Are You Embarrassed Of Saying “Passive Income” Out Loud?
… Or how about something like this: “I’m trying to make money online”. Did your voice kind of trail off at the “money online” part or did you blush like a 98 year old woman surrounded by young male strippers when you mentioned “passive income” around your friends?
Not sure about you, but I remember that feeling embarassed when I said mentioned to a friend that I was trying to learn how to make money online. The voice in my head was loud and proud, but what came out was a whimpering voice that trailed off at the end of the sentence.
What’s So Embarrassing About Saying “Passive Income”?
Before you ask me that, go into the next room and try it. Tell your family or friends (I don’t suggest co-workers!) that you’re trying to establish passive income so you can quit your job within the year. Terms “making money online” will get raised eyebrows and maybe some curiosity, if you’re lucky.
Yeah, now that I have your undivided attention, let’s explore. The term “passive income” sounds just hokey, doesn’t it?
How can income be “passive”? We’ve had it ingrained in us, since we were tots, that you need to get out there, get education and earn money. Well, I’m there and it ain’t looking good buddy. I feel like I’m wasting my life away with work that doesn’t matter to me.
Income is suppose to come at a cost, hourly or salaried while someone uses (rather abuses) you and your time. Apparently, you need to be present to earn money, physically present. However, the internet has changed all that. Need proof? Look at Pat, Darren, Glen, Lis. Harnessing the powers of the internet.
We can argue about how passive income isn’t passive income all day, but the fact that I can create a product (investment of time upfront once), put it on the internet and have it available to thousands and millions of people looking for the product and sell it over and over with minimal effort over a long period of time is PRICELESS.
I am clear about admitting that I haven’t established a passive income stream yet and that doesn’t bother me as much as knowing that other people have done it already! They’ve been doing it for a while, so what’s stopping me? What’s stopping you?
The Internet Has Changed Business Forever
Before dabbling with the term passive income and trying to create passive income streams, I had not realized how internet has changed the approach to businesses forever. If you learn about SEO, Google/Yahoo ads, you can create your own e-commerce site whether you sell the product yourself physically, are an affiliate, or are a drop-shipper. Thousands of people go online to search for specific products as well as well-known online retailers like Amazon. I do most of my shopping online unless I’m buying clothes. If you’re thinking, ‘How can I compete with Amazon?’, then you need to keep searching for more ideas. Use the Google Keyword Suggestion Tool.
Passive Income Roadblocks
Whether you’re creating a niche site, selling an affiliate product, selling your own product, whatever the hell it is (unless it’s CDs/investments), there’s a lot to learn. Graphics design (or manipulation at least), website creation, product ideas, filtering and evolving new ideas, crying… it’s all part of the process.
Of course, there’s always outsourcing. Sure, go ahead and hire someone, but will you end up with a good programmer? Bad programmer? Will you end up with nested tables within tables or a neat CSS file?
All that noise, it’s known as “the filter”. Some of us will not make it past the filter and some of us will persist and embrace success. Determine which camp you want to join now.
Back To The Point
How can you successfully embrace the idea of passive income when you can’t say it out loud without feeling stupid? Start thinking about passive income as an “automated online business”. Can you come up with an online business idea? All you have to do is take it one step further: automation.
Whatever your definition is of passive income, put it into motion. If you haven’t defined what passive income means to you, do it now. If you need proof that it exists, don’t wait for others to throw a magic formula at you. Pick your own unique path and define your own passive income stream! Break the barriers.
Are you embarrassed of saying “passive income” out loud? What is your definition of passive income?
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46 Responses to “Are You Embarrassed Of Saying “Passive Income” Out Loud?”
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It’s something I’m a bit embarassed to say around people. I think it depends on who I say it to though. Family is a no-go area. First, you have to explain. And then, once they understand the explanation, they don’t understand why.
I’ll tell certain friends though.
ebele´s last blog ..Am I Scared of Money?
I’m not sure I’ve even said it to friends. I tried saying it once and quickly realized they think I’m full of shit. I’d rather prove it then talk about it. I understand where you’re coming from, ebele.
I’m not at all embarrassed to talk about passive income and I fully believe in it. We we can believe in working hard for our money then of course there’s opposite, so to speak.
I just know that most people I talk to say it’s stupid because they want to feel as though they’ve earned their money. You still earn money just not by putting as much physical effort into it. Then again, there’s all different kinds of people.
Eric´s last blog ..A Tough Move Into New Opportunities
Eric,
That’s cool if you can hold your head high and say it and believe it. Just because this type of work isn’t “physical” doesn’t make it a bit easier! It’s a whole another ball game and you better understand the rules. Lots of patience required!
Thanks for dropping by!
I always end up making it a comical joke like, “I am trying to make my millions on the internet”. I always get the eye rolls. But I will be the last one laughing when I take pictures of me jumping in a pile of dough! LOL. Okay, maybe not that rich. But I think I could be financially comfortable from working online.
