My Journey From Survival to Freedom

Hey there! First off, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to get to know me. It truly means the world.

I’m Diana, from the breathtaking country of Croatia in Europe. If you’ve never visited, I highly recommend adding it to your travel list—you won’t regret it. But today, I want to share something even more important with you—my journey. The highs, the lows, the lessons, and the reason this blog exists.

If you’ve ever felt stuck—like you’re merely surviving instead of truly living—then maybe my story will resonate with you.

The Early Years: Stuck in Survival Mode

I started working at 18 because college wasn’t an option for me. We needed money, and the only way to help my mom was to start working right after high school. My childhood was shaped by divorce, financial struggles, and the constant stress that comes with never having enough. Money—or the lack of it—was a never-ending source of tension.

I just couldn’t deal with that kind of life at my age. It was too much for me. I wanted to live life on my own terms.

So, when the chance came to move in with my boyfriend and escape the chaos, I took it. I followed the path I was told would lead to a good life—find a stable corporate job, work hard until retirement, get married, have kids, and everything would be fine.

But “fine” wasn’t enough. My dreams? My passions? They got lost in the routine.

The Breaking Point

Motherhood changes everything. I have three incredible sons (and one tiny, sassy Maltese who runs the house).

And when you become a parent, your priorities shift. You’d sacrifice anything to give your kids a life filled with love, stability, and happiness—everything you wished you had as a child and more.

But the world isn’t what it used to be. Fewer people marry. Many stop at one child—some choose none. AI is replacing entire industries, and many jobs are disappearing. The illusion of security is crumbling.

And there I was—working endlessly, barely scraping by, feeling the crushing weight of debt, exhaustion, and the fear of never getting ahead.

Then one day, I snapped.

I refused to accept this as my reality.

I had spent two decades working, yet I was still trapped in the same cycle. Just the thought of working another 20 years for somebody else, for that miserable salary, living the same life—better yet, just surviving—was unacceptable.

I said to myself: No way. Absolutely not.

I knew I needed to find a way out of this rat race. I just didn’t know how.

Searching for a Way Out

I’ve always been deeply curious, fascinated by how people make money online. So, I started exploring.

My first steps into online business:

Domain Flipping — buying catchy ones and selling them for profit. Sounds easy, right? It wasn’t. The income was unpredictable, and I had to keep paying for domains every year, not knowing if or when they’d sell. It wasn’t a sustainable business model, so I continued to explore other online business models.

Then, I discovered Dropshipping. You’ve probably heard about it. I invested in a mentor, but he didn’t deliver what he promised. I felt lost and confused. The competition in e-commerce was brutal, and without thousands of dollars for ads, I just couldn’t compete. I lost a lot of money, learned my lesson, and moved on.

Next, Amazon KDP caught my eye. I took a course, learned everything I could, and spent months creating and uploading notebooks—only to see them buried under a flood of competitors. Sales? Zero.

Failure after failure.

I felt defeated and embarrassed in front of my family and friends who knew what I was doing. And the hardest part? When my parents told me to “get serious” and find a real job with a better salary.

At that moment, I made a decision.

I stopped talking about my online journey with family and friends—because they simply didn’t understand the potential of online business.

I admit, I spent a lot of money investing in courses. But there’s one thing I never lost: hope.

I kept going because deep down, I knew—I was just one step closer to finding the right path.

Each failure taught me something valuable. Every business I tried gave me new skills and experience that no one could take away from me.

The Turning Point

Instead of chasing the next shiny business model, I invested in knowledge.

I enrolled in a three-month digital marketing course to refine everything I had learned. And suddenly—everything clicked.

I had an “aha” moment.

I saw a clear path. A real, sustainable way to build the online business of my dreams.

And here it is: A blog.

What?! A blog?!

Now you’re probably thinking, No way. How can a blog change your life?

But I promise you, the potential is massive.

The possibilities for monetization are endless. And if you stick around long enough, I’ll teach you everything I’ve learned.

I always believed it was possible to make money online. I just needed to find my way.

This Blog Is for You

I built this blog for women like me.

For the ones who feel stuck. The ones who are tired of just getting by. The ones who dream of more but don’t know where to start. The ones who have tried other business models and failed, just like I did. The ones who are searching for financial freedom.

If you’re reading this, maybe that’s you. And if it is, I want you to know, three things that I have learned on this journey:

First – You are capable of more than you think.
Second – Your past does not define your future.
And third – It is never too late to start a new business.

This blog is just the beginning. Whether you want to make money online, grow an online business, or create financial freedom, I’m here to help.

If you ever have questions, feel free to reach out to me at dijana@blogtowealth.com

Let’s go on this journey together.