A Shortcut Way to Earn Money?

Is there a good shortcut way to earn money?

At least for our purposes here, my definition of "earning money" excludes lying, cheating, and defrauding. Illicit means of garnering money may be a "shortcut," but I do not include them as means to "earning" anything. Earning implies honesty and labor.

Note also that those who advertise fast or shortcut ways of earning money are cast in a mold that is suspect because the context implies strong desire which may be exploited. And exploiters there are.

I. Putting caution brakes on accelerator desire

In Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sam Gamgee's gaffer wisely quipped, "Short cuts make long delays." Not all shortcuts are as harmless as traipsing in a direct, but awkward line across the gentle green hills and fields of the Shire, though in any event, one may sympathize with a need to get someplace fast. Those seeking a shortcut way to earn money may be in a real bind.

Unfortunately the first bit of rational advice one may offer such a person is a bit like the gaffer's. Beware of decisions made in desperation that may cause long term detriment. In more severe economic cases, beware of those who would exploit you.

Keep your head. Do your research. Keep in touch with trusted advisors.

II. What shortcuts... are not

So given due caution, what are some genuine shortcuts? In one sense I want to say that there are no shortcuts to earning money. One can only earn money in exchange for something of equal or greater value such as one's labor or assets, with the former as preferred under the heading of "earn." And there is no shortcut to the value of labor without also shortcutting value.

But speed may be possible.

III. Shortcuts use existing assets

It may be worth mentioning in passing for example that one can get money, sometimes rapidly, by selling something one owns (selling for example on eBay, Craigslist, or what have you). Otherwise, one's existing skills, health, and experience are the intangible assets one must rely upon if one is to cut the shortest route to profit.

What are the best skills you have to offer the market? If you do not have the luxury and time to add to or improve your skills, knowledge and expertise, then what marketable skills do you do best? What labor assets can you exchange for money right now?

This is the first legitimate "shortcut." It may even be quickest to forget your long term dreams and goals for purposes of short term gain if that is what you are after. What do you have to offer now? Honestly. Realistically.

IV. Shortcuts use boundaries for direction

Of course if your short term goal is four years of college, four years of grad school, and two or three years as an intern before qualifying to earn money for the rest of your life, that may be a shortcut compared to many things. Same with building your own new business for five years before turning a profit that could last 25 years or whatever. Is that your kind of shortcut, especially if you want to earn more than average?

Or are you interested in shortcuts to the start of earning money? What if you could get a new job with a regular employer right now? Then the question becomes, "What is the fastest way to get a job?"

Now do you mean a regular part or full time or temporary or freelance work? It may be faster initially to get temporary or freelance work than regular.

Your circumstances will also determine the probable speed with which you start earning. Can you change housing and move elsewhere or are you limited to where you live now? Can you afford to commute up to to a long radius away from where you live or are you limited in transportation? Do you want a job that uses your best skills tomorrow or do you need a job for which you are less suited today? Are you open to different shifts (e.g., working nights) or do you have responsibilities that limit your schedule? If the job you are looking for is seasonal, is it in season now or soon?

V. Boundaries direct the search for ways to earn money

Shortcuts ways to earning money may mean different things to different people. Knowing where to look can also alter the speed with which one starts earning. Are you looking for customers and clients? Are you wanting freelance clients online from Elance, oDesk, mturk or offline and geographically locally? Are you looking for customers that hang out on certain social media areas like somewhere on Facebook and LinkedIn or in field-specific forums... or offline in some group like you can find on Meetup?

Or are you looking for jobs on job boards like careerbuilder or snagajob? If you've made some decisions such as in regard to the above, you can narrow the results your "advanced searches" on job board sites.


Next, for those open to online jobs or looking for help in resume layout [http://legit-onlinejobs.org/resume-lay-out-a-step-to-success/], sign up for the free email series at Legit-OnlineJobs.org [http://legit-onlinejobs.org]. The author has been working full time online since October 2008.



By: Stephen Hanover