied, are we?:) ... now this is my current situation and I have to learn how to deal with it...
Morning Naps
and
Afternoon Naps
Ha Ha ,I get up only at around 11 AM , which i can never think of when i went to a dayjob :)
Google AdSense: you should be especially cautious where (geographically) you check your stats, because if somebody clicks several times on your ads and is located near you, you could have some problems with Google (you know, for any reason).
Credit card payment: Sometimes, when you want to pay for something using your credit card and you are located in another country, the payment can be denied. (just check the FAQ sectionof Clickbank "why has my credit card been denied). This happened to me last summer while travelling through Europe for 2 months (I travelled to some neighbouring countries). Well, perhaps with a USA credit card it is a bit different, I don't know.
Taxes: You SHOULD NOT become resident of another country, as you will not be allowed to be self-employed, but you will be required to pay taxes; but, if you are not a resident, you can not open a bank account to cash your checks (in nearly all countries)!
Checks: there are some countries, where you can't recieve your checks (usually 3rd world countries or countries with high spam rate).
P.S.: If you plan to stay in Schengen (the Netherlands included) for more then 3 months on a 6 month term, you will be required to get a visa (with all the hassle which this will involve). Also note, that if you stay for 3 months, you can only stay as a tourist (you can't legally work).
I don't want to stop you from doing your trip, actually I am planning to do the same when my checks have a little more digits.
My tip: get somebody in the USA to check your stats and to use your credit card when needed. I don't know what you can do in order to cash your checks (I guess, you have to sign them in order to cash them).
If you have more doubts, send me a private message.
P.S2.: Excuse me for my poor English.
thanks for the heads up. I think most of those issues should be no issues at all:
As far as the whole working thing - well, I have a European Community passport, so technically I'm an European citizen - that should make things easier I think as far as being able to stay for longer periods in whichever country I end up in? No visas to worry about that's for sure. I do know that for longer periods of time you have to do some extra paperwork though...
obviously my main working gig will be doing websites - which isn't taxable work in the host country (nor do they really need to know). My checks are being re-rerouted to my folks who can simply deposit it in my bank account.
I've been to the UK on a month long trip back in November - I used my credit cards just fine. ATM's work too, but unfortunately I have to deal with the lousy conversion rate to the dollar going on right now.
I'm taking a very simplistic view of this trip - "wherever the chips may fall" - it's not like I'm going to a developing country where resources might be hard to come by. But if I'm totally overlooking something, let me know :)
anyone use AIM? my screenname is zooks76 ...
seeking full time affiliates earning about the same as I do and 'bored' as well, no "please help me" messages from newbies please :) ultra-pros feel free to message me "hey I'd like to help you"... If you're a really hot single female in affiliate marketing, even better. ;)
oh if this is against the TOS..then just delete the post.
I decided to quit my job of almost 8 years... well not to go full time with affiliate marketing.. but to start a software company and at the same put more time on my affiliate business... so most likely I won't run into the boredom issue... but then again.. it would be nice to have a good stream of income and have this issue... :D
hey maybe after our successful launch.. maybe you can work with me on launching our own affiliate program... hehe...
I have done this several times (also adding the spouses/child units) and seem doomed to repeat the cycle.
Get on POGO and play 4-player card games, canasta, spades, hearts, etc.
That way you can meet new people without leaving your chair!
... and you can even drink in a "social setting" so nobody can accuse you of drinking alone :)
aico
I quit my job almost 6 years ago....
If you dont persevere to get a LOT more work done everyday, you should keep the day job.
Even if you work for yourself it's still a JOB, if you don't work at it you go hungry.
There is no free lunch, except the one AdSense buys me daily, with 2 beers :)
