You’re starting off right, you’re reading this post.

I know some of you will disagree with me on this post.  Some of you will say that the most important thing you can do is to spend time with your family.  In general I believe that spending time with family and loved ones is the most important thing, however, sometimes you need to do something different right now in order to spend more time with them later.

The most important things you can do right now is to come up with a plan to make more “smart money” come into your life.

I can already hear some of you saying, “money is the root of all evil”. I will point out that the quote is, “The love of money is the root of all evil.”  Others of you are asking, “What is “smart” money?”

First, let me say that money will NOT bring you happiness. Second, the lack of money has caused more harm than the abundance of money. You can’t truly enjoy life is you are in constant worry about how you will pay your bills.

“Smart Money” (the definition): Money that comes to you over and over again for doing work once. Money that is gained by doing something you love to do.  Money that continues to come in after you have stopped working.

If you are not working to bring “smart money” into your life, you will be working for a very long time.  “Smart money” will give you more time to spend with family.

An example of “smart money” could be writing a book on a subject you love. The writing of the book will go easier and faster because you love the subject.

If you can sell the book and get recurring income for each additional sell.

THE PLAN

1. Step one, get a piece of paper and a pen.
2. Step two, really, go get a piece of paper (and the pen).
3. Write down 5 things that you love to do.
4. For each thing, write down two products or services that could be created around these things that could bring in “smart money”. Remember, work once, get ongoing  money. (Book, e-Book, online automated service, website, blog)
5. Research (more to come later) the products and services.
6. Pick the one that most interests you that passed the research.
7. Make a real, committed, “I will do this!”, decision to product the product. A gut wrenching, tear jerking commitment.
8. Set a completion date.
9. Tell someone about it. The more people that know the more likely you are to finish it.
10. Get affiliates to sell your product or service. The affiliates will market your product for you. You can get affiliates by putting your product on sites like ClickBank or Commission Junction.

THE RESEARCH

A product or service has to pass a few tests in order for it to produce “smart money”.

Something you love! You can make ongoing income by selling insurance, but, if you hate insurance and insurance salesmen you will not make any sales in the first place.

The product or service has to be something you do once and can get ongoing money. Services need to be able to be automated so that you do not have to be the one providing the service.

“It don’t mean a thing if it don’t go Ca-Chink.”

Other people have to want the product or service. You may think it is the greatest thing you have ever heard, but, if other people do not want it, it will not sell. You can do some research by going to Google’s Keyword Tool and entering words that relate to your product or service. If there are many people doing searches, you might have something. You can also go to Google’s search page and visit the top 10 real sites that match your keywords.  See if they are selling the product or service you came up with. If so, you might be able to sell their product.

Check news sites to see if there is any information you can use to see if there is a market for your product or service. Look at current trends to see if you can modify your product to make a currently increasing trend.

Talk to other people to see if they like the idea. You may need to get non-discloser and non-compete documents for them to sign. This will protect you from someone stealing your idea.

Good luck!