One of Udemy’s highest-earning teachers laid out her strategy for me
Let me introduce you to my friend Louise.
She’s a digital nomad and serial entrepreneur who, for the last five years, has built a passive income of five figures a month. She also travels around the world with her husband.
Through her Udemy courses and YouTube channel, she’s helped over 230,000 students learn new skills, and she’s in the process of building an Amazon store.
Last year, I spoke to her for my podcast. I wanted to know how she makes Udemy courses, the lessons she’s learned, and how long it’s taken her to get to this point.
Here are three principles I learned from those who type for a living
I’ve published 53 articles since September 2020. They’ve received over 50,000 views and have made more than $1,500.
As someone who writes as a hobby, this blows my mind!
However, I want to take my writing to the next level. This is why I attended Google University.
Google University is a phrase Tom Kuegler coins in Design Your Dream Life. His belief is this: If you want to learn a new skill, Google can teach you how. The same goes for writing.
With this in mind, I opened my laptop, jumped online, and searched “how to become a full-time writer”…
One friend does this for me every time we talk
I love spending time with Holly. We can be on the phone for hours, sharing our dreams and secrets, and I’m energised by our calls.
The funny thing is, we live in different countries and have totally different careers. Oh, and we’ve never met in person.
Nonetheless, she makes me feel like I’m the only person in the end world when we speak. Because of this, my feelings of unworthiness slip away. It’s magical.
How does she do this? Here’s what I’ve found.
1. Magical people ask questions that matter.
Holly doesn’t preamble about the weather. Instead, she cuts to the chase:
“What’s your one over-arching fear?”
…
Passive income streams can give you the power to leap from employee to entrepreneur
In September of 2018, I questioned everything.
I’d just graduated with an economics degree and was working as a prison officer. I hated every second.
After quitting, I started a business (which failed), cleaned toilets for 3 months, was rejected by companies in London, and then stumbled into SEO. This is the industry I’ve been working in for the last two years.
Now don't get me wrong — I enjoy my work and the people I work with. The problem is, I’m bored, and I feel like I’m drifting.
Luckily, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing many talented entrepreneurs to…
I started with zero experience
I outsourced to a virtual assistant (VA) in April 2020. Her name’s Lou and I pay her to produce podcasts, email guests, and complete other tasks. We’ve been working together ever since.
She easily saves me 10 hours a week, and we spend less than one hour a week communicating.
Best of all? Because she lives in Vietnam, I wake up to an email detailing the tasks she’s done. I’m effectively working in my sleep!
I know it can seem intimidating. I started with zero experience, and I learned how to outsource through YouTube videos. For this reason, I know…
Spending 1 hour a week with a virtual assistant is the best investment I’ve ever made
I’ve just released my sixth online course.
A year ago, I couldn’t have dreamed this. I was stressed, overworked, and running on empty. Making money online seemed like a pipedream.
Now, I’m making enough to ditch my 9–5.
It’s all thanks to my virtual assistant (VA). She saves me ten hours a week by doing podcast-related tasks. She edits audio, writes content, sends emails — you name it.
All I have to do is record episodes and upload them to Dropbox.
No stress, no crazy expense, and we spend less than one hour a week communicating. It’s been like this…
Spoiler: It’s taken two years for this “strategy” to start working
I started coaching by accident.
One of my friends owns a podcast agency. By hosting a daily Clubhouse room, he’s got customers left and right, so he turned to me for help. This was last April.
Now, I spend 3–4 hours a week helping clients launch their podcasts. I jump on calls during lunch breaks and get paid $35/hour. Dare I say, it’s really fun!
Just the other week, one of our clients launched her podcast. It’s currently sitting at number two in the UK Apple Podcast charts for Careers. This puts it above Entrepreneurs on Fire and SPI.
Even…
If you’re introverted too, let’s make our own rules
I don’t like going out with groups of friends.
There, I’ve said it.
Because I’m an introvert? Because I’ve been burned in the past? A product of conditioning? It doesn’t really matter.
Groups make me anxious.
My mouth goes dry and I don’t know what to say. What if I say nothing? Am I boring? My head fills with questions and doubts. When I open my mouth, it’s too late. Someone else has jumped in.
This still bothers me. However, I’ve learned to lean into kindness.
I’m okay.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy spending time with people. One-on-ones are…
#3: Pick up the totem in your jean pocket.
Tim Ferriss has a checklist for when he’s feeling unfocused. It’s one I turn to time and time again.
“Am I eating enough? If I skip breakfast and lunch, I don’t need to journal. I need to eat some f*cking macadamia nuts… Simple, simple, simple.
“Am I consuming too much caffeine? If I want to achieve a zen-like state, there are two things I can do. Number one? Meditate twice a day. Number two? Stop consuming caffeine!
“What are 20% of the activities that produce 80% of the results I want? Spend one or two pages on that.” …
Last month, I made $1,705 outside my 9–5. You can do the same.
Last month, I made $1,705 outside my 9–5.
It’s a small amount to some. I know that. It’s also less than half what I make in my day job.
The thing is, towards the end of last year, I had serious doubts about ever making money online — let alone four figures.
December 2018 was a particular low point. As a temporary cleaner, I found myself reflecting on three years at university. I’d learned about quantitative easing, game theory, and other fascinating topics. At that moment, however, I was shifting a skidmark in the men’s room.
Where was my life…
Scott Stockdale
Host of Entrepreneurs Can Party 🎉 Podcasting and Outsourcing 🎉 My Free 6-Month Plan on How I’m Leaving the 9–5: scottstockdale.co.uk/plan 🎉
