39-year-old makes about $18,000 a month in passive income without a college degree: ‘The right time to start is always now’

39-year-old makes about $18,000 a month in passive income without a college degree: ‘The right time to start is always now’

When I started as a social media marketer in 2009, I had no master plan. I had made the risky decision two years earlier to drop out of college, and I just knew I loved creating content about how to leverage social media.

Today, I’m the author of three books, a global speaker, and an award-winning content creator focusing on motivational productivity and business. My business generates about $18,000 a month in passive income, based on my calculations from a recent month’s deposits. In addition, I coach clients on building profitable personal brands and business models. I do all that working just four hours a day. 

 ADDD. y work looks completely different than it did 15 years ago, and that’s okay. You don’t have to have the perfect idea to get started. In fact, the biggest mistake I see my coaching clients make is waiting for one — and letting perfectionism and fear hold them back. 

Here’s what I’ve learned and shared with my clients about breaking through hesitation, perfectionism, and fear to build a thriving business and sustainable passive income. 

Perfectionism is just a fancy word for procrastination

When my coaching clients tell me they’re waiting for the “right time” or holding off until their idea is “perfect,” I know what they’re really saying: They’re scared to start. 

I get it. But here’s the truth: Perfectionism is just procrastination wearing a fancy suit. It makes us feel productive because we’re “preparing.” We’re actually just putting off the real work. 

When my coaching clients tell me they’re waiting for the ‘right time’ or holding off until their idea is ‘perfect,’ I know what they’re really saying: They’re scared to start. 

One of my most successful clients had been planning to start a YouTube channel for two years before working with me. Once she realized perfectionism was just fear in disguise, she filmed her first video using her phone in her living room. That imperfect video led to her first 100 subscribers, and she now has a thriving YouTube channel with an audience of potential customers. 

The perfect circumstances don’t exist. The right time to start is always now.

Success is only possible through failure and imperfection

Every “embarrassing” moment I’ve had — whether it was making grammar mistakes or missing big business milestones — taught me so much that ultimately made my business better.

My first YouTube video about social media marketing was badly lit, awkwardly scripted, and shot with a bed in the background. Each one got a little better than the last, and ultimately led to my first course and passive income. 

If I had waited until I had professional equipment and the perfect filming set, I might never have made any