Welcome back to our little Thursday Afternoon time machine.
Today we’re talking about one of the most popular I’m my own boss now! dreams: running your very own online store.
Maybe you picture yourself in four years, chilling on your porch, watching orders pour in for your clever T-shirts, handcrafted candles, or viral cat mugs — all while your phone pings with cha-ching! notifications.
It’s a vibe. But is it your vibe? Let’s see.
✅ The Pros
1. Your brand, your rules.
You control the look, feel, message, and vibe. You’re not just selling stuff — you’re telling a story people buy into.
2. You can sell anything.
Physical products, digital downloads, custom merch, drop-shipped items — your imagination is the limit.
3. Scalable with the right systems.
Set up automation, marketing funnels, and customer support — you can grow big without working 24/7.
4. Creative freedom.
Design products, test ideas, build a community around your store. It’s more than selling — it’s building your thing.
⚠️ The Cons
1. Inventory headaches.
If you sell physical goods, someone has to store, pack, and ship them. That someone might be you — at 2 AM, surrounded by bubble wrap.
2. Ads, ads, ads.
You’ll likely need to run paid ads or master SEO and social media to get steady traffic. That costs money and time.
3. Customer service.
Lost packages, refund requests, wrong sizes — people expect fast, friendly replies. Not everyone loves dealing with that.
4. Burnout is real.
The first few months can be a grind: setting up your store, sourcing products, testing ads. It’s work — no way around it.
🔑 Who Thrives With an Online Store?
If you love the idea of building a brand — not just pushing random products — an online store can be your playground. Creative types, tinkerers, designers, people who love experimenting with products and trends do well here.
If you dread the thought of customer service or ads, you’ll either need to outsource that fast — or consider other options.
🌟 Big Wins & Ho Hum Days
Same deal as the rest: your store won’t go viral overnight. Some days you’ll get ten orders while you’re at the grocery store. Other days you’ll check your dashboard twenty times wondering if your site’s broken.
Consistency is what turns a store into income — not just a cool hobby.
✨ Up Next
Tomorrow we’ll tackle the ultimate control freak’s dream: creating your own digital product.
No boxes. No shipping. Infinite copies. Just you, an idea, and the internet.
Stick with me — Day 6’s gonna get good.
Until next time,
I’ve been down many of these roads myself—managing rough rental properties I swore I’d never own, wrestling with drop shipping that drained my time for little return, and launching affiliate sites that looked great but brought in zero sales. I knew affiliate marketing could work—it just wasn’t working for me… yet. In 2024, I gave it one more shot. That’s when I discovered John Thornhill and Online Success Coaching, and creating my own digital products their way has been a game changer. Now I’m finally gaining traction, promoting a few great offers and slowly building real, passive income.
My best advice? Always stay teachable and keep going. If you’re serious about building your own income stream, stick with this series—you won’t regret it.
👉 Subscribe to my newsletter and explore more at www.digitalfivel.com
📧 mleist@digitalfivel.com
Matt
P.S. Remember Psalm 146:3-5
Digital Five L 