How to Build Variety Into Your Income Streams Without Chasing Shiny Objects

Sustainable income variety doesn’t come from chasing every idea, but learning to build smart layers that work together. Here's what it looks like, using my own business as an example.

We’ve all heard the advice: diversify your income. Don’t rely on one client, job, or platform. It’s sensible. Responsible, even, especially in midlife, when the stakes feel higher and the margin for error feels thinner.

But no one really talks about how destabilizing that advice can feel when you take it literally, especially when you’re doing it from a place of panic or comparison. Diversifying often starts from a place of fear. We fear being dropped, replaced, or left behind, and from there, it’s easy to overcorrect.

Suddenly, you’re chasing every new idea, buying five new domains, and building half a dozen income streams that never quite settle into place. You end up with a bunch of half-built things and no clear path forward.

So this week, let’s talk about a more sustainable approach to income variety —one that builds confidence, not chaos, and doesn’t require more “hustle” or a total reinvention of yourself.

One Step Closer is our no-fluff series on taking small, intentional steps toward a freer, location-independent life — without burning out or starting over.