Money Funk´s last blog ..Traveling with Teens/Tweens
Hey, at least once, I want a picture of me in a pile of dough. For the fun of it? hehe. So maybe it’ll be $50, one dollar bills, whatever
What’s so unbelievable about setting up a business online, people? Now that I think about it, about 99% of the people around me don’t believe in it. Maybe even a 100%. Shoot! Time to make them believe then.
Then doesn’t that mean the 1% of us that believe in it have a better chance of making it?
I am all for that.
Money Funk´s last blog ..Traveling with Teens/Tweens
I’ll take your interpretation of it!
This is a great post Moon! “The filter” rears its head when I use the term “make money online”. It seems to carry a negative connotation but that’s only in my mind.
Ryan´s last blog ..Law of Attraction – How to Fake It Until You Make It
Thanks Ryan. I keep recalling when I said ‘make money online’ in front of a friend and how it made me feel. Kind of bothered me so I had to say something. It does seem to carry a negative connotation in my mind too…. and & others just look at it like, ‘psssh, whatever. yeah right’. I’d love to prove ‘em wrong
Because I know it is doable I am not embarrassed to say it, the fact that I am not making as much as I wanted to (at the moment) is what’s embarrassing….LOL
Ms. Freeman@Baby Steps of an Internet Entrepreneur´s last blog ..5 Steps to Greater Efficiency
Ms. Freeman, just keep plugging away at it. If you were building a business in real life, would you give up after the first month? Hopefully you said no. Works the same way online
Great work Moon! I see telling people about passive income as a waste of time. Telling like-minded people is obviously much different and a lot of fun, but the others just don’t seem interested — unless of course your telling them about making the big bucks. I think people just have no idea the opportunities. It’s like being introduced something new, its hard to believe.
Alex´s last blog ..The Virtue of Obsession
Well, it is something new and was for me up until last year, so I can see a skeptic’s point of view. But yeah, unless they see proof (and GOd I hope I can produce a nice check at some point), it’s pretty much usless.
Thanks for stopping by Alex
You’re totally right- It does feel strange to tell people you’re working towards earning passive income online. But I say, let them be weirded out! That’s one more person who WONT be a competitor.
Ethan Waldman´s last blog ..Broken Arches EP: What I’ve Been Up To
Ethan, yeah strange is one word for it
Exactly.. just imagine how many people don’t believe in it.. that’s how much less competition we have. It’s already bad enough, I say 
How’s your page coming along? I have to check your post soon.
My definition of a passive income? As a venture capitalist helping out starting companies so that they succeed (or don’t of course), it’s where the big money is at.
Embarrassed? I wouldn’t know I have never mentioned it, I assume my relatives would look at me in a strange way and then laugh though. And that’s fine.
Experimently,
I like your attitude. They would probably laugh. I had a weird look given to me and am often met with craploads of skepticism. That’s okay though
I’ve got a pretty good gauge on who to tell “I’m making money on the Internet.” Some people find it fascinating.
… as for the others, I either tell them I’m a writer, an entertainer, or their mother’s personal pool boy (I reserve that last one for people who won’t stop bugging me).
Haha Lee, ever get into a rough spot by mentioning your their mother’s pool boy?? A few do find it fascinating but a lot won’t make it simply because they won’t experiment with diff. strategies to determine what works for them… they’ll assume passive income is a fluke.
Haha, so far no altercations
But I’ll let you know if that changes!
Lee | Search Engine Viking´s last blog ..Anchors Away: What Is Anchor Text?
I do feel a little weird telling people I’m trying to make money online. I guess because so many people associate “make money online” with some kind of scam. I’ve told a few people, but they just don’t get it or think I’m falling for some kind of “get rich quick” type of thing.
Oh well…I won’t let it discourage me. In a year or two when I can quit my day job and I’m making money while I sleep, then maybe they’ll be a little more interested.
Exactly, Clark! That’s why I’d rather start making some money online and then tell people in my life that “no, I haven’t lost my mind and this is how I make my money online”. We’ll have some believers then.
But wouldn’t you know? Some people love the 9-5 schedule, more power to them
They’ll definitely be interested then…
Great post Moon. I’m afraid to admit that I have been known to say “I run a few websites” instead of getting into the whole PI conversation that people inevitably can’t understand.
The other thing I find, is that having tried one or two dead end paths to earning on-line, people automatically assume that what I do now is also doomed to failure. It’s a marathon not a sprint, and I will prove them wrong eventually.
Des @ Affiliate Progress´s last blog ..Finding the Best Affiliate Networks
Des, yeah, that would be the easiest answer
Earning money online–so many ways to do it but none of them are easy. It’s a learning process, so keep it up 
I wonder why you don’t throw in a few Adsense ads on this website to make some extra money. Is there any specific reason for that? I’d like to know…
Eugene,
I will properly monetize this blog soon. I did not want to do it from the start with zero readers. I’ll probably experiment in the next coming months
Great post. I usually just say I’m a freelance writer. Not because I’m embarrassed but because I don’t want to have to explain. Their eyes usually glaze over when I try to do that anyway!
