Making Money Isn’t Hard. You Just Need The Blueprint

Sometimes, you just need to be reminded of what you already know

Luís Próspero
8 min readJan 5, 2023
Photo by LSE Library on Unsplash

Are you tired of struggling to make ends meet?

Do you dream of financial freedom and the ability to live life on your own terms?

If so, you’re not alone.

Making money can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be.

With the right blueprint, you can set yourself up for success and start bringing in the dough.

In this blog, I’ll outline a step-by-step guide for making money, including tips for identifying your skills and interests, setting goals, developing a plan, and taking action.

So, if you’re ready to take control of your finances and start making money, keep reading.

Assess Your Skills and Interests

Assessing your skills and interests is a crucial step in the process of making money.

It’s important to understand what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing, as this can help you identify potential careers or business opportunities that align with your strengths and passions.

By focusing on your skills and interests, you’re more likely to find work or projects that you find rewarding and fulfilling, rather than feeling stuck in a job that drains you.

So, how do you go about assessing your skills and interests?

Here are a few ideas:

Take a personality test.

There are many online resources that offer personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). These tests can help you understand your personality type and how it might influence your career choices.

For example, if you’re an introvert who enjoys working independently, you might be well-suited for a career in writing or research.

On the other hand, if you’re an extrovert who enjoys working with people, you might be better suited for a career in sales or customer service.

Make a list of your hobbies and goals.

What do you like to do in your free time?

What are your long-term goals?

This can give you some insight into your passions and what you might be good at.

For example, if you enjoy cooking and entertaining, you might consider starting a catering business.

Or, if you’re an avid reader and love discussing books with others, you might consider becoming a book club leader or starting a book review blog.

Research potential careers or business opportunities.

Look for careers or businesses that align with your skills and interests.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box — there are plenty of unique and lucrative opportunities out there if you’re willing to do some digging.

For example, if you’re a tech-savvy individual with a passion for gaming, you might consider becoming a streamer or starting a YouTube channel.

Or, if you have a green thumb and love working with plants, you might consider starting a gardening business.

Get feedback from others.

Ask friends, family, and colleagues for their opinions on your strengths and weaknesses.

They might see things that you don’t, and their feedback can be valuable in helping you identify a potential career or business opportunities.

It’s also important to be open to exploring new things and trying new things.

You never know where your interests might lead you, and you might discover new skills or passions along the way.

So, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try something new — it could lead to exciting and rewarding opportunities.

Photo by Cookie the Pom on Unsplash

Set Goals

Setting goals is an important step in the process of making money.

Goals give you a clear roadmap for what you want to achieve and help you stay motivated and focused.

But not all goals are created equal.

To be effective, your goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Let’s break that down:

Specific

Be as specific as possible when setting your goals.

Instead of saying “I want to make more money”, try something like “I want to increase my income by $500 per month by taking on freelance work”.

This specific goal gives you a clear target to aim for and helps you track your progress.

Measurable

Your goals should be quantifiable, so you can track your progress.

For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight”, try “I want to lose 10 pounds”.

This measurable goal gives you a clear benchmark to work towards.

Achievable

Make sure your goals are realistic.

If you’re just starting out, it might not be realistic to expect to double your income overnight.

But if you set achievable goals, you’ll be more likely to stay motivated and make progress.

Relevant

Your goals should be relevant to your overall vision and purpose.

For example, if you want to start a business, your goal might be to create a business plan and secure funding.

If you want to advance in your career, your goal might be to earn a certain certification or build a strong network.

Time-bound

Set a deadline for when you want to achieve your goals.

This helps you stay focused and on track.

For example, instead of saying “I want to save money”, try “I want to save $5,000 in the next year”.

This time-bound goal gives you a clear timeline to work towards.

It’s also a good idea to have both short-term and long-term goals.

Short-term goals can help you stay motivated and build momentum, while long-term goals can help you stay focused on the big picture.

For example, your short-term goal might be to increase your income by $500 per month, while your long-term goal might be to save enough money to retire comfortably.

Setting SMART goals can help you make progress towards your financial goals and start making money.

