Goals, Determination, Optimism & Moneymaking in 2010!

As I reflected back on my 2009, it was quite a good feeling, mainly because I achieved many things that I didn't even really plan for or expect. That's not to say I didn't work hard to get them or focus, but when you achieve more than you planned on, it's a great thing. In the past year, I made more money online than in any previous year, and probably more than in my first two years of internet moneymaking ventures combined! That's an incredible surge of positive energy when you realize the vast possibilities that the world wide web holds for turning passion into profits...

I say passion because if you are doing something and enjoying it, then you will work even when the money isn't necessarily flowing to you. Writing has been a passion of mine since a young age. While I don't write novels or write for awards these days, I was a finalist in several contests back in grade school. I continued writing from there, working on a school newspaper and other projects, but I chose a major that was totally different from that. Oddly enough, the major I chose, Criminal Justice, lead me right back here to the internet, to writing and to making money on my own. I ended up in a job where I was put in charge of the agency's web operations and IT.

As of three years ago, I was in debt bigtime, after losing that job as an IT Project Manager. It can be a scary feeling not knowing where or how you'll get the money to pay rent, and having to use credit cards to cover bills doesn't exactly make you sleep well at night either. There came that proverbial point of "rock bottom", but amazingly what goes down often bounces way back up. I feel as if in 2009 I have bounced back up, and the momentum feels pretty darn good.

I'm telling you those little tidbits not to impress or give a tale of woe, but more to say I'm much like the average person out there who wants to make money on the internet. What I chose to do was become passionate, determined and not give up in my quest. Continual education through several websites really helped and inspired me to get where I did this past year. And oh yes, a lot of writing, writing and more writing. But as I mentioned, if it's something you're passionate about, the writing isn't necessarily so bad.

I'd like to give credit to a few internet marketing mentors who really motivated and inspired me this past year. In no particular order they are Courtney Tuttle of the Keyword Academy, Ben of Make Money Online with SEO, and Jackie Lee of Beginners Internet Marketing Strategy. These three individuals' efforts really drove and inspired me to do more with my time and focus on what was important. I recall when I first began this whole making money thing I was an avid reader of John Chow and Problogger, sometimes even Shoemoney. Honestly, if I had to count how many times I read their blogs this past year, it wouldn't require both hands to do so. No disrespect to their efforts, but I've found that what the three bloggers I mentioned above teach is invaluable information to all people who want to seriously make money online.

I give credit to them, and also to the fact I read a lot of inspirational books. That keeps me going as well. From Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich" to a new favorite of mine "The Top 10 Distinctions between Millionaires and the Middle Class" by Keith Cameron Smith, I probably read at least 20 success/personal development titles in 2009. I plan to do more of that in 2010, because the more of those you read the more you begin to incorporate positive beliefs, values and inspiration.

A bit about my 2009, it was the Christmas shopping holiday with Black Friday and Cyber Monday in particular that really showed me how much is possible for making money online. Between Amazon, Squidoo and several other sites I now realize that if you can get the traffic, you can get the money. And when the money rolls in, it's quite a nice feeling. Additionally, as I mentioned before Courtney Tuttle and Ben were two bloggers this past year who really pushed me to work with Hubpages, infobarrels and Blogger blogs. Doing that increased my Adsense income to a nice level that hadn't been seen before.

So it's with great optimism that I head into 2010. On New Year's Eve I not only reflected back but jotted down my 2010 goals in a journal under headings such as Health/Business/Personal/Mental. I have several goals ready to be focused on for the new year. In 2009, I paid off several debts, and in 2010 I will pay off the rest. I've set a goal to become an eBay Powerseller which seems very achievable at this time. I already bought myself a brand new website back in late 09' which will be my pet project for the new year. I believe based on my success with specific efforts online this past year, I can turn my new site idea into something quite profitable.

I believe you also can achieve great success making money online in 2010. But remember, it will always come down to how much work you're willing to put in, how determined you are and how optimistic you remain while you're on this course to make money online.

Wishing everyone health, happiness & prosperity in 2010 and beyond!