Julie @ Write for eHow´s last blog ..A New Review of Writergig’s eHow Ebook
Thanks Julie! Hey, that’s a good way to put it… “freelance writer”. Why the hell not?? Maybe I’ll refer to it as freelancing when it gets hard to explain what I’m doing. I know what you mean by the glazed look. I have often put a friend to sleep talking about all of this… hehe.
To many people, passive income is a ‘scam’ and you’re a ‘get rich quick’ merchant. It’s great that you’re learning about it and your right, the internet has changed lots of things.
Matthew Needham´s last blog ..How to get rich the boring way
Yes Matthew, and many people think of it that way thanks to all the scams and get rich schemes that do exist out there. I’m so tired of the “Click Here and Learn How To Make $10,000 Your First Month” b.s. stuff. Don’t fall for it, people!
Moon -
I have no shame about this. There are billions of people in the world and there is only one of me. I think that the key to talking about this is to do something that really generates some value and changes the lives of others. If you can do that with a product or online service, then passive income becomes a nonsense. Anyone who ever sold a product online made some passive income, but ask them how hard they worked to make it. No shame, No gain!
Phil
Phil – Less Ordinary Living´s last blog ..Spring Clean your Mind
Phil, agreed! People think that passive income means just that–and really it’s not. You have to filter through the b.s., experiment, find what works for you…. hopefully on the way you’ll find out what you’re so passionate about as well
I’m hoping so too.
Thanks Phil!
Hi Moon, I found you from Search Engine Viking. I like this post. My website is 16 days old so the whole internet business is new to me.
Currently it’s not making money, I don’t have a product and I’m not worried about it. I say this because I want to share my family’s response.
My Grandmother associates online businesses with porn. So to her friends, thats what I do. My Mom calls it “the internet thing”. She’s so sweet, she will call and say, “Am I interrupting that internet thing?” My sister thinks I fell for a get rich quick scheme.
I understand how it’s sometimes embarrassing. It’s easy for people to get the wrong idea!
Scott Barron´s last blog ..ONE campaign
Hi Scott,
Thanks for dropping by then! Yeah 16 is very new so give it some time. I will have to drop by and check out your site. That’s funny that your Grandma thinks of online businesses as porn, haha. It’ll be awesome when you can show them the money you’re making, all online, when you’re finally there! Hope to see you here more often.
Hi Moon! I know in internet terms I am about 3 years late to this post but I found it nonetheless. I have become fascinated lately with the idea of passive income and found this article to really resonate with me. I find it really difficult to talk to friends about the idea of a passive income without them thinking I am about to bust out some sort of pyramid scheme. I think part of the embarrassment stems from others’ lack of knowledge. Which is why these sorts of posts are phenomenal.
Anyway, I have a lot of ideas and little action thus far. Hopefully that will change soon. My blog is only days old but I plan on working hard at it. Thanks for inspiring.
Nell,
Don’t worry about anything, just make sure to take some sort of action. Great thing about the internet: you don’t have to spill money into anything. Experiment on your own and you’ll find your own way. Looking forward to your progress!
It’s a bit like speaking greek so I keep it my dirty little secret a lot… (overnight success)… Would much rather talk to you about passive income than most of my non virtual buddies!
Ryan @ Planting Dollars´s last blog ..Can You Turn Your Life on a Dime?
I’m lost about your mention of overnight success…?
Same here! I already have been having a hard time just explaining we’re moving. :X
“Making money online” seems like a wishy washy concept because most people don’t understand it. It’s simple a case of ignorance and the perception that it’s not as real as making money in the traditional sense – you know, get a job. But those of use making money online (not professing that I do or I don’t) know that it’s an amazing concept and extremely challenging and postive in many ways.
Moon – GREAT topic to bring up. This struck a chord with me. There is nothing embarrassing at all about it, and it’s a shame that people would feel more proud to say they stick to a grueling 9 to 5 than that they make money on their own time and own terms. For some reason, sales has always been at the bottom of the barrel of pride. Almost every other career carries more prestige. Since passive income typically involves some sort of selling, it just doesn’t go over well with many.
I love this post and have shared it on Twitter and Facebook. It’s something worth exploring. The only way to succeed at this is to love it, and you can’t love it if you’re embarrassed by it.
Cheers,
Tia
Tia´s last blog ..27 Posts That Will Save Your Blogging Life
Funny Tia, as I was thinking about this earlier. I can see that my parents might be disappointed if they realize I’m not pursuing the typical path they had set for me. At the same time, they just might be impressed (when things work out). You certainly brought up a great point.
Thanks for sharing the post with others on Twitter & Facebook. Certainly need exposure here. Do you have an account on StumbleUpon or Digg? Feel free to connect (“moonhx”).
Heck no!
I say it a lot when discussing business and what I do online.
If your friends think you’re weird or something for setting the goal and talking about getting financially free in this lifetime then it’s time to get some new friends.
I learned that from Kevin Trudeau.
Affiliate Marketing´s last blog ..What You Need To Know About Email Subject Lines
Perhaps that’s true! I guess people around us were just worried at the time. We were/are going against the grain so it’s typical. But it’ll be kick ass to show ‘em some numbers