Can you really make money online? By Jodi Smith
It’s a question I’ve asked myself for more than twenty years.
If you’re anything like I was, you’ve probably wondered if making money online is actually possible—or if it’s just another empty promise.
After all, we’ve all seen the flashy ads.
“Make six figures in six months.”
“Quit your job next week.”
“Get rich while you sleep.”
I never believed those promises.
I wasn’t looking to get rich.
I was looking for something much simpler.
I wanted more choices.
My Journey Didn’t Start Yesterday
My story began more than twenty years ago.
At the time, I was working in a corporate job while raising two young children, soon to be four.
Like many parents, I found myself wanting something I knew many families dream about—the opportunity to spend more time at home with my kids.
Eventually, I made the decision to leave my corporate job so I could be home with them for a season.
It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
But it also meant we needed to be creative financially.
I Was Willing to Try Almost Anything
Over the years, I tried just about every legitimate way I could think of to earn income from home.
I picked up bookkeeping jobs.
I cleaned apartments.
I worked part-time at a local school.
I bought wholesale lots of Victoria’s Secret products and sold them one piece at a time on eBay, making daily trips to the post office.
I even joined a network marketing company because I hoped it would create additional income.
It wasn’t the right fit for me, but it taught me something important.
Every experience taught me a new skill.
At the same time, I kept searching for ways to build income online.
I bought books.
I invested in courses.
I joined membership sites.
I learned what I could whenever time allowed.
Some things worked.
Some didn’t.
But every step moved me forward.
Sometimes the Dream Has to Wait
Life has a way of changing our plans.
As my children grew, I discovered something unexpected.
I loved working at the school.
That experience eventually led me to become a teacher—a career I truly love.
Teaching wasn’t my backup plan.
It became my calling.
But even after becoming a teacher, I never stopped believing there had to be another way to create additional income without clocking in to a second job.
Not because I wanted to leave teaching.
Because I wanted more freedom and more choices for my family’s future.
Learning Opened New Doors
Along the way, I wrote my first children’s book.
While I loved publishing it, I quickly realized that hiring an illustrator made it difficult to earn much income.
Instead of giving up, I learned something new.
I discovered self-publishing.
That one decision opened an entirely new world.
Today, I consistently earn income through self-published books, teacher resources, and digital products.
Each new skill built on the one before it.
Looking back, none of those experiences were wasted.
They were preparing me for what came next.
The Piece That Finally Brought Everything Together
For years, I understood little pieces of online business.
I knew a little about affiliate marketing.
I knew a little about creating products.
I knew a little about selling online.
But everything still felt disconnected.
That changed when I decided to invest in learning again.
This time, I learned how to build a real online business with systems that worked together.
I finally understood how an email list, affiliate marketing, digital products, and valuable content could all support one another.
More importantly, I realized something I wish I had understood years ago.
Making money online isn’t about finding one magical opportunity.
It’s about learning valuable skills and putting them together over time.
Can You Really Make Money Online?
My answer is yes.
But maybe that’s the wrong question.
A better question might be:
Are you willing to keep learning?
Because that’s what changed my life.
Not one course.
Not one business.
Not one opportunity.
Twenty years of learning.
Twenty years of trying.
Twenty years of building skills that eventually came together.
Today, I earn income through several online streams while continuing to teach full-time.
I still love teaching.
In fact, I appreciate it even more because I’m working toward a future where I continue teaching because I choose to—not because I have to.
To me, that’s what financial freedom really means.
It’s having more choices.
Why I Share My Story
People sometimes ask me why I teach affiliate and digital marketing.
The answer is simple.
I know what it’s like to feel stuck.
I know what it’s like to wonder if it’s too late.
I know what it’s feels like to believe everyone else has figured something out that you haven’t.
I’ve been there.
If sharing what I’ve learned helps someone create more choices for their own future, then every lesson I’ve learned over the past twenty years has been worth it.
I’d Love to Help You Get Started
If you’re curious about affiliate and digital marketing, I’d love to invite you to my free live webinar every Wednesday evening.
I’ll walk you through the basics, answer common questions, and share the steps that helped me build multiple online income streams while continuing to work full-time.
Whether you decide this path is right for you or not, my hope is that you’ll leave believing something I wish someone had reminded me years ago:
It’s never too late to learn something new.
👉 Reserve your free seat here:
WEDNESDAY WEBINAR
Jodi’s Encouragement
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned over the past twenty years, it’s this:
You don’t have to have your entire future figured out before you take the first step.
Every skill you learn, every book you read, every course you take, and every challenge you overcome becomes part of the person you’re becoming.
Looking back, I can see that nothing was wasted. Even the things that didn’t work taught me something I still use today.
So if you’ve been wondering whether it’s too late to start, let me encourage you with this:
It’s not.
Just keep learning.
One day, you’ll look back and realize that every small step was leading you exactly where you needed to be.