There is a lot of information available online these days.
While I don’t know for certain, I would venture to say that there is probably adequate information online on any topic that you might choose to equal or exceed a college education on the topic. Of course, you would have to study the information over time to receive the equivalent of a college education through what you could find online.
Of course, there are downsides to this as well. One of the big downsides is that you if you out to educate yourself on a certain topic through researching it online, you may become well educated on the topic, but you would not get a diploma for your learning. I am not talking about attending a college or formal school online, I am just talking about going to websites, reading and studying the topic in general.
Some people make a living by providing information. Both online and off. Me, for example. I have written books on various topics. Over the years, I have authored more than 100 books in several subject areas. In recent years all of my books have been on the topic of being an expat and living abroad. Within that topic, my book subjects have been varied, but all in that general area.
So, with all of this FREE information online, how can one make a living by providing such information?
Well, it can be done, believe me. It can also be cyclical, where at sometimes the money you earn is very good, while at other times the amount you earn is much less. But, even if the information is available for free, it can still be sold successfully, and with good reason.
Over the next few days, I will be writing a series of articles on this site explaining why and how you can make a living by selling information that is already available for free. To be honest, I believe that there is no topic left in the world that you cannot learn for free online if you are persistent. Every topic is covered.
Yesterday, I was spending a bit of time on Facebook to see what my friends are up to. I came across a link to an article on the Internet. It was written by a person that I had never heard of before, a lady named Marie Forleo. From a quick look at her site, I found that Marie is a business coach and Entrepreneur. In other words, Marie is almost like my sister, in terms of our interests and skills.
Anyway, this article that I came upon is entitled What If People Can Learn Everything I Teach For Free Online? In the article, Marie explores the exact things that I was talking about above.
The plethora of free information online has been a concern to me at times over the years, worrying that I may not be able to continue earning a living the way that I have done for many years now. But, this article and the accompanying video really brought a lot of new ideas and thoughts to my head. Good information that helps me focus my efforts and move forward without worry or fear.
Here is Marie’s video, have a look, I think that it will open up some new thoughts in your mind too:
Over the next few days, I am going to look at each of Marie’s points, and how they apply to my business model. I hope you will come back to read each article, and also share your thoughts so that we can all learn!
Thank you, Marie!
Some people don’t like to take the time to research the information but would rather let someone else go through the process and read what they found. I however am stubborn and cheap so I look for the info and then when I am unsuccessful I will buy it. Usually within a week or so after buying it someone will come out with the information I was looking for, for free, thus proving I am impatient. 😀
Ha ha… understood, Darin. Everybody is different, no doubt.
Darin, here’s some food or thought to add in to your “Free” versus “Paid” decision. Time. You can indeed find almost anything you are looking for “for free”. But just because no money ages hands, is there still no cost? Is your time actually “free”?
When I offer people advice about how to supplement their income or build a business online which will, say, support them while living in the Philippines, you know what the most common “objection” I hear is?
“I don’t have the time”.
And this is, indeed, a serious problem. because even if you are rich, the one thing you can’t buy more of is time. Just ask Steve Jobs. (Oh sorry, you can’t, he’s dead. All his money couldn’t buy him any more time).
I correspond with people over the years who spend, for an example, literally years researching and debating about what visa they should use to live in the Philippines. Yet in reality, one can get a visa in a matter of a few days work. Or even a few minutes.
So would you say the years they spent searching through “free” sources actually saved them anything? Myself, I wouldn’t. Think of the years they could have been living here, enjoying themselves _AND_ saving a lot of money …which they gave up by always seeking “free”.
Nothing wrong with doing it that way, if it suits you … but don’t kid yourself that there is not a cost attached to “free”.
Just out of curiosity, did you spend the 7 minutes to watch the video and listen to the six points Marie made about “free” versus “Paid”?
Hi Dave – You are sure right about that! And, it is a post coming up later this week, although I can’t recall which day. To me, this is a key reason to pay a reliable person for the information. You could, as you said, spend years looking through free information, or you could pay for it one time and make the move!
One very interesting side effect of watching and reading this page is….
I bought an information product.
It takes so much longer to do the research for yourself than to learn from the expertise of someone who has been there and done that before you.
If it saves you 15 minutes of your time, it can easily be worth at least $25 (USA).
And very few things require as little as 15 minutes of research.
The experience of your mentor brings you much farther, much faster than free ever could.
Doing some first hand research of your own there, Byron! Good to hear that you found a way to save a lot of time, and time is money!