Monetize Your Life: 6 Steps Toward Doing What you Love

The term "monetize" came to me in relation to the internet. A friend of mine involved in the creation of websites explained to me that internet entrepreneurs operate by coming up with ideas for websites, putting them out there and generating traffic on them. Only then do they look for ways to "monetize" them; that is, make money from them.

And thus the website reaches it's full, sustainable potential as a website in monetary terms. But what about people? How do they reach their full, sustainable potential as people?

Maybe there's a lesson here. Perhaps this is the way anybody trapped in a job that isn't their true calling can make a move to one that is--just start doing it! Figure out how to make money at it later.

Then lo and behold, what should I happen across when I started up this blog but a button at the top of my dashboard marked "Monetize"! It turns out that Google tracks all the ads in and around my blog and pays me money when people click on them.

"OK, Google," I say. "You mean to tell me I don't have to buy or sell. I don't have to select the ads, I don't have to bill you, I don't have to do anything at all; I can do what I feel like I'm supposed to be doing and you will simply send me money from time to time?"

"Yes, that's right," Google says.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"That's the N.E.E.!" I shout, and give Google a big hug and a kiss. "I'm part of the N.E.E.!"

After which Google pushes me away and wipes its cheek with a monogrammed handkerchief all with an angry look on its face. (For more information on the NEE, check out The New Earth Economy elsewhere on this blog.)

I guess I'm monetized. Or monetizing, at least.

Monetize Your Life in 6 Easy Steps

I've come up with the following formula that will help us all toward a more monetized life:

1. Read A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61) by Eckhart Tolle - which culminates with the "Three Modalities of Enlightened Doing." In a nutshell, Eckhart recommends:

Acceptance - Come to a place of acceptance of everything we have to do in our life situation. Anything else is futility itself.

Enjoyment - This comes once we realize that nothing we do can bring us joy. It's up to us to infuse all that we do with joy. This brings a quality and beauty to our work.

Enthusiasm - "Enthusiasm" literally means to do something as if possessed by a god. Building on the beauty and quality developed over a lifetime through enjoyment, enthusiasm is a wave of creativity that arises for a period of time resulting in a heightened level of achievement. It doesn't last forever but it's a wild ride while it's with you.

2. Search Your Heart - For exactly what it is you would like to be doing. If the answer you find is, "Anything but this," go back to Step 1 and re-read the section on Acceptance. If something more specific comes to mind--it could be almost anything from making hand-crafted furniture to starting a family--proceed.

3. Start Doing It - Step 1 will help with this one as well. One of the biggest obstacles will be fear and Eckhart has a lot to say about that too. It doesn't matter how good you are at that which arises within you to do, never wain in your belief in that calling, because that's exactly what it is, a calling.

4. Give - This could easily be Step 1. Giving starts the ball rolling in so many ways because it makes you part of the N.E.E. (see The New Earth Economy for more details). Give to all who ask. Give of your time, give a smile, give at church, give clicks to ad sponsors of blogs that you know and love (smile). And give of this calling, this talent every chance you get. Don't be fearful; listen to Nike and just do it.

(As an example, I have a friend who makes THE BEST soups in the world. I have a strong feeling that if she would begin to make just a little bit extra each time she makes it for her family and give it away (to someone other than me) that would begin to come back to her in a very big way. I'll keep you posted on my efforts to encourage her to do so.)

Give perspectively as well as prospectively. That is, give out of thanksgiving for all that you've received in your life in the past; but also give in anticipation of the bounty you are bound to receive in the future too (and have in fact already received; see The Visualization of Success). In other words, don't wait until the money starts flowing it to give of your prosperity. The process starts with giving, not with receiving. As many have said before me, you have to give to make room for what's coming.

5. Visualize - Don't hope, don't wish--visualize. Make the success of this endeavor real to you now in this moment, not in a future moment (see The Anatomy of Success and The Visualization of Success, for more details). Visualization is a form of prayer. All prayer is good (don't worry, the Unmanifested will find you).

6. Monetize - Or more accurately, allow the universe, or Universal Intelligence, to monetize your activity for you. Envision ways to do this from within the N.E.E. (see The New Earth Economy for more details). Remain open to innovative ways to share your talents with the most people; and stay open especially to non-profit opportunities, realizing that, as Jesus said, you get more when you give, and as the Tao Te Ching says, "If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich."

Next stop: The New Earth Economy

As always, let me know your thoughts and impressions. Feel free to leave comments. They will be helpful to others.