How to Make Lots of Money During a Recession (Blog)

[Daniel Becerra]

Steve,

Thank you for this article, as two or three guys previous to me established, this topic is exactly what I was pondering on. I believe I'm creating value but I'm just not finding ways to deliver it, or maybe I'm not creating enough value. This is why I would like some members of this site and you as well to give me some honest brutal feedback about my website Lifestyle for Modern Men.

I want this website to succeed in the way of reaching millions of people, just like your website does. I want to be like you. Income is really the last thing for me, but I'm worried that if I AM delivering this content and not getting enough responses, then my content is not very valuable. On the other hand, this blog is relatively new (40 articles published) but all of the articles are - I believe - valuable.

Am I creating real value? And how do I deliver more?

I know you mentioned patience, but can I have your brutal and honest opinion and that of everyone else? Please

[FutureTimeTraveler]

Hey Steve, I laughed out loud when I saw the title. Are you trying to be found in Google? Hehe...

No, but seriously. This is exactly what has been going through my mind. Fortunately I am delivering real value and it is obviously working. I hope this article will inspire more people to start their own business.



FutureTimeTraveler

[Jasper]

There's gold in these here posts, gold I tell ya!
Brilliant post once again, thanks a lot, Steve.

[Jasper]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

2. The issue of original ideas comes up. I want to share ideas I've picked up over the years from various sources, but I have a resistance against basically making money from other people's ideas. I feel it's not being genuine or authentic. Am I mistaken? Steve, you've occasionally written posts founded on ideas from others, though you've cited them to my knowledge, and you've made money from, other people's ideas, though you did a lot of your own thoughts as well. If its mixing other people's ideas with enough of your own that makes them justifiably yours to profit from? The other perspective I've gotten is that "ideas" by themselves are worthless and no one has any real ownership of them, even the originator of the ideas. This seems unfair. Thoughts?

In my opinion it will be very hard to limit yourself to only make money from "original ideas". We live in a world where many people are getting more and more conscious, and thinking deeper and deeper about issues. Insights are shared and those insights are the basis for further discovery.

So everything is connected and virtually nothing is "new". I wouldn't worry about if your idea is totally new or not. I think the adding of value, especially when it comes to ideas, comes in the form of creating understanding or clarity.
I mean if you look at this post from Steve, it's not as if he just invented the concept of earning money by creating and delivering value. In truth he put a lot of effort in explaining this universal concept in a way that you and I understand it, and get motivated by it. That's what value is, for me anyway.

So take the ideas of others, but just make sure you add value to them, not just copy+paste. And I think if you can see that indeed you added to ideas of others, you wouldn't feel bad about it. Just make sure there is real value, that you can belief in yourself.

[Raphael]

Very nice, thank you!
Sending you blessings

[Rudolf]

For me this is one of the best articles you have written so far Steve! When I read article like this my dilemma seems to disappear miraculously. You are right that we can make things easier. It is all about proper focus... Thank you for your continuous inspiration.

[MasterD]

Steve, I really enjoyed this article. This is one of your best.

[xizor1d]

hey Steve, i love the article.but one thing that i don't get or here much about, is taking care of your family and still creating value. i have a good job but i don't want to work for any one. instead i would love to spend the time in my community helping others with business ideas, charity and the reformation of our community. and i have an hunch that i will be a success at it. but there never seems to be enough time to take on all the things i would like to do. and i cant up and quit my job because i am a new dad. and that is one of my favorite positions. it requires me to have a job. i would love to hear what you have to say about creating value living on purpose while still making sure your family is ok.

[Athena]

Isn't this whole article basically, be lightworker, don't be a darkworker?

And, on a larger scale, recessions help to weed out darkworking companies, and help strengthen lightworking companies?

[Athena]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

You what's really weird...

Whenever I get the urge to spontaneously write an article that I hadn't planned to write, and then I give in to that urge and publish something right away, people always give me feedback that suggests I wrote it for them personally. I.e. "it speaks to me." This happens every time I do that.

But when I write an article that was on my "to blog" list or that I outlined in advance or that I picked at and then edited over a period of days, I almost never get that kind of feedback.

This is because when you are inspired, the energy is coming from a higher energy source than when you decide to do something in a linear manner. In inspiration, the energy is channeled from your crown chakra (and above, halo, connected to spirit and everyone) rather than your linear mind.

