Since 2012 I dabbled in a lot of online gigs. Worth expanding any of this?

[Inna]

I've got multiple websites, some t-shirt store, a payday loan business (don't worry, only charge 15% and clients are superhappy), ... Y'know, a bunch of stuff.

Now my career is at a dead track. My skill level is too low to jump from entry level to a senior position.

I'm so torn between focusing on skill improvement (payoff in the future) and grabbing any of these online ventures and turn them from $20/month to $2500/month (maybe all of them, one by one).

I feel like I'm falling for the shiny object fallacy, but on the other hand the gigs are making money, I just never fully threw myself on them! How do you figure out which path to take?

[LessIsLess]

You've got to find the drive to succeed.  With it, just about any car will take you to your destination.

[ChpBstrd]

When you speak of your career, do you mean zero employers will hire you for anything more than you now earn and you have proven this fact through aggressive and targeted applications, working with headhunters, attending a clinic on interviewing skills, accumulating credentials, and exploring tangental directions?

In terms of drive to succeed, have you put the same amount of time and energy into your career as it would take to start a business that would replace your career?

[bwall]

When you speak of your career, do you mean zero employers will hire you for anything more than you now earn and you have proven this fact through aggressive and targeted applications, working with headhunters, attending a clinic on interviewing skills, accumulating credentials, and exploring tangental directions?

In terms of drive to succeed, have you put the same amount of time and energy into your career as it would take to start a business that would replace your career?

Great questions. Inquiring minds want to know!

[Inna]

When you speak of your career, do you mean zero employers will hire you for anything more than you now earn and you have proven this fact through aggressive and targeted applications, working with headhunters, attending a clinic on interviewing skills, accumulating credentials, and exploring tangental directions?

In terms of drive to succeed, have you put the same amount of time and energy into your career as it would take to start a business that would replace your career?

For the first question, I hit a ceiling skill-wise. I'm right on the edge of "good amateur" and "poor professional". It's a visual field, so no faking it.

On the second question, it's easy to get a business to replace my current job. A business to replace my career potential if I work on my skills? Ooh boy, that would be a challenge to me and not sure of success there.