So, take some time to think about what you want to achieve and start setting those goals!

Develop a Plan

Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to start figuring out how to achieve them. That’s where a plan comes in.

A plan helps you break down your goals into smaller, more manageable steps, and it gives you a timeline for when you want to accomplish each step.

So, how do you go about developing a plan?

Here are a few tips:

Break down your goals into smaller steps

This makes it easier to track your progress and stay motivated.

For example, if your goal is to increase your income by $500 per month, your smaller steps might include finding freelance work, negotiating for a raise, or starting a side hustle.

Create a timeline

Determine when you want to accomplish each step and work backwards from there.

For example, if you want to increase your income by $500 per month in the next six months, you might set a goal to find one new freelance project per month or to negotiate for a raise in three months.

Find resources and support

Look for resources or people who can help you achieve your goals.

This might include taking classes, networking with like-minded individuals, or finding a mentor.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help — there are plenty of people out there who are willing to lend a helping hand.

It’s also important to be flexible and open to adjusting your plan as needed.

Life happens, and you might encounter unexpected obstacles or opportunities along the way.

For example, you might find that a certain business opportunity isn’t as lucrative as you thought, or you might encounter an unexpected expense that throws off your budget.

In these cases, it’s important to be flexible and adjust your plan as needed.

Overall, developing a plan can help you stay focused and make progress towards your financial goals.

So, take some time to think about what you want to achieve and start crafting your plan!

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Take Action

The final step in the blueprint for making money is taking action.

This is where the rubber meets the road — it’s time to put your plan into action and start making progress towards your goals.

But let’s be real

Taking action can be tough.

It’s easy to get stuck in procrastination mode or to lose motivation.

That’s why it’s important to stay accountable and find ways to stay motivated.

Here are a few ideas:

Set small, achievable targets

This helps you stay focused and builds momentum.

For example, instead of saying “I want to save $5,000 in the next year”, try “I want to save $100 per week”.

This small, achievable target is easier to work towards and helps you build momentum.

Reward yourself for progress

Rewarding yourself for progress is a great way to stay motivated and focused on your financial goals.

It’s important to recognize and celebrate your accomplishments, as this can help you stay motivated and inspired to keep working towards your goals.

But here’s the thing: it’s important to be mindful of how you reward yourself.

You don’t want to undermine your progress by splurging on something that’s not aligned with your goals.

For example, if you’re trying to save money, it might not be the best idea to treat yourself to a lavish vacation.

Instead, try rewarding yourself with small, meaningful treats that align with your goals.

For example, if you’re trying to save money, you might treat yourself to a night out at a cheaper restaurant, or you might buy yourself a small gift or indulgence that won’t break the bank.

It’s also important to be consistent with your rewards.

If you only reward yourself every few months, it might be harder to stay motivated.

But if you reward yourself regularly for small wins, it can help you stay focused and motivated.

Stay persistent and resilient

You’re going to encounter setbacks and obstacles along the way — that’s just part of the process.

But don’t let those setbacks derail you.

Stay focused and keep pushing forward.

If you run into a roadblock, find a way around it or pivot to a different approach.

Persistence and resilience are key to achieving your financial goals.

Taking consistent, focused action is crucial for making progress towards your financial goals and making money.

So, don’t let setbacks or obstacles get in your way — keep pushing forward and stay focused on your goals.

Photo by Mason Kimbarovsky on Unsplash

Conclusion

Making money doesn’t have to be hard.

By following the blueprint outlined in this blog, you can set yourself up for success and start bringing in the dough.

Just remember to assess your skills and interests, set goals, develop a plan, and take action.

And if you’re ever feeling stuck or unsure of where to go next, don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek out additional resources.

There are plenty of people out there who are willing to lend a helping hand and offer support.

Thanks for reading! I hope this blog has been helpful and that you feel motivated and inspired to start making money.

If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me a message. Good luck on your journey!

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Luís Próspero
Luís Próspero

Written by Luís Próspero

I have a very long list of universities from which I've dropped out. I've learned a lot just by being thrown around by life.

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