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Everyone you know keeps telling you the same thing; “Hey, you’re so good at this…” You know it even though you have doubts (which is normal) but the signs are apparent. This is your talent, your God-given gift. Of course, you’re supposed to make some bucks out of it because that’s the most logical thing to do. Money must be made.

If I had a penny for every time I came across the word ‘monetize’ this year, I’d be pretty buoyant. On my Instagram feed, Twitter timeline, email newsletters- monetize. But there are some vital information these people don’t tell you. Keep reading.

Monetization- A Process

It’s one thing to have talent and another thing entirely to discover, utilize and properly manage it. According to Jackson Brown Jr., “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.” Before gold becomes valuable, it must go through a refining process. So, before you begin this journey, this quest for wealth; here are a few things to note before monetizing your talent.

• Research- You may be immensely talented but what happens when you don’t know how and where to channel your gifts to? It goes beyond having the talent. There’s a 100% chance that there are successful people who possess the same talent like you. Put your smartphone, PC and the Internet to use and dig out information about them. How did they start? What inspires them? What’s their creative process like? Knowledge is power. Read and read some more.

• Carve a niche for yourself- Given, you’re a good singer. But in what genre would you thrive the most? Now, this is the product of your research. For example, when you see Drake on a track, you know he’s going to sing, rap or do both. R & B, Hip hop and Pop are his top 3 genres. Also, he has claimed that Aaliyah and Kanye West are his biggest musical influences. Can you see the flow?

• Invest in courses/webinars/eBooks- At this point, you should have people in your niche who you follow. Some have been in the game longer than you and have amassed a ton of experience and knowledge that they would be willing to share. They may come free or at a cost. Make a choice and go for it.

• Be patient- Take your time and enjoy the process. Make mistakes and learn from them. Don’t be in a hurry to put a price tag on your product or service. Give no room to mediocrity and always be ready to learn. It would be a shame if you publish an eBook for example and it’s half baked. Your integrity and credibility will be at stake and you don’t need bad reviews associated with your brand.

• Publicize yourself- 70% of your family and friends won’t help you publicize your work. That’s the bitter truth. Don’t expect anything from anybody. Take advantage of every platform and showcase your talent. Be your own promoter and also look for people in the same industry with you to network and rub minds with. If you have a support system, consider it a huge plus.

• Don’t get too comfortable- When you start seeing your desired results, don’t relax. Keep in mind that there’s always room for improvement and growth. Learning is continuous and the goal is to become better and eventually be among the best.

There you have it. As usual, please feel free to keep the conversation going in the comment section. Do you have an addition or subtraction to the list? I’d love to read from you.

The month is still new so I’m wishing you a happy October. This is my first post for the month and I hope to be consistent as always. Have a restful weekend ahead. 💛