The reality about passive income
And why you should pursue "active income"
Hi friends,
I have been quiet over the last week, because I was busy doing coaching calls with subscribers. Many told me about their “passive income” dreams:”Maybe a course I can sell, or maybe investments.”
I have some strong opinions on this, and let me tell you what I really think.
“Don’t sell your time for money.” You probably heard about this. “Build passive income. Escape the 9-to-5. Create a product that makes money while you sleep.”
Here’s the inconvenient truth they don’t tell you: There is no such thing as truly passive income.
The “passive” course you sell? Requires active marketing content, updates, and community engagement.
Your “passive” stock portfolio? Requires research, monitoring, and active decision-making about market conditions.
The “passive” product business? Requires constant updates, customer support, and marketing.
I met a founder friend who built an interview coaching business. Now he has a team and works about 20 hours a week, leaving time for his hobbies. It took him over five years to get there.
He feels great about the freedom, but to stay fulfilled, he’s still looking for new things to do.
This is why many financially successful people get bored or depressed. You get used to the freedom, and then you realize fulfillment comes from actively spending time on things you enjoy, and where you feel you have an impact.
The question isn’t how to make money passively. It’s: What work do I enjoy enough that I’d happily spend my time on it?
I met someone who figured this out.
He quit investment banking—the long hours, high stress, great money—to start a corporate hiking tour business.
Now he sells his time for money, taking groups on mountain hikes and facilitating team discussions in nature.
He makes less money than he did in banking. But he’s outside. He’s moving. He’s doing work he loves.
That’s not passive income. That’s active income doing something that makes him happy.
Here’s what people get wrong about “the dream”:
They think the goal is to work less. To make money with minimal effort.
But the real goal is to have agency over your time.
It’s not about working 4 hours instead of 40. It’s about choosing work that fulfills you—even if it takes 50 hours a week.
It’s about having the freedom to say: “I’d rather make 80% of the money working 50% of the time on something I love, because I own that time.”
This is the shift I want to help you make in 2026.
You’re not looking for a “get rich quick” fantasy; you’re looking for a plan. We will build the strategic roadmap to discover your next path while fully protecting your current income.
That is why I’m launching The “Options Ladder” Mentorship.
This program is for 15 motivated senior-level Tech ICs or Executives who feel stuck, unappreciated, or unfulfilled in their 9-5, but aren’t ready to quit yet. You have the patience and motivation to build something meaningful.
This is direct, hands-on mentorship to play the “Double Game”:
Maintain high performance at your current job.
Simultaneously build your professional optionality with focus and intent.
In this program, we will:
Discover The Fulfilling Path: Identify work you genuinely enjoy and are naturally good at, leading to a more fulfilling career direction.
Create Your First Offer: Build your product/service and a roadmap to your first $10k — giving you immediate proof of concept and leverage.
Master the Double Game: Strategically prioritize high-leverage work to free up time, grow your Personal Brand, and attract opportunities.
I transitioned from my job at Amazon to build a 300k+ following and my own business. I will show you exactly how I created those options.
If you are ready to dedicate 2026 to moving past the stagnation and building your Options Ladder, here is what to do to apply:
Reply to this email or email daliana@dalianaliu.com with your LinkedIn + why you want in (in 1-2 sentences, keep it simple, don’t overthink 😎 )
If you are a good fit, I will send you the full details, and we can determine if this mentorship is the right fit to define your next chapter.
To your optionality and fulfillment,
Daliana