The Real Story Behind This Blog
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So I’m going to be real.
I’m starting again…again. Or again?
It’s 6th February 2026. I am sitting on my couch thinking of my current situation and what my options are.
Who Am !?
Quick background. I’m 39, mum of four, based in London. Muslim, Bengali and English mixed heritage.
I won’t pretend my life is straightforward, because it very much isn’t.
For over 16 years I worked in the beauty industry. Bridal hair, makeup, henna..the lot. I was freelance and I loved it and I was genuinely good at it.
I’ve also got a hairdressing qualification and lash tech training, so it wasn’t just something I fell into overnight.
But the thing is…freelancing beauty work is gorgeous when it works. It is absolutely brutal when it doesn’t.
Especially when you’re juggling motherhood, especially when you’ve got little ones at home and especially when life throws some pretty hefty curveballs…which mine did.
So two years ago, I made the decision to quit.
Fully quit.
And step into something I’d actually been quietly building on the side for a few years already.
How I Fell Down the “Make Money Online” Rabbit Hole
It started in 2020.
Lockdown, the kids were driving me up the wall (lovingly, obviously) and I found myself falling down YouTube and TikTok rabbit holes about making money online.
Print on demand. Digital marketing. Social media management. Facebook Ads. Google Ads.
Invested so much money and time in all of it. Like thousands of pounds. It all worked but I wasn’t consistent and had serious shiny object syndrome. Especially having my lovely ADHD brain.
But I kept going because the idea of being able to work from home, on my own terms, around my kids, from my sofa in my pyjamas…that was the dream!
That was what kept me coming back.
I taught myself digital design using Canva. I learned video editing. I set up a print on demand shop. I dabbled in social media marketing and even ran a little Facebook and Google Ads agency for a while. I built websites. I created digital products.
Was it a smooth ride?
Absolutely not.
Was there a point where I questioned the whole thing and thought about going back to doing bridal makeup on weekends?
More than once, actually.
But here’s what kept me going: I genuinely wanted to prove to myself more than anyone, that a mum like me could build something online.
Not some 22 year old with no responsibilities and unlimited free time.
Me. With four kids, a household to run, and about forty seven things on my to-do list at any given moment.
So, What Exactly Is VeriPassive?
Great question.
VeriPassive is my corner of the internet where I’m going to be completely transparent about my journey to build a real, sustainable online income…while also being a full-time mum, a wife, and someone who genuinely values her sanity.
The name says it all, really. “Veri” as in, real. Genuine. No fluff.
And “Passive” because ultimately the goal is to build income streams that don’t require me to be “on” all the time. Well for the most part eventually…
Income that works while I’m picking up the kids from school, making dinner or finally sitting down for ten uninterrupted minutes.
Why I Really Started This…
I’m not going to sit here and pretend I started VeriPassive because I woke up one morning with some grand vision. The truth is a bit more human than that.
Life hasn’t always been easy.
I won’t go into all the details here…that’s a conversation for another day but I’ve been through some serious stuff.
I know what it feels like to not have a safety net. I know what it’s like to have to figure things out completely on your own with no one really showing you the way.
And that’s exactly why I want to do this.
Because when I was in those tough spots, I wished there was someone like me.. an introverted ADHD Muslim mum, someone from a similar background, someone who actually got it just laying it all out honestly.
No gatekeeping. No sugar-coating.
So that’s what VeriPassive is. It’s me, being that person, for you. ان شاء الله
Here’s my fav productivity products from amazon!
What I’ve Learned So Far
Mistake: Trying to Do Everything at Once
When I first started exploring online income, I was like a kid in a sweet shop.
Print on demand!
Dropshipping!
Affiliate marketing!
Social media management!
Facebook ads agency…
I was trying to learn and do all of them simultaneously and predictably, I did none of them particularly well.
The lesson?
Pick one or two things. Get decent at them. Then expand.
Revolutionary advice, I know, but genuinely…I wish someone had just sat me down and said that from the start.
Read this book…It is an absolute game changer!
🔗Absolute game changer for me… Atomic Habits by James Clear
Mistake: Waiting Until Everything Was “Perfect”
Oh, this one. I spent months tweaking my Canva designs, rewriting product descriptions and overthinking every single decision before actually putting anything out into the world.
You know what?
Nobody was waiting for my perfect launch. Nobody even knew I existed yet.
The lesson?
Done is better than perfect.
Seriously. Just get it out there, see what happens and adjust as you go.
The internet is very forgiving of imperfection…trust me on that one.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Pinterest
For the longest time, I completely underestimated Pinterest. I thought it was just a place where people saved recipes and wedding inspiration boards. Turns out, it’s actually one of the best platforms for driving traffic to blogs and websites, especially for the kind of content I’m creating.
Pinterest is essentially a visual search engine. People are actively looking for content like “work from home ideas for mums” or “muslim family travel guides” on there. And there are barely any creators coming from my exact perspective. That’s a massive opportunity.
🔗 Pingenerator My Fav Pinterest Scheduling Tool
What’s Next
Now you know who I am and why this blog exists, here’s a little sneak peek at what’s coming.
I want this to be genuinely useful to you..not just another blog you click on, skim and forget about.
Here’s what I’ve got planned:
- Real income reports – I’ll be sharing exactly what I’m earning (or not earning) online, so you can see what actually works and what doesn’t. No made-up numbers here.
- Work from home guides – practical, step-by-step advice on building an online income, especially for mums who are time-poor and energy-poor (same).
- Simple living & productivity – because honestly, if I can’t keep my own life organised, I’ve got no business telling anyone else how to do theirs.
- Digital products – I’ll be sharing some free and paid resources that I’ve created (or curated) to actually help you, not just to fill up a shop.
Why You Should Stick Around
There are thousands of blogs out there about making money online.
I get that.
So why bother with mine?
Because most of them aren’t written by someone like me. They’re not written by a Muslim mum of four who’s been through the wringer, who speaks four languages, who used to do bridal makeup for a living and who is now trying to build something from scratch – again – with a toddler on her hip and a teenager rolling eyes in the background.
I’m not going to pretend I’ve got all the answers.
I really don’t.
But I’m going to share everything I learn along the way…the wins, the losses, the “what the actual heck” moments and I hope that if you’re in a similar boat, this place feels a bit like home.
Let’s Do This Together, Yeah?
If you’ve made it this far, first of all, thank you. Genuinely. It means a lot that you stuck around for all of that.
VeriPassive is just getting started, and I’d love for you to be part of it. Whether you’re a mum trying to figure out how to make money from home, someone looking for a more intentional way of living, or just a curious soul who likes a good story – this blog is for you.
Here’s what I’d love you to do:
- Follow along on Pinterest and TikTok – that’s where I’ll be most active, and honestly, TikTok is where the fun stuff happens.
- Bookmark this blog – new posts are coming regularly, and trust me, you don’t want to miss the income reports.
- Drop a comment below – seriously, tell me about yourself. Are you a mum too? Are you trying to make money online? Are you just nosy? All welcome here.
This is only the beginning. And honestly? I can’t wait to see where it goes. Bismillah, let’s go.
— Shaz, Founder of VeriPassive