The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

For 18 years Vicki Hoefle had taught six-week parenting classes that changed lives. As she approached retirement, it occurred to her that by filming the class, she could create a product to sell online which would fulfill two goals: create a passive income stream and enable her to travel to see her kids once they left home. She had no start- up money and no internet or marketing experience. She was also raising five teenagers at the time.

In her words, “I began by writing a basic business plan and my product began to take shape. I took every training program I could afford and i hired people to help me. together with my partner and team, we developed a multi-media product (video, audio and workbook) with a one-year membership to an online forum. In less than a year, we increased our database from 500 to 1200 people. Our income rose from $26,000 a year to $75,000 a year in less than two years. In the last six months, we have expanded our customer base from vermont to all of the U.S. and into Canada, and i just started my personal blog (www.parentingontrack.com). I have wonderful new relationships with people I never would have met had I not expanded my work in this direction. I love knowing that i am changing lives today, which will impact the next generation of leaders.”

Vicki’s advice? “Ask a million questions and then ask some more. Know that you will make countless mistakes and that’s oK. and surround yourself with people who are smarter, funnier, cuter and richer than you are.”

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

Consider this. When tina Maria’s husband was diagnosed with a wheat allergy she spent months learning about how to cook for him. after cleaning out her pantry, pulling together a load of new recipes (including learning how to recreate some of his favorite dishes) she had developed a set of tips and insights on how to help her husband and her family adjust to the new lifestyle. She was neither a doctor nor a nutritionist, but she was on the front line fighting her husband’s allergy and began to acquire quite a bit of expert advice to share with other families in a similar situation.

She was hesitant at first to start an interactive blog and to write her ebook because she didn’t feel like an expert — but then she reminded herself that she knew more than most people and what she knew could save another family a lot of trial and error. She found friends to help her set up her website and to edit her book. She shied away from public speaking engagements, but found she did very well running small counseling groups. Soon she was gathering enough varied input that she could start her own newsletter.

Despite her initial self-doubt, she successfully shared her insights, helped others and made money doing so.

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

When Jillian Wells became wheelchair bound, she felt the despair of anyone whose freedom and independence is limited. Yet she was the sort of person to do whatever she could, no matter what, and she began to devour all she could read or hear about new ventures to enrich her life.

She wanted to run online forums on self-development for women, but she had no business experience or knowledge of computers. What she did have was lots of determination and a willingness to make it happen. She began by borrowing her business partner’s website, and started advertising on facebook and e-academy. The online forums she created were deeply satisfying and transforming — for the women who attended, and for her.

Her other passion is running a lighthouse in australia with guest accommodations. the lighthouse website was very old, so she contacted the web designer and reworked the entire site to make it more interactive (www.pointhicks.com.au). as a result, she is getting at least four enquiries a day, which translates into more bookings. She’s the first to admit, “My lifestyle has greatly improved and i feel i’m making a difference for others and myself.”

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

When a baby elephant is born in a circus, they tie its leg to a stake with a strong chain. over time, they gradually reduce the thickness of the chain until a full-grown elephant is “held” by a flimsy piece of rope. The elephant is tied to a stake because it believes it is. What do you believe?

You could say a lifestyle of complete freedom, contribution and abundance isn’t possible for you, or you can test the strength of your rope.

With your permission, i’ll show you how to create a lifestyle of contribution and creativity, with financial and location freedom. Inside this book you will learn the five-step process that i used to create this lifestyle, impacting over 100,000 people and funding my travels and adventures, through an automated helping-the-world business. You’ll learn the same process that is now helping thousands of people to ditch their nine to five jobs and create the lifestyle they dream of — even if they’re non-technical or time-scarce.

i’ll show you how to get paid for what you know and love.

i’ll show you… how to get paid… for who you are.

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

Your passion, hobby, skill or life experience is valuable — literally. Whether it’s being married, or getting divorced. Whether having a child, or losing someone dear to you — it’s valuable. Whether you like stamp collecting, investing, riding horses, parenting or catering. Maybe you created a million dollar business, or failed at three start-ups. Perhaps you simply found a way to stick to your diet, or handle an angry spouse or upset child, or make pottery, or can help people find a fishing guide, or any of a myriad of skills, interests, or abilities — it’s all valuable.

If you already have a business, you’ll be happy to know this process is powerful for anyone with a product or service: professionals, small business owners, chiropractors, dentists, florists, potters, inventors. You can make more revenue and work less.

Now, i’m not promising you’ll make internet millions. it took hard work for me to reach $40,000 a month. I also won’t promise you a “4-Hour Work Week”. The author of that book and i work many more hours than that, although it’s entirely by choice. While it is completely possible to make a fortune and never work again by following the steps in this book, it’s also normal if you have some healthy skepticism. and i know not everyone wants to aim that high.

So let’s take a look at more down to earth goals that are easier to wrap the mind around.

How would your life be enhanced if you made an extra $3,000 per month while keeping your day job?

How would it feel to cut back to a job working only two or three days a week because your “how to” Cd or book is starting to sell really well?

What would it be worth to you to transition to doing something you really care about and receive five testimonials a week from people you have helped?

The following is an excerpt from the book Get Paid For Who You Are.

If you are working 9 to 5 for someone else at something you’re not passionate about, or struggling to get more clients for your own business, then I can tell you I understand. I’ve been in those places not too long ago.

I was a consulting actuary for Fortune 500 companies based in New York. By all measures, I was a success. I had gone to school to learn a great profession, worked hard to get promoted, and had taken 8 years to qualify as an actuary (no small feat). I was making good money. I’d moved from Australia to my dream destination, New York City. My parents were proud and my friends thought I had it made.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this just wasn’t me!

After much soul-searching, I took six months off to pursue a life-long dream of playing guitar and singing in pubs. I dressed up in fun, silly costumes like a kilt and a long blond ABBA wig, and sang party songs like Blame It On The Boogie.

You know what? I never made it back to corporate life. I’d broken my old thought patterns and started coaching people to achieve their goals. Soon other coaches were asking me how to attract clients using the internet. I was now doing what I loved, but I was still working five days a week. So I turned my knowledge and passion into a CD product. Now I was helping people 24/7, without using my time!

I took many deep breaths the day I slowly wrote my resignation letter to the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. My mind was screaming, “You’ve invested eight years of sweat, stress and tears in qualifying — you’re crazy to let that go!” But I was letting go of the old to create the new, so it felt right. I made my own choices. And that’s what I want for you.