If I Had to Start Over Broke,
This Is Exactly What I’d Do
Before I tell you what I would do if I had to start over broke, I need to tell you who I am and why this matters.
My name is Juliana.
I’m 48 years old. I’m an immigrant. I’m a mom of two. I’m on my third marriage.
And for 16 years, I worked as a PMU (permanent makeup artist).
That work paid the bills. It gave me independence.
But it also depended entirely on my body — especially my hands.
When I injured my hand, something shifted in me.
I remember thinking:
What happens if I can’t work like this anymore?
What happens if my income disappears overnight?
That fear is what pushed me into the online world.
My Real Online Business Journey (No Highlight Reel)
When I started online, I didn’t do “one thing.”
I did everything.
- TikTok
- UGC
- Amazon Influencer
- Affiliate marketing
- Digital products
- Content creation
- Trends, hooks, formats, algorithms
If there was a way to make money online, I tried it.
And yes — in 2024, I made my first $1,000 online.
But instead of feeling free, I felt overwhelmed.
I was exhausted.
I was doing too much.
I was everywhere — and nowhere at the same time.
That’s when I realized something important:
👉 Making money online isn’t the same as building a system.
The Shift That Changed Everything for Me
At that point, I invested in a course that didn’t promise shortcuts.
It taught systems.
How to:
- focus instead of scatter
- choose one model instead of chasing all of them
- build something that works without showing your face
- use automation so income isn’t tied to hours
For the first time, I understood that online income doesn’t come from doing more —
it comes from doing less, better, and consistently.
At that stage, what helped me most wasn’t doing more — it was understanding how digital marketing actually works as a system. If you want to go a little deeper into that side of things, I’ve put together a free resource that breaks down the foundations in a clear, beginner-friendly way. It’s there if you want it.
👉 I put together a free guide that explains this in more detail — you can find it here
That’s when I chose the path that actually fit my life:
- faceless
- educational
- automated
- sustainable
And that’s what this article is really about.
These are the exact steps I would follow again if I had to restart from zero.
Step 1: I Would Stop Looking for the “Perfect” Business Idea
This is where most people get stuck.
They think:
“I need the perfect niche”
“I need to be an expert”
“I need a unique idea no one else has”
You don’t.
If I had to start over broke, I would choose a business model first, not an idea.
Because ideas change.
Systems scale.
Once I understood that, everything became simpler.
Step 2: I Would Choose One Proven Online Business Model
If you’re starting with little or no money, you need leverage.
Personally, I chose faceless digital marketing because:
I didn’t want to be on camera every day
I wanted flexibility
I wanted something that could grow quietly in the background
Some proven online business models include:
digital products
affiliate marketing
educational content
faceless content systems
The key is not choosing all of them.
It’s choosing one that fits:
your personality
your energy
your lifestyle
This is exactly why I created a Faceless Starter Kit — not as a pitch, but as a starting point for people who feel overwhelmed by options and don’t want to show their face.
Step 3: I Would Build One Simple Platform (Not Everything at Once)
Trying to be everywhere is the fastest way to burn out.
If I were starting again, I would focus on:
- one main traffic source
- one place to organize content
- one clear direction
Today, I personally use Beacons to:
- host my digital content
- organize resources
- connect everything in one place
Not because it’s fancy — but because it’s simple.
Step 4: I Would Learn While Building (Not Before)
This was a hard lesson for me.
I used to think I needed to know everything before starting.
But clarity doesn’t come from thinking.
It comes from doing.
If I had to start again, I would:
- learn one concept
- apply it immediately
- adjust as I go
You don’t need confidence to start.
Confidence comes after action.
Step 5: I Would Focus on My First $500 — Not Big Goals
I wouldn’t aim for:
$10,000 months
quitting my job fast
overnight success
I would aim for:
- my first sale
- my first subscriber
- my first $500 online
Because once you see proof that this works, something changes inside you.
Momentum replaces doubt.
What I Know Now (That I Wish I Knew Then)
Making money online isn’t about being loud.
It’s not about being young.
And it’s not about being perfect.
It’s about:
- choosing a system
- staying consistent
- building trust over time
If I had to start over broke, I wouldn’t rush.
I would build something that:
- works while I sleep
- works while I travel
- doesn’t depend on my body
- doesn’t require me to show up every day on camera
And that’s exactly what I’ve been building.
Final Words
You don’t need to do everything.
You just need to choose one clear path — and give yourself permission to build it slowly and intentionally.
That’s how real online income is created.
If you’re someone who likes to understand the “why” behind the strategies — not just the steps — there’s also a free guide on the digital marketing foundations I use. You don’t need it to move forward, but it can make everything feel clearer.
👉 Free digital marketing guide for beginners
Where to Go Next
If you’re starting from zero, the most important thing right now is clarity — not doing everything at once.
Here’s what I recommend next:
How to Make Your First $500 Online (A Simple 5-Step Checklist)
This article breaks down the practical steps to turn ideas into your first real online income — without overwhelm or expensive tools.
Take this one step at a time. You don’t need to rush — you just need a clear direction.