» May 20, 2008 in
In today's video I start with an update on my garden and explain how it relates to making money online.
Basically I've got two philosophies that I respect although I don't follow as strictly as I should.
1. Spend less. Learning to garden is one way to spend less instead of paying other people to make vegetables and spices for me.
2. Earn more. My internet marketing travels.
The Identity Dilemma
Some of the make money online folks portray or strive for nice clothing, fancy cars, etc. I care less and less about that stuff.
As I mentioned a week ago I'd like to buy some land, try to be as sustainable as possible, and to make the necessary income to do this from the internet, and if possible help others that want to do the same do so.
1. I'm sure there are others with the same idea.
2. Is there a name for this?
I don't think there is a name for this yet. Is it eco-internet living, internet homesteading, web-villages? What?
What would you label people who are making money online and using this new power to get out of the cities and live sustainably and independently?
Do you have some creative suggestions of what to call this lifestyle?
A New Brand For 45n5.com?
I've had a branding issue with 45n5.com before. "We make money online" had WAY too negative connotation to it outside of our little circles.
Also, I think some sort of (whatever we will call it) is more in line with who I am becoming and what I want to do.
Of course I'd still talk marketing here, but their might be a bit of vision with it now, or topics not directly related to marketing, like gardening? WTF?
Not sure yet. Thinking out loud so don't run away too fast, and would like your opinion there.
Not Your Parents Hippies
The first thing that is thought of about living off the land is hippies. Sorry but while I do enjoy many of the philosophies of the hippie generation I'm not interested in free love or dropping out from society.
In fact I picture a world where people who are into (whatever we call it) would be some of the hardest working, creative, contributing, members of society as they produce their own food, make art, build their own homes, and also create value in cyberspace.
It's a new generation, we can define ourselves ;)
Alas, nobody has a clue how to build a farm for ideas, or even a factory for ideas. We recognized that ideas are driving the economy, ideas are making people rich and most important, ideas are changing the world. Even though we are clueless about how to best organize the production of ideas: if you can get people to accept, embrace, adore and cherish your ideas, you win. Seth Godin - Unleashing the ideavirus free download
Point Of The Post
What would you call the group of people that lives (or tries to live) as sustainable as possible while using the internet as a tool to make it possible? Does this "brand" already exist?
Thanks ;)
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Lightening@LighteningsBlogworld says on May 21, 2008
Something like "Freedom Blogging"? For those wanting to escape the rat race of life.
I'm very pleased to read this post as this is exactly where I would like to head with my blogging. Not to "get rich" but to provide an income in a way that supports my desire to be a "stay at home mother", allows me plenty of flexibility as to "when" I work and is portable so I can take it with me wherever we go (we live on a farm right now so opporunities "offline" are limited).
Marc says on May 21, 2008
I really feel I'm on the same page as you in a lot of ways. Not sure what to call it though. I have to have travel as part of my lifestyle though too.
I will say though that you kind of described a hippy lifestyle with internet access minus the communal living. Then of course it all depends on what kind of herbs you've got growing in that garden Mark.
I don't think hippy is what you're aiming for, but the idea gave me a chuckle.
Stu @ PMPR says on May 21, 2008
Hey Mark,
I'd be really interested to hear the opinion of Mrs. 45N5 on all this.
Time for a guest post perhaps? ;-)
Stu @ PMPR says on May 21, 2008
...waits patiently for Mark to bring out the comment moderating machete....
ian says on May 21, 2008
I dont know about a name for what you describe. For me personally, I would also like to leave the rat race behind some day and buy a farm, I would call it "server farming", a farm where animals were replaced by web servers.
lissie says on May 21, 2008
Frugal living meets location independence maybe? Actually we moved to a new city/country and inside of 6 months while my partner has been working and I have been full or part-time on this internet gig and a little to discover we have saved over $10k US. How? We are renting a cheap flat which was mainly furnished, not updated our vehicle, and bought not "things" we didn't need. Have we lived like monks no: we have travelled back home, we've gone away every holiday weekend 4 to date, eaten well, paid for expensive dance classes. The dfference is that we have minimal bills: only power and internet no cable TV, no credit card bills. Get out of debt and all the rest is easy after that
Collin - Feed Flare says on May 21, 2008
Holy crap Mark, you and I are so much on the same page with where we are in our personal lives. Watching your video today gave me chills and also killed my post I was going to write because it is going to become your comment here today from me.
