Hi, I’m Mano — the voice behind StackHive.

Back in 2020, I was prepping for college. I was ready to step into the next chapter of my life — full of plans, energy, and excitement.

But then, things didn’t go as planned. Covid hit.

And just like that, everything stopped. My college plans stalled, and I found myself back home, spending most days doing… well, not much. I was stuck in limbo, passing time with distractions and trying not to think too hard about the uncertainty ahead.

However, at some point, I had enough of it. I realized that even though my college plans went down the drain, I still had two things: time and an internet connection.

That was enough to start something.

So I began looking for ways to make money online. I started freelancing — offering my writing skills on platforms like Freelancer.com and Upwork. It was exciting at first, but it didn’t take long to see the cracks. I was putting in a ton of time and energy for very little return. It just wasn’t sustainable — and it wasn’t what I wanted long term.

I realized that making money online wasn't as easy as what the internet made it seem to be. It wasn't just about signing up somewhere and watching the money roll in. It took time. It took learning. And more than anything, it took a lot of trial and error.

I tried things. Some sounded promising but flopped. Others felt too overwhelming to even start. I spent days, sometimes even weeks, stuck in research mode. I jumped from one idea to another, started things I didn't finished, and questioned myself constanstly.

There were moments I felt like giving up, like maybe I was just chasing an illusion. But little by little, things start to click.

I stopped chasing shortcuts and focused on understanding how things actually worked. I started building systems instead of chasing every shiny opportunity. Eventually, I started making real money. Not a fortune. Not overnight. But enough to prove myself that it was possible.

Over time, that "enough" started to grow. These days, I'm making decent money online. It's not 100% passive, and it's definitely not perfect, but it's sustainable.

And now, I want to share some of what I've learned along the way — in case it helps someone else who's just getting started.