Anyone Can Generate Passive Income - Even You!

Every entrepreneur wants to make money, and making passive income is probably on the goals list of most business owners around. We like the idea of getting paid while not working (or maybe that’s just me). 

Contrary to popular belief, creating passive income doesn’t mean doing zero work. 

In order to be successful, it requires working intentionally and purposefully once with a plan to leverage that work over and over again. Passive income is all about strategy, and if done right, there are multiple ways to add multiple streams of revenue to your business. 

There are two product categories to think about when it comes to generating income that requires little to no effort to earn or maintain: selling what you know and selling what you create. 

Selling what you know is exactly what it sounds like: packaging your expertise into a product that can be sold.

If you enjoy teaching, consider creating a virtual “classroom” with online courses and on-demand webinars. If you’d prefer not to be on camera, audio training sessions are another great option. AMSE member and writer Gems Collins shares her three tips for starting your online course here. If your intended customer needs to be able to get their ideas on paper or learn a new skill, digital workbooks and eBooks are a great way to teach a lesson or provide step-by-step guidance for a specific topic.

You can also sell what you create.

There is a misconception that creative-type business owners aren’t able to put passive income to work for their business. Selling what you create and making it available digitally is the way to go if you want to maximize this type of income. If you’re a photographer, consider licensing your photos as stock photography. If you’re an artist, you can sell digital copies of your art! Products like graphics, website themes, templates, and fonts are ideal for passive income for B2B operations because there’s always a need for these types of products. Consider platforms like Creative Market and Theme Forest as hubs to sell your “mousemade” content. 

Every product we’ve covered so far has been digital, but did you know that you can earn passive income by selling physical products as well?

With dropshipping, it’s possible to sell products like apparel, home décor, and even physical books. Similar to a traditional passive income product, there will be work required up front to design and add your products to the online store, followed by promoting and advertising your products in order to attract sales. It’s important to note that dropshipping services use multiple manufacturers that can change at any moment, so make sure your products are regularly updated so they’ll be available for purchase. 

What makes passive income so alluring?

Because it gives business owners the ability to automate the sales process. While any of these means of passive income can be incorporated into any business, it’s critical to have alignment with your existing offerings. Once you decide what you’ll be selling, ensure that the technology can deliver the customer experience you want to create while allowing you to be as hands-off as possible. 

Now that you know the options and the tools needed, turn your education into action. Make a plan and do the work to create passive income in your business…and watch your bottom line grow! 

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Moniek James is a veteran, military spouse, speaker, author, columnist, and serial online entrepreneur. Her passion is teaching small business owners and brands on how to leverage content marketing and strategy to deliver their genius to the world through her boutique marketing agency, Renegade Creative Media Group.

Moniek has been featured in the Huffington Post, Fit Small Business, VoyagePhoenix, and Vitality Magazine and believes that entrepreneurship is a building block to economic empowerment.

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Let's Talk About Slack!

If you’re already using Slack as a communication tool for your business, you may love it because it pares down your email inbox and organizes messages into searchable channels, all with the ease of texting. But, have you thought of using Slack as a way to network and socialize? 

AMSE is doing just that with their customized Slack channels for military spouse entrepreneurs, and the timing couldn’t be better.

Slack Offers Connection Outside of Social Media

To reduce stress and gain an easy mood boost, many military spouses are choosing to take social media breaks even though social isolation remains a problem. AMSE’s community solves that by using Slack rather than Facebook Groups to connect. Interactions are personal, positive, and can even help you find your next business BFF. 

In my recent conversation with AMSE co-founders Moni Jefferson and Flossie Hall, we discussed how, as entrepreneurs, it’s getting harder to make military spouse friends.

Our free time is precious; we’re getting choosier with the company we keep as we’re becoming more seasoned; we want to surround ourselves with people who are enthusiastic about the same things we’re focused on. In this season, that’s entrepreneurship—planning, building, and growing businesses that light us up. AMSE’s Slack channels can help us find other military spouses with that one big thing in common.  

How Slack Works at AMSE

AMSE’s Slack community is open to Freemium and Premium members. You’ll receive a link to sign up when you become a member. 

Once you’re in Slack, you’ll want to join channels that are relevant to you. Some of the most popular channels include Collaborations, Help a Spouse Out, and Job Opportunities. It’s fun to be part of the channels where everybody’s hanging out. 

Next, you want to make sure to choose your niche channels where you can connect with other military spouses that work in your areas of interest or expertise. Examples of more personalized channels include Wellness Spouses, Non-Profit Spouses, and Freelance Writers. And, don’t forget to join the Mentor Needed channel where you can drop your needs so others can advise. 

Slack at AMSE is an amazing sharing space where you can support other military spouse entrepreneurs and receive support in return. There’s even some humor thrown in to lighten the mood, something we all need from time to time. 

Join Us on Slack

If you are not already an AMSE member, be sure to sign up here for a Freemium or Premium membership so you can receive invaluable resources for military spouse entrepreneurs. 

