When I was 22 years old, I realized that I needed to plan for the future. I dreamed of becoming a home-owner and a mother. But my full-time job left me very little free time. I decided that the best way to finance my dreams was to generate a passive income over the Internet. Together with my partner, I turned my passion for espresso machines into a successful online business with the hope that it would someday replace my work income and give me the freedom to work from home – or anywhere in the world.

Three years later, the income from my online espresso machines business has almost replaced my work income. The best part is that I’m able to earn money doing something I love. I’ve encountered my share of obstacles, but I‘ve learned strategies for overcoming them. And now I’d like to share with you my tips for success.

Find a Mentor
Starting an online business can be intimidating. My first question was, “Where do I start?”

I recommend investing in a good home-study course with support from a mentor. My partner and I found this to be the most crucial step when we started our espresso machine business. The course helped us pick a business theme and build our own web pages about stovetop espresso makers and automatic, super automatic, and commercial espresso machines.

We learned how to build and manage a web site and how to form business relationships with merchants. When I’d learned all I could from my first affiliate marketing mentor, I moved on to a new mentor who taught us how to promote our espresso machine web site.

Make a Schedule and Stick to It
At first, my biggest challenge was taking the time to plan out my work schedule. I needed a simple, convenient system that told me what to do and when to do it. My solution was to place a notebook on my refrigerator.

The notebook is an ongoing to-do list. Whenever I think of something I need to do, I write it down in the notebook. When it’s time to plan the weekly schedule, I sit down with the notebook and choose the tasks I want to accomplish that week.

By assigning each task a specific day and time to be completed, I feel motivated to get things done. I’ve also found that planning my schedule one week in advance works wonders in my life; it actually makes me feel like there are more hours in my days.

Develop Your Own Organizational System
In our online espresso machine business, as with any business, there are some tasks that must be performed on a perpetual basis. We were able to increase our efficiency (and decrease our stress) by creating a work order for each repetitive task.

For example, we distribute a bi-monthly press release that is relevant to espresso businesses. The first time we wrote a press release, we took the time to build a reusable press release template. The template has fill-in-the-blank fields and a proofreading checklist. Repetitive tasks are so much easier when we create a system for them. We’ve saved lots of time and money, and we’re able to complete our tasks faster and better.

If You Get Stuck, Outsource!
In the beginning, I felt overwhelmed more than once. I still do sometimes. But I’ve learned ways to overcome that feeling whenever I sense it coming on. The best tip that came from both of my mentors was outsourcing. It’s very useful and saves me time and frustration.

For example, if I get stuck while trying to write a web site article about proper espresso machine maintenance, I simply hire a professional writer to get it done.

Outsourcing doesn’t mean I don’t work hard; I do. But I don’t waste my time and energy on a task that someone else would be happy to do better.

Never Give Up
These tips worked for me, and I’m confident they’ll work for you, too. But remember that the most important tip for launching your own online business is to never give up.

There will be setbacks, but you can overcome them with effort and persistence. When you’re able to make a living doing what you love, you’ll realize that all the time you spent developing your business was time well spent.