The word or phrase I would use to describe what your talking about is QUALITY OF LIFE. At least for me that's what I am faced with. See, where I live in Canada the housing market has grown so much in the last three years that a house that use to cost 150k is now 400k. I have a house that has increased as well but not that much so when I go to upgrade it is going to cost me a mint. Funny thing is if my girlfriend and I just revamp a few things we can make this place work for us. But that dosn't solve the issue that we both are not happy where we are and I think it is not the house but we just want more out of life then what we have and we know it.
Our recent trip to Vegas has really made me open my eyes to what I want more. See, we could sell our house and upgrade to a bigger home and pay 400k for it but our quality of life does not increase that much, just our living space.And keep in mind we will have less money now to for things we like to do. So on the flip side of things lets say we stay in our home, make a few changes to help with the space issues and then buy a house in Vegas. There are lots in the 150 to 200k mark that are just beautiful there. If I, no thats not right, WHEN I make enough online to replace my day job and then some we can stay in our current home and invest in property in Vegas and have 2 homes for the same price as upgrading our current one.Making money online allows me to be able to live where ever I want and still make a living so it don't matter where I am but doing this increases our quality of life drastically.
For me I just want more then what I have, and I don't mean by having lots of toys. I mean by having just simply a better life then what we have. The reason why we want to go to Vegas is it is the opposite of where we live right now.There is no reason why a vacation spot like there can not become a second home for us that we can spend a week here and there at and have some fun or just sit back and enjoy the sun.
If that does not seem to work out then buying some land and building a house is our only other option.
Anthony says on May 21, 2008
So will your new tag line become "Making Vegetables Online"?
:)
As a garden blogger who enjoys your money making tips, I'd say that a lot of my fellow garden bloggers feel the same way as you do. But this is the first time I've seen someone question what to call this movement. I like the idea of Internet Homesteading but since I'm staying in the suburbs, I'd probably fall into the sub-niche of Internet Urban Homesteading.
Good luck with your gardening this season.
45n5 says on May 21, 2008
@stu - yeah that was one of the lamest manual comment spammers yet. deleted.
as for the mrs. 45n5 - a guest post would be fun but she's allergic to making blogs ;)
She is cool with it and would love the move but does have a few limits, and just a few like I'd be cool with composting our poop, or humanure, she wouldn't. I'd be fine with a well or building our own water tower, she wants running water like from the city.
So she's cool, just has a few minor limits, which is probably good for now.
@lightening - cool, we are the opposites right now, you got the farm but need the online earnings, I got the online earnings but need the farm ;) we could both benefit each other if 45n5 was more about "freedom blogging". thanks
@marc - only legal herbs on the internet farm, even living in kentucky where marijuana is the states #1 cash crop ;) I don't want trouble. Travel is nice but would be my second goal.
@ian - thanks for the name suggestion except I'd probably have a few animals, not replacing them.
@lissie - thanks for the comment lissie, unfortunately most people need to take on some debt for their living, we are debt free with credit cards and such but needed to mortgage our home
@collin - yeah, I think we are slightly on the same page as I enjoy the toolbelt tips more now ;) where are the tips on how to solar or compost toilet or wiring or alternative heating or how to build a house or types of foundations or ;) just kidding.
but slightly different as I'm looking to grow my own food and build my own buildings etc and not pay someone else to do it for me.
so in spirit we are both certainly on a path to better things, i think the destination might be slightly different. lol, good stuff though
@all any more/other suggestions for names? any opinions on me making this an eco journey to sustainable living using internet marketing as a tool to do it?
