Many people have different reasons for getting into affiliate marketing. My original goals were just financial, all I need to do is make a bunch of money and all will be fine, was my mantra. I love working online and if it were a perfect world I would work one hour a day on the computer, play with the kids for five hours a day, get in a round of golf or go fishing, then rinse wash repeat.

That is not how my days are now. I am no longer a full time affiliate marketer and stay at home dad. My wife has taken over that role. The Internet and affiliate marketing has opened other opportunities for me that I could not pass up.

I am now selling very high ticket items on the Internet retail one at a time. I use the Internet as a way to generate leads. I love my new position. In the meantime my spouse has taken over a lot of the mundane task necessary in affiliate marketing and she enjoys them more than I do.

I still do keyword research, product research, create content for our online real estate and manage mailing list. She creates back links and manages search engine submissions, content research, supporting blogs, creating meaningful content at squidoo, keyword research, product research and creating content for our online realestate. She has done a superb job.

So affiliate marketing has allowed us to both do things we love.

Her - Creating content she is proud of, being a huge contributor to our online real estate, networking like crazy, stopping me from outsourcing and making money in the process.

me - Chase a lucrative opportunity using the Internet as a primary source of leads, contributing to our online real estate, albeit miniscule, and managing our mailing list.

The income we recieve from our affiliate marketing pales in comparison to the accomplishments we rejoice in. Our online income from affiliate marketing is at a level now that more than meets our wants and needs and my new opportunity is the icing on the cake. We look at the daily adsense and affiliate reports as a way of keeping score. Can we beat last month is our mantra now.

I cannot define your success. That is only something that you can do. What are your goals? We know ours. You cannot hit a target you do not see and if you don't have goals you don't have direction.

Do you just want to belong and make some money along the way?

You can accomplish that right here at HubPages. For some the sense of belonging is bigger that the desire for fortune and that is an admirable alternative. I know people who spend hours a day playing Yahoo Games and they don't make a dime doing that, but they are part of an online community that has its own rewards.

Do you just want to work from home?

Affiliate marketing is perfect for that, however it's learning curve is steep. You have to be willing to constantly adapt, be prepared for unexpected things and constantly learning. I do not subscribe to the get rich quick mentality. It is full of heartache and disappointment. (IFAHCO) I do not recommend anyone become a full time affiliate marketer from scratch without 3-6 months living expenses in the bank.

Do you want to make serious cash?

We are living proof that it can be done. It did not happen overnight. We worked damn hard to get there and continue to work damn hard to maintain and add to that income. It has also presented opportunities that have never been considered before.