Become a Johnny Appleseed of Prosperity

You’re creative and passionate, and you’re not focusing all that energy on your day job. Why? Because maybe your passion doesn’t directly relate to your job. Or maybe you’ve already tried to share your passions at work and were shot down for whatever reason.
Turn your thoughts to building your own projects.
The Fruit of Many Trees
If you were a farmer, would you grow one plant and hope that it grew productive, that it would feed your family? Just one tree. Seems reasonable to spend all your time on that tree, because then it will produce fruit in abundance. No, of course fire won’t come. Animals won’t pluck the fruit. Disease won’t cripple the tree. Of course not.
And yet, most of us rely on one job, one source of income, one way to feed the family.
Instead, consider ways in which you might add fruit to your table from more than one tree. Are there ways you can tend to your day job and still grow some new opportunities? Not such that you’d be at odds with your day job, mind you.
Love the One You’re With
Don’t cut corners on your main source of income to find a way to build a second source. That’s not fair to your employer, and it could cost you your job. Continuing on with the tree concept, you have to keep everything well tended, watered, and nurtured, or you’ll have nothing.
Consider instead ways to separate out what you might be able to do to make some extra income by finding time to do that work in what used to be your TV-viewing time. Look for ways to include your family in your idea of growing some more sources of food for your table.
But always consider your day job to be the one you’re with, or do the right thing and shove off.
Trees Grow When You’re Not There
The best kind of extra income you can make is the kind that makes itself with a minimum of tending. Try not to come up with ways that require you to be there to make the money. For instance, taking a second job playing guitar at restaurants means you have to be there for every penny you intend to make. Selling your book collection on eBay can be a part time evening affair. Get your family in on the gig. Give your kids half of everything they make selling your stuff. After the first money comes rolling in, you’ll have to be sure they’re still working on the “old” stuff pile.
Think of other ways to make money while you’re not there.
Potential Futures
These new trees give you some possibilities for the future. You can stay with your day job, that firm old tree that gives you food, shade, a canopy to shild you from the rain. Or you can chop the old tree down once you get enough coverage of your income needs from your new trees.
It depends what you want from life. In my personal ideal world, I’d do what I am currently doing as a 30-hour part time job for free, only I’d be paid to do it, and I’d produce even better content of differing types, because I’d be able to focus on it. You might want the extra money to give to your local church or other really deserving charity. Paul could use your donations to help find water for villages in Africa. It doesn’t have to be about greed.
Consider growing more trees in a way that you can nurture and maintain them all. It might help in several ways, including setting your mind at ease for fear that you might lose your job. It might give relief to your debt issues. And it might be a great way to recognize the passions within you without having to make a full-scale leap from your current job.
Oh, and to that end, I’ve created a Tip Jar to try and build some money up to fund some new creative content ideas I have. Don’t feel obligated, but if you can, throw a dollar or two my way. I’ll make sure it comes back to you in the form of more projects like the ones you come here to read about.
(Some examples in development right now: a new book, an ongoing web-comic, new podcasts)
So, thanks in advance, and start growing your own trees for your new projects and plans.
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