If you are already an AMSE member, you’ll find a link to join Slack in your Membership Dashboard. 

We can’t wait to see you there!

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Kimberly Bacso is an MBA who exchanged an office with a view for a life of adventure when she became a military spouse in 2001. She is the co-founder of InDependent, a non-profit on a mission to make wellness accessible to all military spouses. She is the managing editor of Legacy Magazine, a print publication celebrating service member families and the communities that support them. Kimberly is an experienced registered yoga teacher and a lifelong vegetarian who can often be found traveling off the beaten path with her husband and teenage daughter.

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Everyone's Starting A Podcast...Should I?



It seems as if everyone has a podcast. But do you really need one for your business? Let’s explore the podcast and how the business community is leveraging this platform.  

First thing’s first: what is a podcast and why is it a thing?

The term “podcasting” was coined in 2004 by journalist Ben Hammersly in a newspaper article for The Guardian.

In general, a podcast is a recording of the audio discussion on a specific topic that can be listened to on the go, while commuting to the office, or even while working. It’s a content medium that doesn’t require all of your target audience’s attention like a video or a blog post does. Listeners can subscribe to specific podcasts, download new episodes, and listen whenever they have time.

Podcasts came on the scene in 2004. Adam Curry, former MTV video jockey, and software developer Dave Winer, coded a program known as iPodder, which enabled them to download Internet radio broadcasts to their iPods. Soon the big companies started recognizing the opportunity. Apple picked up on the potential of the podcast early on and released iTunes 4.9, the first update with native support for podcasts, in 2005.

And just like that, the podcast quickly grew in popularity.

If there was any indication that the podcast was the coolest new thing, it came when Steve Jobs demonstrated how to record a podcast using Garageband during a keynote speech in 2006. President George W. Bush became the first President to have his weekly address delivered as a podcast. Then, in 2007 Ricky Gervais set a world record for the most downloaded podcast with an average 250,000 downloads per episode in the first month. 

Over the past decade, podcasts have risen steadily in popularity. According to Edison Research, 75 percent of Americans are now familiar with the term “podcasting” and more than 5 in 10 have listened to a podcast themselves. 

Current stats gathered by Podcast Insights show how widely podcasts are listened to and created.

• There are currently over 1 million podcasts out there.  As of April 2020, there are over 30 million episodes. 

• Podcast listeners listen to an average of 7 different shows per week, up from 5 in 2017

• 22% listen while driving (in a vehicle), same as 2017
  

How are businesses using podcasts?

Podcasting as part of your marketing offers many unique benefits. The nature of the podcast allows you to show authenticity and build connections between the host and listener. By providing your listeners with value, you are able to build authority in your field and trust in your brand. Major media organizations and independent producers are embracing podcasts as a way to reach a highly engaged audience with long-form content. 

Podcasts are proving to be a comparable place to advertise as well. 69% agreed that podcast ads made them aware of new products or services. So it is beneficial to have a podcast but also to be a guest or have an ad on someone else’s podcast. 

Podcasts are a great way to get the word out about your business. You increase your reach significantly when you are on the platforms that your audiences are using. 

Podcast listeners are more likely to follow companies and brands on social media as well.

And go! Here is what you need to get started:

A podcast is easy to start. All you need to begin is a quiet place to record and a computer. While specialized equipment, like a high-quality microphone, will make things sound better, it isn’t necessary to get things rolling. 

To get started now at the minimum cost you will need:

• editing software 

• a hosting site

• artwork

• a computer and headphones

Editing software

There are paid and free options for editing software. Some popular free options include Garageband and Audacity. Before choosing a free or paid option, be sure to check out reviews and tutorials to see how easy or difficult it is to use the software. 

Hosting

A host stores your podcast and also distributes it to the many platforms where people access podcasts. There are several hosting options available such as Buzzsprout. 

Artwork

You will need a thumbnail graphic that speaks to what your podcast is about. This can be done using programs like Wave.video. If creating graphics is not your jam, this task can be hired out. If you are in need of a graphic designer, be sure to check out our AMSE Trusted Partner Resource List in your Membership Dashboard or any of our members in the MSEG!

Computer & Headphones

A laptop or desktop computer will be necessary to begin the production of your podcast. If you don’t already have a computer or you don’t have access to one, many public libraries have computers for public use. Some now offer podcasting studios you can rent for free. 

Headphones will ensure that your podcast has a clear, high-quality sound. You will also want to be able to easily edit without background noise getting in the way. The right headphones can help you monitor for static, outside sounds, quality of sound, and more. Closed-back headphones are ideal for recording because they make it so the microphone won’t pick up the sound coming from the headphones.

At the end of the day, the cost of a podcast is really up to you and what is in your budget for marketing. 

Any time a company can leverage, grow with, and benefit from new technology or a new platform, it is positive.

