Motivation to Work
Mon, 10 September, 2007 – 5:21 pm
I have a small problem with earning money online. I'm not really that motivated by money. Sure we all like to have money and we all need money to live, put food on the table and buy things we want, but I'm not really overly fussed on whether I earn extra cash or not. Up until now the income we've made has just gone into a savings account and was going to be used to cover a decent holiday or two each year. Sure as more money is potentially made then maybe that would change and become the money to go into savings towards a deposit on a house. As the money we earn from AIS is additional sideline income, and is simply over and above what our day jobs earn us, then it's been treated like that, money which we just wouldn't have had otherwise and money which is there to be enjoyed.nnHowever that's changed. Yesterday evening we had the news that we were about to be given notice of eviction from our rented home. After a chat with the Landlady last week and being told everything was fine, this of course was a bit of a shock. Whilst nothing came about (domestic between her and her boyfriend) we realised that we weren't so secure living here, and that next week it could just happen again. I for one can't live like that so I spent last night looking for somewhere else to live. The downside to all this (besides moving which I'm fairly used to) is the additional cost. Where we live is dirt cheap for what we have so to get something of a reasonably similar quality we'll be paying out more in rent. Not a major amount more but £100-200 a month more. I can afford it (just) however…nnThis is where AIS will hopefully come into its own and whilst a nice holiday motivates me, paying my monthly rent motivates me a lot more! We've got unfinished work on existing AIS sites, cleaning up of other sites, and a couple of domains with nothing on! I have a domain bought in 2000 that still doesn't have the website on it! So the plan is, once we've moved of course, to start getting these sites completed. With moving I'll probably lose any real garden besides a few pots, so I'll have a bit more spare time, also I think the idea of making your sites help pay your rent is just the little extra I need to actually move me to get things done. Plus, since the AdSense Warning we had, our daily average has dropped by around 33%, so this means our income will already be reduced by up to $100 each month.nnSo despite this being a bit of a stressful week (it's not the moving it's finding somewhere to move to that's stressful!), something good is hopefully coming out of it, the motivation to work. What motivates you? And more importantly, what do you spend your earnings on.
Sorry to hear about the living situation. I imagine it would be difficult to relax when you know that another domestic could be on the cards and you could be left high and dry. I've known some people to have gone through a similar situation: renting a property and then the owner deciding he wants to sell, despite promising that wouldn't happen. I hope you can get something reasonably priced. Shame about your garden that you've put so much work into
nnI've been earning online through Google AdSense and Amazon for a couple of years now and the income is always helpful. Usually it goes towards something practical like the phone/internet bill. My AdSense earnings always seem to come through just at the right time for paying BT every quarter 
So, that's useful. I don't make so much now through my Amazon affiliate links but the money I have earned mostly just goes on something fun or domains/hosting if it comes in around renewals season for me.nnGood luck with the house hunting 
By Sam on Mon, 10 September, 2007
Like you, money does not motivate me. So long as I have enough to pay what I have to pay, I'm happy.nnIn fact, I don't know what motivates me. I don't think that anything does. The pursuit of laziness perhaps
By gary on Mon, 10 September, 2007
Often the most successful people were never motivated by money at first. The one word that is mostly described is passion. When I started public speaking and when I built my site it was never about money. My desire was and is to help as many people as I can. Really help them. Not just give them something to chew on and forget about days later. How motivated someone is depends on what they place their motivation on. If someone wants to lose weight by the end of the summer, and they do, whats their motivation to keep the weight off come fall? Purpose and passion are my motivation because as long as i'm breathing i will have them both.
By Ralph Jean-Paul on Mon, 10 September, 2007
Thanks for your comments guys.nnSam – well so far I think our budget is not going to get us a great place in a nice area after driving around a few places tonight. However it's only day 1 so there's still plenty to look through (like the local paper!).nnGary – You come across as a very motivated person, I guess it's your passion showing through instead. Besides the motivation of earning to live, you're one of the other people who motivates me to continue, knowing what's achievable if you put your mind to it. As for laziness, I doubt you'd ever stop. I know I get bored far too easily
nnRalph – You're right, passion is at the heart of it. I'll admit I get more of a kick out of achieving X visitors a day to a site, or helping someone else out than I do actually making money. The money is just a nice side effect.nnAnd we just arrived home to another sale of a product. It's only $6 but that's the second in a week (on a site which usually sells very few!) so that's better than nothing 
By Sarah on Mon, 10 September, 2007
I can really relate. As long as I have enough money to do what I want, that is fine with me. I don't have the desire to make millions or rule the world, I am driven however by wanting to improve myself. I can definitely be very lazy, but for whatever reason I am the type of person who loves to learn and who loves to grow. I could never be that person who has the same job or lives in the same house for 20 years. I want to continue to push myself and achieve something…yet I don't know quite what it is. I think a lot of this has to do with the way i was raised and constantly moving around (much like you) and even today, I continue to be the person who needs change. Maybe it's the fact that I need change that motivates me to do more. i don't know. I'm a mess
By sara on Tue, 11 September, 2007
Sara – I'd get bored living in the same house for 20 years! I've been here full time for about 22 months which is the longest I've been in one place for 12-14 years ago when I lived in Germany for 2 years before leaving for University!nnI must admit, I much prefer a challenge of making something work and learning as you say. And I highly doubt you're a mess
By Sarah on Tue, 11 September, 2007