Also, the reason why lightworking is higher energy than darkworking is the same--
lightworkers derive energy from a higher source (halo and connection to all) than darkworkers (hand).


Higher energy sources are truer and more powerful.

[Jasper]

Originally Posted by Athena

Isn't this whole article basically, be lightworker, don't be a darkworker?

And, on a larger scale, recessions help to weed out darkworking companies, and help strengthen lightworking companies?

Lightworking and darkworking isn't about adding value or not, imo. It's about your motivation for doing things and using certain techniques to get what you desire. I agree that the win-lose technique will only be used by non-lightworking companies, but it isn't so that if you use win-win, that you are automatically a lightworker.

Selling fire-arms for a good price can be considered as delivering good value. It might actually be a win-win situation, but is it lightworking?

[Kingston]

This article resonated with me too. It's one of the best, I think. That's strange, because conceptually it's real simple. Nothing new. But somehow the story of value and life is ordered naturally here.

I think there may be some exceptions to these idea's, but it's everyones own responsibility to see what we are supposed to be doing. I, for me, am following this advice, regardless of the chance of crashing. I can handle a crash or too. I've been bored too long. I heartily agree that excitement is more important than money.

[Athena]

Originally Posted by Jasper

Lightworking and darkworking isn't about adding value or not, imo. It's about your motivation for doing things and using certain techniques to get what you desire. I agree that the win-lose technique will only be used by non-lightworking companies, but it isn't so that if you use win-win, that you are automatically a lightworker.

It's the same energy pattern. Those who flow out energy and automatically receive energy are lightworkers, and those who focus on receiving energy and give only in order to receive are darkworkers.

One is a natural and stable conformity of humans, one is artificial and unstable.

Originally Posted by Jasper

Selling fire-arms for a good price can be considered as delivering good value. It might actually be a win-win situation, but is it lightworking?

It's not win-win, because the whole loses out. Lightworking considers both the giver and receiver, and the whole.

Also, this is related to inspiration and derivation of energy, as a true inspired purpose is always best for all. People are often inspired to be healers, doctors, artists, etc, but it's not spiritually possible to be inspired to sell weapons. That energy is derived from lower sources- mind, hand, etc, it is not a true spiritual purpose.

[Jasper]

Originally Posted by Athena

It's not win-win, because the whole loses out. Lightworking considers both the giver and receiver, and the whole.

The way I use win-win, is that in a certain transaction, both parties feel as if they have gained in the trade. By pulling this larger, and reflecting it on the whole, you are entering the area of judgement. It really depends on what you consider good for the "whole". One could say than most transactions related to business are never win-win, since most of the time, the evironment looses.

If you cut down a tree to make paper, to the tree and the surrounding environment, it doesn't matter what you print on there, if it's fear based or love based. Still for the whole it might be better to kill that tree, print something on there that will raise awareness and the whole might be better off. Or it might not. Who's to say?

Imo the darkworker can still use fear based techniques, but in order to be able to continue using those techniques, he can make individual transactions based on win-win (or make it seem as if they are). And so win-win in that context is not related to the larger body gaining (winning).

[dwixi]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Part of the problem is that many people have a major miscalibration when it comes to understanding what creates value for others. So they resent success instead of learning from it.

I'm not suggesting that everyone who's doing well financially is really creating significant value. But much of the time they are. However, you may not quite grasp the true value that's being delivered unless you really take a deep look at it.

So just consider that the answer may be that Charles Trippy is doing well because he does a better job of creating and delivering his value than most. You may not resonate with his value, but apparently some people do.

Just because someone writes about high-minded topics doesn't mean they're creating much value. It's easy enough to create spiritual and philosophical drivel. Meanwhile someone else makes silly Youtube video, and it's really funny somehow, and it creates a lot of value by inspiring and uplifting people. So they surge ahead and get rich doing that sort of thing. Happens all the time.

What is excellent content? If people look at it but a week later they can't even remember they saw it, how excellent was it then?

Just thought that I would add.
Theres more full time artists than there are garbage truck drivers in the world.... Interesting... when people have an idea its harder to be an artist or something than it is to have a simple job

[pharmboy]

This added value to my day, as I push myself out the door to do my high paying job. My wife has left the house to go to her high paying job before the sun rose, and I won't see her again until dark. My wonderful kids and I see her primarily on the weekends, because during the 3 waking hours each night that she is home during the week, no one is truly present. We are all getting ready for the next day. Baths, dinner, homework, chores, etc.... Of course, the weekends are for those chores that didn't get taken care of during the week. Oh, and our friends...Who has time for those? It is an act of God to get friends out of their daily grind to get together.

