What's your fallback career?

A career in microbiology or immuniology (possibly further study to become a doctor).

This quote is so true.

I was a commercial pilot. I had a ONE time seizure with 6 figures in debt, so I knew I had to do SOMETHING to pay off my student loans. On the one year anniversary of my seizure, I was out of debt.

I've always had ups and downs, but what I DO know, is that I'll always be okay.

As one that never ever ever will be in debt again, I know that having an 'emergency fund' is vital. Not only in my personal life, but also my business life.

If every income stream were to stop right now, would I panic? No! I'd be okay living the exact same lifestyle I live right now for 8 months. But I would STILL cut back - just because I have PREPARED for an emergency doesn't mean I will not expect the worst.

But even if that DID happen, I wouldn't stay 'in unemployment'. I'd still find a way. I'd still create products, create more companies, and still grow.

No sense sucking life out of society when you can contribute to it and yourself.

This is so true!! Entrepreneurs always fall back on their feet at some point...despite many failures sometimes...and I think their secret is that, they don't fail....it was an "experimentation"... just like Edison!!

Yoan

Quote of the day!!! Whether its online marketing or not, I think everyone should do what they have a passion for doing and forget about the fallback plans. Just make it work!

WOW never been into the fisherman's life didn't realize the economics. Sounds like a cool gig,lol.

Though, OP's question really doesn't make any sense from a economic stand point. There is always something to sell. This question is more along the lines of what would you be if you wasn't a marketer.

Wouldn't know, we use a 16' jon boat with a 20hp Honda w/ tilt and trim... wouldn't wanna brave the sea in that, .

I have met people here in Florida over the years that went out for 30-60-90 days and they come back with $20k -$50k, but we're talking 'real' commercial fisherman then. I'll stick with the 1-2 days, hit em and get $:p$

I understand the thought and the mindset is a good one to have, but having a fallback plan is probably the best thing a new internet marketer can have. There is too much in the world that we do not have control over. There is a fruit stand by my house that is family owned, and been there for 10 years. Its doors closed last month because of an ADA lawsuit that they had absolutely no chance in hell paying for.

Internet marketing is the same. Anyone who is doing well in the business will tell you that there are a ton of variables, a lot of which you do not have control over. Your number one affiliate leaves the game, a new law gets passed, etc. etc. etc.

Besides that, having a fall back plan gives MOST people the confidence to go out and do something that they are not sure about. If internet marketing was my only possible hope for financial survival, I would be much more hesitant to do something because I would not want to mess it up. With the confidence of a fallback, I am MORE willing to try things that require investment, are "guaranteed," and may end up with me falling flat on my face.

The confidence of a backup plan will give a person TRULY DRIVEN to do something the confidence to go balls to the wall and get it done.

P.S. mines a degree in maketing from USC.

There are a multitude of factors which are out of your hands when it comes to business. You can do the best you can to prevent them unknowns from affecting your business but that doesn't mean they wont hit you at some time. There are many business in this world right now but because of the economical times, all entrepreneurs, most busted their balls and something happened which they couldn't prevent which ended their business.

This part is mainly aimed at people who say mind set... What a load of crap, tell me how taking a degree would affect your mindset? Your mind is your mind, it is how you naturally think, do you think become less ambitious if you take a degree? Do you think your work ethic drops or your ability to research drops? Of course they don't, so how does taking a degree change your mind set?

There are more things to consider here which many people haven't mentioned. Have you ever tried to go into a bank, say your an internet marketer and then ask for a mortgage? Get any form of financial backing (Eg., loan, mortgage etc...) is much harder if you are self employed because of the risk of your failing is greatly increased. Now if you go and say I am an online marketer with a masters degree in nursing or histiology etc... Do you think that will put them at ease, of course it will...

Then there is the realism that a lot of people fail in this business and more and more marketers are failing. Income streams are drying up due to saturation, lists are becoming unresponsive, people have chucked all their eggs in one basket and lost their business over night (Many threads recently about this). So, god forbid this time comes upon you, if your back is up against the wall and you are FORCED to actually go and get a job. Wouldn't it be better to have something behind you which actually gave you a good standard of living?

Then there are other factors which come into it, what you actually learn by going to college/uni. There are many lessons to learn there which are valuable, critical thinking, statistical tests to measure research, cultural diversity, managing your time/workload, thorough SCIENTIFIC research (Not a wikipedia page, actual peer reviewed journals) and there are so much more then this... So why on earth wouldn't you want to educate yourself when your at a young age and can?

Academic, writer, artist, forex-trader or shoe-designer (not necessarily in that order). What's yours, Ckbank?

Hey Ray - there's another one for you

I'd still pick IM, but if there was no IM and internet (heaven forbid), I'd probably opt for something totally different, like a helicopter pilot around Glacier National Park Montana. Still a dream of mine that can come true with IM

lcombs,

That sounds like a multimillion dollar WSO....... You need to package it up and sell it....

Take Care,

Rich Beck BCIP, MCSD, MCIS

If an total economic collapse happens, then most other people will be affected. I would rather be in the countryside where I can at least try to grow my own food, that is if the security situation is not that bad. Economic or social collapses has happened almost everywhere before and so I don't think it is worth worrying about it. Older people have been through the Great Depression and World Wars.