Make Your Moonlight your Sunlight; How to make Money during Holiday Season
We’re talking with Norm Bond global entrepreneur. Norm has just published his new book Make Money Online with Holiday Marketing.
Linda- Hi Norm. Recently I’ve noticed more activity around the topic of entrepreneurship but I don’t recall seeing anything like your book. What inspired you to write it?
NB-Holiday marketing is an industry that a lot of people don’t pay attention to and it’s actually an opportunity to market year-round.
As we’re coming into the fourth quarter, the biggest holiday time of the year, I wanted to put out a tool to help people. And holiday marketing as well as making money online are always two big topics this time of the year. So I brought those two areas together in this book.
Linda- Norm, I know that you’re a successful entrepreneur. Who inspired you? Was it a family member or someone else?
Norm-My initial inspiration was my uncle who owned several mom-and-pop shops in Philadelphia. I worked for him several years while I was in high school. I was able to get a real taste of what it was like to run a small business.
Once I got into college and obtained my business and economics degree I was exposed to a number of other entrepreneurs who motivated me. Particularly Reginald F. Lewis who created a billion-dollar business empire when he acquired Beatrice Foods. I really enjoyed his book “Why should white guys have all the fun?” And later I got to interview and become friends with his wife Loida when I published a magazine myself. I also was inspired by John Johnson, founder of Ebony and Earl Graves of Black Enterprise who I also got to meet. It seemed I was drawn to entrepreneurs in the mass communications, media and publishing industries in particular.
Linda-So what lessons have you learned from their stories that impact the ways that you do your work?
NB-I think the biggest lesson for me is to remain focused on your goal. It is a common denominator amongst all those entrepreneurs I mentioned. And what you notice with the major and even lesser known successful entrepreneurs is their ability to know what their goal is and just stay on it. In spite of the obstacles and challenges, during the good days and the bad you have to maintain the focus and commitment to your vision. That I’d say is the number one trait for success in entrepreneurship.
Linda-Right now there are a lot of people who hold day jobs but are thinking about leaving to become an entrepreneur. What are your thoughts on that?
Norm-Well, the grass always looks greener on the other side; and sometimes that grass is AstroTurf. So I would say do your research. When you have a job, often your day is planned out for you. When you work for yourself you have to be your best employer and employee.
We’re in a time when information is everywhere, knowledge is easy to get, so I would advise to do your research. Look at blogs, get involved with groups in your area of interest. Don’t just jump in blindly. Take a well calculated risk.
Linda-Could day job people use your book to moonlight or to work a second job?
NB-My book has a section that talks about freelancing. When people think of holiday marketing often they think of big box stores like Target or Walmart, even Amazon. However even if you don’t have your own business you can be an affiliate. You can work with a vendor who creates their own products. There are a lot of ways to make money by freelancing your skills like building a website, writing or creating videos. There’s also a lot of ways to find small jobs on websites like Fiverr and ClickChores. In addition jobs like house-sitting and pet-sitting are much needed during the holiday season. Some people end up really enjoying using their skills on these types of jobs. You have to be careful though because your moonlight might become your sunlight.
Linda-I like that. Norm you have so much good information in your book; any final thoughts on what you want people to get from reading it?
NB Yes. I want people to discover a way to expand their ability to generate income from doing something that they love and also open up new ideas. Most people participate in the holidays and we certainly advocate that, but looking at the money side there’s a lot of opportunity. If you get started early you can enjoy the holidays and put more money in the bank.
The book looks at holidays observed around the world. They’re a cultural and global phenomenon. So the book looks at how you can build a 12-month calendar and pick the holidays which most appeal to you. Then find different ways to connect and market your products and services as a business owner, freelancer or affiliate.
If people take away new ideas to make additional income on a part-time or full-time basis or even decide to make a career change I think it will have made a valuable contribution.
Click Here to order Make Money Online with Holiday Marketing.
NORM BOND is a global marketer, digital strategist and consultant. He splits his time between Bangkok, Thailand and the U.S. Norm is a consultant and global strategist. He conducts workshops and social media training for entrepreneurs, small business, nonprofits and multinational corporations. He has a MS in Information Science and is an ex-IBM marketing rep. You can visit his website at http://www.NormBond.com
Linda Harding-Bond