45n5 says on May 21, 2008
@Anthony - thanks for the comment, I love the site ;)
Never composted in my life but I've been watching some youtube videos on it.
I can't tell you how much of an idiot I feel like when I go and buy DIRT, serisouly, I spent money on DIRT this year, especially when I could compost my own that is super rich.
"Making Vegetables Online" might work ;)
Collin - Feed Flare says on May 21, 2008
Well Mark, regarding TBT just ask me a question and I will post on it. Like you don't need a water tower, all you need is a well with a good pump and you can have water just like in the city.Put a good filter system in it and you can have better water.Even if you are just wandering about something for the future, ask away my friend.
Deanna says on May 21, 2008
This post really struck home with me and I loved it. We are of like mind in that I don't care for all the fancy trappings. I just want to make enough money online to keep the roof over my head and live comfortably. I don't need a Jag, a million dollar mansion or the best new gadget out there.
I am a bona fide love child from the 70s. I live in the mountains in a very rural area, got away from the rat race, grow my own food, believe in a sustainable lifestyle. I am also an internet hippie. I am involved in affiliate marketing and rely upon the internet for a living.
The nicest part of it all is to sit at my computer while working and watch the hummingbirds, butterflies and listening to the birds sing outside my door. When I get frustrated with all the technical aspects of internet marketing (I really hate it lol) I walk outside and look at the the gorgeous view I have of the mountains and the valley below me. I go work in my garden or pick some fresh flowers for the table. And then I am thankful for the things I have learned from people like you who share their knowledge and give me an edge to tweak my websites and make a bit more money that allows me to live this way.
I say thank you my friend for sharing. Peace :)
Sapphire says on May 21, 2008
I have a suggestion for what to call it, and the domain name (plus every variation I tried) is available. Email me for it if you want - it may very well not be what you're looking for, but I don't want to post it here and risk someone nabbing it before you get to it.
If you don't want it, I may grab it because what you describe is EXACTLY my goal, and I think I might have more to say about it than I've had to say at BlueMushrooms lately. (And no, I don't think we'd be direct competitors because you have such a different range of knowledge - my style would always be more of a journal while yours is more teaching.)
Greg from Make Money Online says on May 21, 2008
Freedom is the word your looking for. I can't think of the catch phrase. I do like "internet homesteading" You shouldmove to a rural plantation dowwn south and buy a 100 to 200 acre farm.
Emma says on May 21, 2008
How about 45nFreedom. Pretty simple. Good luck.
growingjade says on May 21, 2008
Yup, I love to grow for food and for good luck too..growingjade plants.
The internet has definitely level the playing field and anyone who has the creativity can earn money.
Passion and Vision!!!
Matt says on May 21, 2008
Whatever you do, Mark, don't start calling it the "dot com lifestyle" like John Chow and his little group of buddies do. I hate that, as if what they are doing with their time is really anything out of the ordinary.
Oh look, we ate at a restaurant. Dot com lifestyle! Here were at a bar. Dot com lifestyle! Let's have a holiday. Dot com lifestyle!
Yeah, right.
Rhonda Holland says on May 22, 2008
Thanks for the garden update, I was wondering if you would give us one after the first post on it.
How about 45n5lifestyle.com? : )
Rhonda
Bjarke says on May 22, 2008
How about 45nTomatoes.com :)
(BTW: I really think you should make it possible for commentators to get an email when there is a reply to/addintional comments on a post that they commented on = more traffic and more satisfied commentators)
Kirsty says on May 25, 2008
I think sustainable living is something that's appealing to more and more people as time goes on. It might be the people I surround myself with but it seems to me like our dreams are less about accumulating stuff we don't need and more about freeing ourselves from debt and working at become self-sufficient.
I'm currently travelling on my web earnings and have always loved the idea of buying a piece of land, building a hay bale or adobe house, learning about sustainability and spending my time doing things I love.
I'm not sure what you'd call it but it's a great question and I'll have a think about it.
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