I’ve been a product creator for more than 30 years, but I’ve only used the internet as a marketing tool for last three years. And only in the last three years, as a digital product creator and publisher have I had complete control over what I make, where I sell and how much I earn.

Before I came to the internet, there was only one place for me to sell my product ideas. That was to big businesses that were capable of producing and marketing them. If I wanted to write a magazine article or a book, I had to find a publisher that would purchase it and print it. If I wanted to create a craft kit, I had to find a craft company that would manufacture and market it.

-Here’s a fact–most big business pay very little for creative work. In one instance, I was paid only $50-yes, fifty U.S. dollars– for an emergency rush job done overnight for Tandy Leather, one of the best-known manufacturers of leather kits and supplies in the world.

Someone from Tandy called me one morning and said, ‘We’re in a pickle. One of our largest craft retailers is reducing the floor space we’re allowed. We have just 72 hours to cut our store display in half.  If I send you, overnight, a box of the supplies we’ll be allowed to sell, can you come up with 2 designs for take-aways and get them back to me within 24 hours?"

A take-away is a pad of printed instructions for one simple craft projects. The paper pad is attached to the display shelf in a craft store. People can tear off a sheet of instructions for the craft project and take it away with them, for free.

The idea, of course, is that they’ll see the free craft pattern, notice the supplies to make it are right at hand, and buy them so they can go home and make the project. Take-aways are very important in the craft industry. They generate a lot of sales. In just 72 hours, there would be no take-aways enticing customers at one of the largest retailers in the U.S.  to buy Tandy leather—unless I came up with some great ideas fast!

I hadn’t designed for Tandy before and I was curious why they were calling me. "Our regular designers haven’ come up with any ideas. One of them suggested I call you. She said you’re a wiz at making something out of nothing fast."

I asked what they were willing to pay. "Well, this is a toughie," said my caller. "All I have in the budget is $50. I know that’s almost an insult, but it’s all I’ve got to work with. But if you can turn this around me fast, I’ll certainly use you again–and make up the low pay on your next job!"

I swallowed hard and took the job, because I knew that having Tandy Leather on my designer’s resume would be good for my business. And I wanted that future better-paying job!

I worked around the clock to create 2 designs, make up picture-perfect samples to be photographed, write and illustrate the instructions and send it all back by overnight delivery.  And then, exhausted, I slept for two days.

Tandy was happy with my work. And I was happy to get little more than the chance to show a new client what I could do. But I never got that half-promised, better paying job.

If Tandy called me today and offered me ten times what they paid for those two take-aways, I’d have to stifle my laughter as I declined. With the internet at my command, I’m no longer dependent on big companies. I have the ability to make and market all kinds of creative work, all by myself. My ability to create and my ability to earn are unlimited!

Thirty years ago I could never have dreamed that the world would open up and offer this much opportunity to creative people. Today I take it for granted that there is simply no limit to what I can dream and what I can do.

My wish for you is that you discover this for yourself, not only because making and marketing your own products is a good way to make money. But because unleashing your own creative abilities– to write, to design, to photograph, to illustrate, to entertain, to educate–is the best way to create a joyful and fulfilled life… a life truly unlimited! If you want to spread your creative wings and make stuff to market on the web, my book, "Tapping Into Trends To Create An Endless Stream Of High-Profit Products"will inspire you to be your most creative, successful  self by showing you just some of the many ways I use the internet to make creative cash.

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Bonnie Boots publishes The Internet Wizards Magazine for people, especially self-employed people,  that want to  expand their creativity, make their own products and market on the internet! To stay in touch with her, use the subscribe form in the upper right corner.

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