Call me naïve, but, I believed I could ride the rough waters during the demise of the dot-com companies, “911”, and the corporate financial scandals, and still come out on top. Like the former employees of Enron Corporation, I quickly learned, through a lay-off, that dependence on one source of income was not the best model.

I recognized how important it was for me to take charge of my financial future. The concept of having multiple streams of income appealed to me. It was refreshing, invigorating yet reassuring that these options were available to me and I no longer had to settle for a single source of income. From then on, I actively looked for and created opportunities to earn income from different sources.

One form of multiple streams of income is passive income. A good definition for “passive income” bears close resemblance to the word “inactivity”, for it refers to earnings that require little or no substantive activity. Typical examples include royalty from published products, real estate rentals, residual income from a multi-networking business, or dividends earned from investments.

I discovered that entrepreneurs are generally attracted to passive income as a business strategy to augment sluggish financial times, or increase their revenue base.

For example, entrepreneurs crafting a line of product simply by converting speaking engagements into sellable entities such as tapes, e-books, CD/DVDs or articles. This is such a practical concept. So the logical question is how can you as a small business owner expand your revenues to include passive income.

Here are the 5 plus 2 basics steps you should consider:

1. Take a close look at the things you have to offer. It could be the skills or abilities you have mastered that are of value to others. Analyze each one carefully to determine how you can best market it. Review your findings with an unbiased third-party such as a coach to validate your discoveries and help you through the next phases. Always keep an open mind.

2. Use technology to your advantage. Converting your skills and abilities, such as speaking engagement, into marketable products has been simplified and made affordable through the use of technology.

For more information, tuned in on April 13th to hear Coachville’s Guest Expert Kathy Gulrich, talk about “Market Niche to Passive Income in 3 Easy Steps”, http://tinyurl.com/6ns8s.

3. Review ways to convert those skills into saleable products. If you are a speaker with a message for self-employed business owners, consider packaging your talks for sale to a global audience. Be creative and experiment with different styles.

4. Juggling multiple streams of income is not designed for the timid at heart. It requires much effort and persistence particularly in the early stages, but the payoff is worth it. Of course, balance is also important. Consider hiring a coach to help you set SMART goals, focus and stay on track

5. Avoid the temptation to build multiple income streams simultaneously, or you may be in for an exciting ride. Know your limit and go at your pace. For some it may mean building your core business first and then adding on as you are able to. While for others, handling multiple projects at the same time is within their range.

6. Don’t forget to update your business plan and goals to keep you on track with the direction you are taking.

7. Enjoy the experience.