College dropout makes over Rs 15 lakh a month from passive income: 'I work 4 hours a day'

Despite a staggering student loan, Amy Landino decided to drop out of college. (Representational)

An American college dropout's unconventional journey has transformed her life from financial insecurity to generating a staggering monthly passive income of $18,000 (Rs 15.13 lakh). Fifteen years ago, despite accumulating $50,000 in student loans, Amy Landino took the decision to leave college behind, believing it was the best choice for her future. Today, she credits that leap of faith—and a passion for video creation and social media—with reshaping her career.

At the time of her departure from academia, her peers were struggling to find employment. "None of my friends who’d graduated were landing jobs," Landino, 39, told in an essay submitted to CNBC Make It. Faced with the prospect of sinking further into debt to finish her degree, she opted for a position as a public policy assistant instead. However, the weight of her decision pressed down on her, prompting her to seek fulfillment beyond the constraints of her job.

It was during this uncertain period that she stumbled upon her true passion: creating videos and sharing them on platforms like YouTube. "I was thrilled when I discovered this site where I could upload my videos for free and share the links with friends," she said.

As social media began to rise in popularity, she recognised her ability to navigate these platforms effectively—a talent that would soon become her lifeline.

A pivotal moment occurred when a friend recognised her knack for video content and social media. "She suggested I could do it professionally. It was the aha moment that changed everything," she explained. This realisation ignited a spark, leading her to launch a side hustle that involved managing social media accounts for small businesses. Juggling this endeavour with her full-time job, she dedicated evenings and weekends to grow her burgeoning agency.

In 2010, she took the plunge and quit her stable job to focus entirely on her business. To build her brand, she tapped into her video editing skills, creating informative content about social media marketing.

Yet, it was a moment of desperation that sparked a breakthrough: during a month with little revenue, she decided to sell an online course teaching businesses how to create their own videos. "That was my first taste of passive income—I made about $1,000 in revenue in a single day from one email," she recounted in the essay.

What started as a small project rapidly evolved. With each new video uploaded to her YouTube channel, AmyTV, she found not just an audience but a lucrative revenue stream through advertising. She has since produced over 1,000 videos, including the popular “Plan Your Best Year Ever! My 7 Step Goal Setting Process,” which continues to garner views and generate sales of her planner.

Moreover, her growing community encouraged her to expand her offerings into book publishing. She authored three titles, including “Vlog Like a Boss” and “Good Morning, Good Life,” selling approximately 40,000 copies since 2017. The latter inspired the creation of a paper planner aimed at streamlining morning routines, contributing to over $140,000 in sales.

Today, her diverse portfolio encompasses YouTube ads, affiliate revenue, brand collaborations, and product sales.