How One Check Changed My Mom's Beliefs
Written by Nicholas Dixon
Nicholas Dixon Copyright ©2006
My mother has always wanted me to become a policeman. Forwhatever reasons, she has been pushing the idea on me since theday I left high school. It was even more pressuring when I wasunemployed.
It was when I started working I discovered that it was possibleto have an online business and create a source of income fromit.
Back in the year 2000 when I built my first website, I facedmany obstacles and opposition mainly from some of my family andfriends. As far as they were conce
ed the internet is nothingmore than a gigantic scam waiting to drain precious dollars outof your pocket.
I was once scammed in the infamous 090isp program. I remembergoing to work for several days without lunch after using mypaycheck to send the money order to pay for my website only tofind out it was all a fluke. I was laughed at by my friends andcalled a fool for handing my money to people I don’t know.
Something inside of me refused to give up and I decided thenthat proving to them that money can be made online would be myonly vindication. To make matters worse, I did not have a PC andI had to resort to using the ones at work to build my dreams.
Eventually, my boss soon found out about my profound interest inspending so much time online and I was warned more than once tocease and desist. Not even that could stop me from movingforward.
Right in the middle of it all, I had my first child and suddenlyresources were getting even scarcer. I used my situation as amotivator to build my dreams for a better life i.e. takinglife’s lemons to make lemonade.
The two main mental tools that I use are belief andperseverance. A strong belief in what I am doing and perseveringto work that dream to fruition.
Without them I would have stopped when my loved ones laughed atand ridiculed me for chasing pie-in-the-sky dreams.
There is a lot more I could tell you but I will stop here. Thisarticle is not about me but is really about you. I just want youto understand where I am coming from so that we can see thingseye to eye.
My reason for bearing some of my soul to you and sharing some ofmy struggles are for you to draw some inspiration from it. Ifyou find yourself in a similar position or worse, your dreams arestill possible if you believe, persevere and strive for yourgoals.
And someday you may appreciate your tenacity the way I did whenI received my first online check. I will never forget the lookon the face of my co-workers face the day the courier deliveredthe check to my workplace. Or the way my Mom looked when sheheld my check with disbelief. Her first words were “Son, it is agood thing that you did not become a policeman.
Article author
About the Author
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
Why Australians Are Rethinking Skincare as an Act of Self-Care
This article reframes Australia skincare products market (USD 3.5B in 2025, projected to reach USD 4.8B by 2034) not as an industry story, but as evidence of a self-care and personal-growth shift — where skincare rituals mirror habit-formation, mindfulness, and inclusive wellness principles.
August 18, 2026
Article
How Much Money You Can Make Selling Diabetic Supplies
Introduction The world of healthcare often leaves behind unused items, and diabetic supplies are among them. Many people find themselves with extra test strips, lancets, or glucose meters due to changes in prescriptions, insurance coverage, or simply overstocking. This situation raises a natural question: how much money can someone make by selling these supplies? While the answer varies, the journey of understanding this market reveals both opportunities and limitations. The
March 3, 2026
Article
How Solar Appointments Drive Brand Expansion and Customer Trust
The Evolution of the Doorstep Handshake In the early days of the renewable energy boom, the transition to solar power was often viewed as a purely transactional event. Homeowners saw panels on a roof, signed a contract, and hoped for the best. However, as the industry matured, the focus shifted from the hardware itself to the human connection that precedes the installation. This shift has turned a simple meeting into a cornerstone of business growth. The journey toward a sust
February 18, 2026
Article
How Probe Monitoring and Storage Monitoring Are Transforming Environmental Compliance for Modern Facilities
In today’s data-driven world, environmental control is no longer a manual process of checking thermometers and recording numbers on clipboards. Instead, organizations rely on sophisticated digital systems that continuously collect, analyze, and report critical environmental data. At the heart of this transformation are two key technologies: Probe Monitoring and Storage Monitoring. Probe Monitoring involves the use of highly sensitive sensors—commonly called probes
February 10, 2026