Hopefully this outstanding article will show the light to me, and the countless others that "lead quiet lives of desperation". I know that I am looking to share my value, now. I'm also looking to help others break the J-O-B path. I have a musical family member who has created the value, but hasn't been good at getting it into people's hands. Once again, great article!

[RT Wolf]

Thanks for the reply, Jasper. I suppose, as Locke said, something becomes yours if "you mix your labour in it". i"ll have to think more about this.

This post reminded me of the Greater Fool Theory. A style of speculating in the stock market that involves buying something because there'll be a greater fool to buy it from you soon, not because it is really a good buy.

Greater fool theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[carenkh]

Thanks, Steve -

Your article helped point up a place I was stuck: on some level, I didn't believe giving intuitive readings provides true value! This would go against the many testimonials in my inbox letting me know that what I provided was *very* valuable - but it didn't make sense in my heart.

I sat with this thought, and realized I can have the intention and focus of readings that will help the sitters align more strongly with their path, and their truth. I can ask my guides (since I'm learning how to do that!) to give me information that will further that purpose. I can feel the energy behind this focus. THANKS!!

[InterfaceLeader]

I was thinking about this article today, and I think there's a flip-side to it.

We all have to support individuals and small business, those that are providing value. If we get the cheaper, but crappier car, we are actually making it harder for those who do make good cars. If we buy the plastic packed 'turkey-ham' sandwich from the chain supermarket, we're making it harder for the local farmers market to thrive.

I believe Paul is right, and there are people who can get passionate and excited about any job, including picking up garbage and handling sewage, but they have to be supported and most people are to used to supporting the 'easiest option' which is letting large multinational corporations take care of it. And those corporations employ thousands of faceless desperate employees.

Working a production line is not satisfying; creating something from the ground up is. Cooking is wonderful, and many people love it, working in a sausage factory is soul-destroying. By passing your money (which is a 'vote' for the value of the product/service you are buying) to corporations, you are justifying these faceless workers, the huge garbage heaps, the massive impersonal corporate system.

By passing your money to small business, local traders, independent freelancers and people who are truly passionate about what they do, you 'vote' for the things that we say we value.

Or - it's not enough just to go independent and self-employed yourself. You have to help others to escape the job-prison too.

[blackwater]

a have a new favorite post

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by impaul99

It's really weird, but that's just what I've found happens in the world. Any task that needs to be done, there seems to be people out there who are absolutely THRILLED to do it.

This is exactly what I was thinking in regard to garbage pick-up. I don't know how this would work in the city, but in the very rural areas I've lived in for about 20 years, here's how it goes. On my road, probably 1/4 of the residents pay a pick-up service, and everybody else takes their garbage to "the dump," which includes recycling and a scrap metal area, and is open twice a week for half a day. Lots of people think going to the dump is the most fun thing, although it does seem to be a guy thing. As one of my girlfriends says, "My dad is all about the dump." (sounds weird) Guys seem to just love piling up the trash and recycling in the back of the pick-up and going out to the dump and letting their dogs run around and shooting the breeze with their buddies. A bunch of retired old dudes run the place and they love it too. They're having the greatest time hanging out there. You should see this. A guy has heart surgery and he's back there at the dump as fast as he possibly can swing it, because he can't stand to miss anything!

I think some of what gets missing when it comes to what we think of as lousy jobs is community. It's like after a big dinner, Thanksgiving or whatever, if you get a few people in the kitchen to do dishes, it goes real fast and everybody's talking and laughing. It loses the sense of drudgery and disconnect.

[Steve Pavlina]

For more on the garbage collection questions, see this 2006 article:
If Everyone Awakens Will We All Starve?

[MissK]

What a wonderful article Steve! Providing Value? Check!

I also learned the best way of using law of attraction is to genuinely feel good and focus on what you enjoy doing. I focus on doing what i love and helping people and also what i want to have (which may require money) but never specifically on how im going to make money. The thing about focusing on making money is that most people are so keenly aware of the LACK of money that thats what they are truly focused on and continually attract. When you are just overjoyed creating and focusing on what you love, the money just falls into your lap. In doing what you love, you expect to be provided for and your "work" is just fun and something you love to wake up doing.

[Jasper]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

For more on the garbage collection questions, see this 2006 article:
If Everyone Awakens Will We All Starve?

