If you have a problem or a need, chances are you can find a “solution” online. Or if there isn’t one yet, there will be soon.

I have a need to make lots of money. Why? Because I feel that I’m drowning in debt. I also hate the job I’m in. 

Rather than bemoan my situation and play the victim — like so many do — I have been trying since early in 2011 to figure out how I can turn the Internet, the wondrous medium of information transmission that it is, into some sort of cash machine. 

WIth motivations like this, it’s not long before anyone comes across some of the craziest marketing attempts of salesman of all degrees of reputability and integrity. 

I believe it is possible to make lots of money with the internet. I have also discovered that there are lots of people online trying to sell you this dream. There are so many promises, even from “reputable” sources, that it’s hard to (a) decide who is telling the truth and (b) decide which path to take. 

One of these probably reputable sources is Sonia Simone. (You can read her on Remarkable Communication and Copyblogger.) In one of her articles, she said:

There are many paths up the mountain, but if you try to put a foot on every one, you’re not going to get very far. 

That resonates with me — a lot. Everyone has their own system, their own method that is guaranteed to make you lots of money.

But how do you choose which one to follow? Yaro Starak and Darren Rowse say you can make lots of money (to the tune of six figures or more) blogging. But then Brian Clark promotes Teaching Sells and says: Blogging takes to much time and effort; you have to sell your content. Then there’s Clay Collins, Dave Navarro (even though he’s taking some time off), Naomi Dunford, Sandi Krakowski…

And don’t forget copywriting! You can get free training from Sean Platt, or pay half a grand for the supposedly wonderful AWAI Accelerated Six-Figure Copywriting Course. Spend some time studying that, and you’ll come across International Living, which has their own “Fund Your Life” section that pitches ideas on how to make money. Learn about Dan Kennedy, Ogilvy, Bly… on and on ad nauseam.

It’s practically a parade of shiny objects, each one promising you the riches you want. 

So which do you follow? 

I haven’t figured it out just yet, but I intend to soon (as soon as I can opt out of overtime at my shit job and not feel bad about it).

But here’s the truth:

A lot of the jumping around is because, even though a path is probably successful, it’s hard. Despite all those marketers saying that it’s easy to make money online, it’s not. I doubt there is any easy way to be successful at anything. 

Anything worth doing, any goal worth reaching, is going to take a significant amount of effort. 

Two Questions:

What is Your Goal?

What is Your Path to that Goal?