Now that you know what you need to start your own podcast, begin thinking about what you will talk to your audience about and what type of podcast would bring the most value. 

Be sure to check out AMSE’s very own podcast Owning Up! Hosted by AMSE CEO/Founder Moni Jefferson. Owning Up features true stories of entrepreneurship as told by those who best know the grind of sharing, running, and owning a business while living the military life.

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Christinna Kitchaiya is the founder of  Bad Ass Military Moms. Having been a military wife for 18 years, and a mother for 14 years, she has been through the ups and downs and has found her passion in creating a community for others to share their stories.

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How An Outstanding Navy Spouse Became the Self-Care Expert You Need to Know



Navy spouse Noralee Jones is the voice and influencer behind Mrs. Navy Mama, a brand that encourages self-care to help military spouses navigate home, marriage, and motherhood one duty station at a time.

You need to get to know her: she will be real with you about military spouse life on Instagram Stories, but then offer you thoughtful ways to overcome challenges over on her blog and in her Facebook group, all with the underlying message to nurture your self-care. 

Here’s more about Noralee’s entrepreneurship journey: 

The Beginning of Mrs. Navy Mama

Noralee was a career 9-to-5er, working as a speech-language pathologist and a mom who felt the nudge to pursue her purpose in a new way. She had never focused on writing before, but after guest blogging and watching other military spouses start blogs, she decided to take a blogging course and jump in. In the beginning, she wrote about many topics. But she found that self-care for military spouses was the one thing that she could talk about all day. 

What Noralee Loves Most About Mrs. Navy Mama

Noralee loves doing her work for Mrs. Navy Mama because it’s a way for her to serve the community in a tangible yet flexible way. She works out of the home part-time and has four children, so this is something she can do in the evenings and weekends. She loves filling the cups of other women and feels that her own cup is filled in return. She learns from the spouses that reach out with questions and comments about military life. Best of all, she loves having the opportunity to meet other military spouse entrepreneurs across the branches that she may never have met otherwise. 

Business + Life Harmony

Noralee doesn’t believe that there’s a true work/life balance. There are always ups and downs in the cycle of entrepreneurship and life. But, she sets specific boundaries around when she’s working and when she’s not. She hires a regular babysitter and has a house cleaner come once a month to do the deep cleaning. She stresses that it’s important to not feel guilty about hiring help so you can focus on the things that are most meaningful to you.

What a Successful Entrepreneur Looks Like

Right now, success as an entrepreneur looks like fulfillment in experiences and opportunities that she wouldn’t get otherwise. She’s been able to cultivate new skills, have different experiences, and become involved in a community that has helped her grow. She stresses that when a business is new, it’s important to measure success in non-financial ways. Success can come in many forms; it’s up to you to define it!

Organizations and People Who Have Helped Her Build Success

InDependent - InDependent is a non-profit organization that makes wellness accessible to all military spouses. She appreciates being part of their community because their thought processes and goals align with hers. 

AMSE - The Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs has helped her come in contact with other business-minded military spouses who have enriched her learning and experience on her journey of building her business.

Military Spouses Who Have Found Her - Noralee finds inspiration in the stories that military spouses share in her community. What seem like normal, everyday military life stories have meaningful depth, and that keeps her going. 

Her Biggest Accomplishment

Noralee’s is proud to have written her book, the Self-Care Guide for MILSOs. It was a big labor of love that took about eight months to write. The research she conducted while writing the book really helped her develop her expertise in the area of self-care. 

Her Biggest Challenge

Being taken seriously. Noralee wants everyone to know that the numbers of followers don’t predict capability. If you give her a job, she will do it and do it well. 

Her Advice for New Bloggers

Build a solid foundation from the start. Put in the groundwork to learn SEO and work in your niche rather than having to backtrack later. 

Exciting Things to Come

She’s still working out the kinks, but she’d love to develop a companion resource for her book: a self-paced course on self-care that aids military spouses as they discover how they want to nurture their self-care and gives them the resources to do it. 

Support She Needs Right Now

Noralee would love to have some help marketing herself as a writer, entrepreneur, and defender of self-care. 

How Mrs. Navy Mama is Going to Change the World

Through the Mrs. Navy Mama community, Noralee is going to provide military spouses with the ability to make the most of their lives and not feel stagnant. Military life doesn’t have to dictate how you feel. You don’t have to put everyone and everything above yourself. There are a lot of different ways military spouses can take care of themselves, and Mrs. Navy Mama is there to show them the way.

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Kimberly Bacso is an MBA who exchanged an office with a view for a life of adventure when she became a military spouse in 2001. She is the co-founder and operations director of InDependent, a non-profit on a mission to make wellness accessible to all military spouses. She is the managing editor of Legacy Magazine, a print publication celebrating service member families and the communities that support them. Kimberly is an experienced registered yoga teacher and a lifelong vegetarian who can often be found traveling off the beaten path with her husband and teenage daughter.

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