A site/short little flash movie I like about garbage collection (and creation) is this: The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

You need to have about 20 minutes available to be able to see the entire thing, but it's really worth the time.

[RT Wolf]

Value created means it has to be valuable to others. There is no, AFAIK, objective measure of what is of value to everyone, all the time, everywhere. It's just what people consider to be valuable. Steve, IMO, believes that value created should be the highest possible value for the greatest number of people, and this, for him, translates into helping others improve their consciousness.

However, even cocaine or heroin are of value to some people, especially considering they're willing to part with hundreds of dollars and sometimes the wrath of their family and friends to enjoy it. Value is just what other people consider to be of value. The creating value aspect involves finding something that others consider valuable and that you have fun at and a unique talent for creating, and hopefully it is in a way that is the best for all involved.

Anything anybody else wants or likes is of value to them. Garbage pickup is a valuable service. If I make someone laugh, I have given them something they may consider to be of value. I may or may not be able to monetize laughter, but I'm at least creating value.

Value exists only in relation to a consciousness. To a rock, my iPod is of no value, but to me, it is, and I traded many hours of my life's effort to acquire it.

[Athena]

This is very linear thinking. True lightworking and deriving energy from the top down, benefits self, company, and the whole, automatically.


Anyways, the principle applies to all human motivation and action, and if you see the energy and principle behind this article as well, the same energetic laws are there.

Originally Posted by Jasper

Imo the darkworker can still use fear based techniques, but in order to be able to continue using those techniques, he can make individual transactions based on win-win (or make it seem as if they are). And so win-win in that context is not related to the larger body gaining (winning).

[Jasper]

Originally Posted by Athena

This is very linear thinking. True lightworking and deriving energy from the top down, benefits self, company, and the whole, automatically.


Anyways, the principle applies to all human motivation and action, and if you see the energy and principle behind this article as well, the same energetic laws are there.

Although I see where you are coming from, I still don't think that lightworking and adding value and/or win-win are synonyms. To me it's like the cow being an animal, but not all animals being cows.

And how do you determine what benefits the whole?

[now or never]

Reading this article my spirits lifted and I felt I had seen the light! PROVIDE VALUE- don't focus on the money! Easy!

Thing is though, six hours later and I'm just not sure. I can't help feeling the whole idea of a passion or purpose and using that to somehow provide value is a little bit, well, incomplete. Short of having some natural talent or ability (great singer, painter etc), what can we really do to quit our jobs and live the life we ideally would?

In other words- assuming you have some basis obligation (family, mortgage, rent, car payments etc), what would Steve suggest the average person should do INITIALLY to start providing value? We have to be realistic here- we live in a world where we all want and need money so it's no good suggesting we all start doing charitable/ voluntary work. Equally, not everyone will find a passion or way to provide value, that in real terms can be used to pay the mortgage, rent etc... I can certainly see why many people on this forum would try to copy Steve's website, or "borrow his ideas". What other choices are there and how long must we spend looking for some passion or value that's unique to us that frankly is probably not there?

Now I know some of you will pick holes in my post- for example how do I know that "all" people need and want money, or why does value have to be "unique". If you could put in some specifics about what you did or what the average person could do then that would be far more valuable! And, fan of the LOA that I am, please no telling me to ask the universe- lets' have some straight talking, non-flowery suggestions!

[rachelMT]

I really loved this article, and I'll echo others in saying it is one of my new favorites. The part that really hit hard for me was thinking about whether people would notice or be upset if you stopped creating value. I work as a music therapist in a school for children with disabilities, and I know these kids (and staff) would be upset if I discontinued my work here. But my biggest struggle has been to deliver this value on a larger scale...it's hard! This article has renewed my inspiration to keep at it. Thanks, Steve.

[prasunsen]

I really enjoy Steve's view on jobs, but one question remains open:

What about people who are best in let's say engineering? How can a ship engineer provide value directly to others? He can hardly start his own shipyard, so the only reasonable choice seems to join an existing one. Yes, he can change his work, but is he going to provide the same value doing something he isn't that good at? Besides, the humanity still needs ships.

Providing value directly as a single person can work very well if you are an IT or creative person. But it's certainly not possible for everyone to be a blogger or programmer, so I still don't see a solution that could fit to more than 50% of the people. Jobs won't disappear at any time soon so it's either that those people are born to be slaves or just a job is not always that bad?