There is so much information about WordPress, tweaks to WordPress, themes for WordPress, and WordPress Hacks — “I think you get the point” on the Internet, that it becomes a distraction.  I have been working this weekend on putting the final touches to my blog when another gazillion ideas for the appearance and content of the blog occurred to me while casually browsing the Internet.  I wish there was a way to turn off the Internet while working on the blog.  Unfortunately, since I am a newbie, I need the Internet to be turned on in order to find  answers when I get stuck.   I am learning that I will have to become more disciplined in my approach in order to make this a successful blog.

My desire to get this blog up and running so that I can return to developing my affiliate marketing pages, sometimes overwhelms my judgment, and takes me a little bit off course.  I get a bad case of tunnel vision, which is counterproductive to what I am trying to accomplish.  I decided to slow down a little bit and try to make sure I do things right, so I can minimize the need for having to go back and fix things later.  The affiliate marketing isn’t going anywhere, and it’s not like I have a job to go to at the moment that would impede me from accomplishing my goal.

I have been working on finishing the setup for this blog. Trying to put a decent blog online while learning WordPress and Thesis, and while researching affiliate marketing, has been a time-consuming process.  I am excited because I am starting to get a better feel of what I want to do and how I plan to go about it.

I am sure by now that anyone who has ever browsed the World Wide Interweb “Internet”, has seen an advertisement similar to the one in the heading.  It seems so easy, you sign up,  you do some simple tasks for a couple of hours a day, and miraculously fat checks start arriving at your doorstep.  Sounds to good to be true, right?  Such a system does not exist in the format that it is being advertised.    However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make money over the Internet.  There are ways to making money over the Internet, if you are willing to put in the time and use the resources available effectively.  I discovered this after having a personal talk with someone who has been doing affiliate marketing along with PPC for several years.  I must admit before I spoke with this person, I was somewhat of a skeptic.  It was a no BS discussion, I heard about his failures and successes, and a honest assessment of the financial gains he has made over the years.  He was kind enough to give me a blueprint for some of  the things I needed to research before making the decision to try it myself.

After talking with that individual, it made me realize how naive I was about the Internet and how it works.  The knowledge that was bestowed upon me, dramatically changed the way I look at the Internet from that point on.   There is a “hazy shade of gray” method to making honest money over the Internet.  I decided that I wanted to learn more and see if I can make enough money that I can leave the rat race for good.  This is a natural progression for me, considering I am an Internet junkie, connected 24/7 and enjoy reaching out to others.   I have several ideas that I am currently researching and developing.  Currently I am stepping my big toe into the world of Affiliate Marketing, which I will discuss in detail at some point real soon.  My days of endless surfing has ingrained in my noggin that the Internet is a virtual shark tank of folks selling “sunshine” and “snake oil.”  I will do my best not to get suckered, by spending the little bit of money I do have left on a useless money making system.

My original goal was to blog and setup my affiliate marketing simultaneously.  As it turns out, there is a considerable amount of research and work involved getting starting so I had to push the blog to the side.  Therefore some of things that I am sharing, I have already done.  As of this moment, I haven’t made one red cent, and I’m still very much unemployed.  I will end things on the note for those who may be curious or starting out like I am with this quote, “Information may be Power but Content is King”.

By unofficially retired, I mean that I am getting off the corporate treadmill.  I’d much rather blog from my laptop sitting in a bar enjoying a cold beer, than be a prairie dog, or monk stuck in a closet posing as an office.  I have had the misfortune of being laid off twice this year. In both cases, I showed up for work everyday, worked long hours, did all the tasks that I was asked to do.  However,  in the end, I became a casualty of the numbers game (twice).   This time around I decided to fight the instinct of sending hundreds of resumes and dealing with stupid recruiters  and career fairs to pursue a couple of things that I am really passionate about.  I’ve always wanted to try my hand at affiliate marketing “seriously stop laughing,” but never really had the time to research and see if I could make a sustainable income doing so and also start a successful blog.

There are thousands of websites showing individuals — showing the aftermath of their success.  Wads of cash, blurred checks, fancy homes,  and cars are common themes.  I decided I wanted to be different and write about my success or failure from day one.  I have set a goal that I will be one of those guys a year from now, with the cheesy landing page, promoting how I made it.  While deciding to start this blog, I realized that this blog can serve as a very important secondary function as well.  I want to use this blog as a place where other individuals who are going through similar life experiences can drop by to share, vent, and cuss.