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I read a lot of the online forums and I see the same old thing. Someone is good at one thing, like coding in PHP, Designing Graphics, Geek Extraordinaire, etc. Because of this, they think they can and should be making money hand over fist online. Usually, these type of folks get lucky and something takes off in a big way. However, the majority of these super geeks will never be a multimilionaire ala YouTube or Google, etc. And the sad part is they just don’t get it.

It’s great to be really good at something. In fact, I encourage everyone to get really good at one thing. Just realize that whatever that one thing is, it will either expand your possibilities or limit them. If I could point to one thing that has contributed to my own personal success, I would say it’s the drive to learning new things and the willingness to admit I am not doing things the way I should.

I started designing websites in 1996. My first website was horrible by todays standards, but ok by 1996 standards. However, I knew it wasn’t all it could be, so I continued to search for ways to improve and I did get better. First I learned HTML, then I learned a little PHP programming and finally I learned a little about graphics. In fact, I learned enough to realize that I suck at making graphics. But that is ok. In fact, that is the point I am trying to make.

I can make an HTML site if necessary. I can even build some PHP driven pages. And in a pinch, I can find a graphic and make it look more or less like I want. Overall, I am a Jack of All Trades when it comes to building a website.

Over the course of the last 6 years, I talked about how some day my websites will make me a ton of money and I can be my own boss. I mean, I had great looking websites that did what I wanted and people seemed to like them, so why shouldn’t they make me rich? By the end of 2005, I realized that my websites were costing me more time and money than they were making. The sum total of my Google Adwords payment was $2.43 and I got excited about the $25 check I got from Amazon after only 5 years of being an affiliate. Sad, huh?

So, I made a New Years resolution for 2006. I was either going to start making money online or I was going to give everything up and walk away at the end of the year. So, I started searching for knowledge, but I didn’t know where to begin. I started with the usual forums, Sitepoint, Webhostingtalk, Digitalpoint, etc. However, they didn’t fill my needs. I could see what people were saying, but it didn’t make a lick of sense to me. From there, I discovered Earners Forum, then Wicked Fire. At first, it was all so overwhelming. Everyone had an idea on how you should make money online and they were more than happy to tell you what you should be doing, but it just never clicked.

By May of 2006, I was making $1 a month in Google Adwords. From there, I started dabbling in Arbitrage using Adwords and 3rd tier search engines. By the end of June, I had made $20. Whoa! I was on to something. By the end of the year, I was making $80 a month in Google Adwords. Ok, nothing to write a blog about, but it showed me I could actually make money online if I put my mind to it.

So, at the end of 2006, I decided that the year had not been a total failure and that I should give it another year. After all, I was finally breaking even on my hosting costs and that was something. But I needed something more to get to the next level. Taking cues from Wicked Fire, I jumped into PPC/CPA marketing. That’s using adwords Pay Per Click to drive traffic to Affiliate Offers while trying to turn a buck for those of you that are greener than me. My first campaign cost me $220 dollars and I made $198. So, I lost $22 dollars, but I was hooked. From there, I continued to read and read about how to be successful in Affiliate Marketing. I also started learning about Search Engine Optimization and listening to a ton of “You Can Do It!” self help books on my IPod.

Jump ahead 7 months. I am on track to have my first $1000 month. Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about web design, Internet Marketing, Online Advertising, Search Engine Optimization and how bad a lot of self help books actually are. This month, I have finally come to a realization that I have become a Jack of All Trades when it comes to making money online. But, that is still not enough. In order for me to take it to the next level, I need to become a Master of One Thing.

And that One Thing is fairly simple. I finally have enough grasp of making money online to realize that if I tried to spend all of my time doing all the things I know a little about, I will spend more time than it’s worth trying to make money online. That One Thing is the ability to recognize one’s own limitations and turn it into a strength. For me, that limitation was not a barrier, but a bar that I set for myself to clear. I have cleared the bar, but now it’s time for me to start expanding my ability to make money online.

How am I going to do that you ask? It’s simple actually. I finally understand enough about all of this online money making voodoo, that I can direct other people to do the work for me. Yep, I am now going to become a Master of Outsourcing, A Sensai of doing more in less time while making a larger profit. Because of everything I have learned up until now, I can understand enough to tell others what I want and maybe even make a few dollars along the way. It’s time to leverage that knowledge and create real wealth for myself. I’ve started down the outsourcing path, so only time will tell. It’s exciting and I have another bar to get over. I just hope I can clear it.