Welcome to the future! In this new era, more and more people are turning to online shopping. It’s an incredible way to discover new products and find solutions that make our lives easier.

Do you dream of generating income and achieving success in the digital world? 

For me, the answer is a resounding YES!

I thought it would be as easy as watching TikTok or videos on other social media platforms. But in reality, it’s definitely NOT!

Let me share my story of how I began my journey into the digital world. Feel free to tell me if you agree or disagree with my experiences. I have made many mistakes. I admit I haven’t gotten it right yet. This is why I’ve faced setbacks. But life is about learning and improving. Success doesn’t come knocking on your door easily.

I embarked on this journey after quitting my job and facing unemployment. (Jobless). During this jobless phase, I searched online for ways to earn side or passive income. After years of being an employee, I thought transitioning to self-employment would be straightforward and simple.

After several months of researching ways to earn side income online, I discovered the most prominent options:

Dropshipping: This method means I don’t need to keep stock at home, which I also prefer.

Amazon platform: This involves sending stock to the warehouse and letting Amazon handle deliveries to customers. It’s less hassle and less interactive—perfect for me.

After years in the customer service industry, I wanted to avoid face-to-face interactions. My goal was to work online and avoid answering people’s queries. I thought earning money online would be a great and easy way. Nonetheless, it was far more challenging than I expected.

I decided to go online to find courses that quickly help me understand and start this journey. Despite spending money on various online courses, I struggled to grasp the concepts, especially the algorithms in digital advertising.

I began my journey with Amazon by attending a course on becoming a seller. The first steps seemed simple enough:

1. Opening an Amazon seller account
2. Verifying the account
3. . Listing a product

It appeared easy to become an Amazon seller, so I followed the steps diligently. Still, manual research quickly proved to be confusing and emotionally draining.

Creating a seller account was slightly complicated, especially for someone like me in Singapore aiming to sell on Amazon.com. There were extra steps required before Amazon approved me as a seller. I overcame this hurdle and moved on to finish a product listing needing Amazon’s approval. Given Amazon’s priority on customer trust, sellers must meticulously confirm their product’s legitimacy, often requiring certifications and proper documentation. I faced several rejections because of missing information. I mistakenly believed it would be a straightforward process due to the course’s ease.

Eventually, I managed to upload a single listing on Amazon. Next came advertising. Despite abiding by all the steps, I still struggle with understanding algorithms and conducting effective keyword research. The course mentioned that advertising results are not instant. It takes time for the platform to gather and give useful data. Nonetheless, I’m committed to learning and navigating these complexities.

I’m still learning the ropes on Amazon. My advertising costs are so high. They sometimes wipe out my earnings. Plus, I find the algorithm confusing. I try to improve my ads by turning off the underperforming ones and always listening for new tips. At times, I’ve even considered giving up on advertising altogether. Still, without ads, I get no sales. My store’s visibility is poor. 

While I was waiting, I decided to explore another seemingly easy option: dropshipping. I was trying to understand the complexities of Amazon advertising. I attended courses and watched YouTube videos that made dropshipping sound straightforward. The idea of not needing to stock products or handle shipping was very appealing.

Eager to dive in, I created a dropshipping account, uploaded products, and started advertising. Yet, I quickly discovered that it was much harder than I initially thought. The challenges were pervasive and not as simple as they seemed in the courses and videos.

After years of trying, dropshipping just wasn’t working for me. Feeling discouraged and disappointed, I realized this path was far more challenging than I had imagined. Despite investing money, I didn’t earn a single penny, which led me to abandon the idea. Understanding how dropshipping worked was difficult. It felt like I was wasting both time and money on social media. Advertising also seemed unproductive. This made the experience even more disheartening.

But, I didn’t give up on Amazon. Although the journey has been tough from the beginning, I continue to learn and improve each day. When I run out of ideas, I take a step back and regroup, determined to keep pushing ahead.

I couldn’t help but think, “Am I missing something? How can these seniors, who claim to have zero experience, master it while I’m still here struggling?”

Then I started to think about what it takes to run a physical store. You need stock on hand, which I already have in Amazon’s warehouse. But you also need a steady stream of customers and a variety of products. Right now, I only sell one type of product on Amazon. To expand my inventory, I’d need to buy more products, but I’ve run out of cash. Plus, there are the additional fees to consider.

I’m a slow learner.… I need to clear my mind and set a rules. Daily checklist for myself to follow so, I look and search for the best solution for me. Choose your favorite notebook and get ready to capture your next big idea! Once those creative sparks start flying, jot them down and watch your imagination soar. Trust me, with the right notebook in hand, you’ll be unstoppable! 📝✨

Imagine me as a DIY enthusiast, building my digital store with heart and creativity! 🎨💪 Without a professional designer, I’m jumping in and learning design as I go. It’s a mix of both easy and hard work, full of trial and creativity. With each twist and turn, and a few hiccups, I’m getting better! 🌟🚀 🛍️✨🚀. At the same time, I’m exploring new opportunities with the limited earnings I’ve made so far.

At first, I rushed into trying to earn like everyone else, which led to scattered mistakes. I realized I needed a better approach, just like a baby learns to walk before running.

Now, I focus on reflecting every day. I’m excited to learn about manifesting, planning, and rethinking each step carefully. I’m saving money to invest in more products and improve my sales. When I succeed, I make sure to document these moments as part of my life journey.

I’m thrilled with my self-reflection journey. I love jotting down my experiences in a journal. This journal is available on Amazon. I truly enjoy doing this. If you have any advice on effective reflection on my path to financial freedom, I would appreciate it!