Imagine spending weeks building a course, only to watch it fail. That’s exactly what happened in 2019 to the founder of Tutorials Dojo, Jon Bonso. He had spent weeks building a React Native course. He recorded, edited, and re-recorded, hoping people would buy it. However when it finally launched, the effort didn’t match the reward. It was one of those career-defining moments where you ask yourself: “Am I even in the right industry?”

Instead of quitting, Jon decided to make a strategic pivot. Five weeks later, he released something completely different: an AWS Developer Associate practice exam. It is simple and a practical tool for people studying cloud certifications. As someone who tried a lot of things to make his business work, he didn’t expect that a single product would generate that much in total revenue and still provides a steady income stream today.

That pivot revealed one of the most important truths in business and wealth creation: Not all hard work pays equally. Some efforts become income streams. Some efforts create long-term freedom. In business terms, what he built was a “Cash Cow”— a scalable product that generated steady revenue. But alongside it, he nurtured an “Investment” system: a disciplined financial engine that grew beneath the surface. Mastering both became the foundation that allowed him to build wealth and support his migration journey, a blueprint that any tech professional can follow.

What Is a Cash Cow and Why Digital Products Work So Well

In traditional business strategy, a cash cow is a product or business unit that generates steady, reliable profits over time with minimal ongoing investment. Once the initial costs are covered, a cash cow continues producing cash, often funding new ventures or stabilizing the company’s finances. Translating this to the world of digital education and tech: a well-built, evergreen course or product can become your personal cash cow. Since digital products don’t require physical inventory, shipping, or geographic boundaries, they are especially suited for this model so demand for skill-based digital education continues to grow worldwide. 

Online learning is not a short lived hype. The global market for digital education is huge. In 2023, total revenue from online education worldwide was already estimated at USD 166.6 billion. Analysts expect that over the next few years the market will keep growing significantly. 

In other words, if you build a product that stays useful like a course, a study guide, a certification prep and you price it for a global audience, there are people out there who will pay. People in the US, Europe, Asia, and beyond.

That’s what Jon tapped into. He didn’t build just for his local community. He built for the world. With his AWS practice exam, he created a global digital product that sold repeatedly, even while he slept, a textbook example of a Cash Cow.

Three Key Principles Behind A Successful Cash Cow

1. Build Once, Sell Forever

 The magic of a Cash Cow lies in its longevity. The AWS exam demo that Jon developed took only a few weeks to put together, but because cloud computing, particularly AWS, remains in demand globally, the product stayed relevant for years. It didn’t need monthly updates like a news blog, yet it continued bringing steady revenue. For digital products with core tech content such as cloud fundamentals, programming, certifications, and the like. This evergreen nature is a major advantage.

2. Think Global, Price for a Global Market

One common limitation for creators in countries like the Philippines is thinking locally: pricing for local currency and targeting local buyers. Jon avoided this trap. From the beginning, his product was built for a global audience, developers and learners worldwide who pay in USD or comparable currencies. This strategic positioning dramatically increases earning potential.

3. Pivot When Necessary, Don’t Fall in Love With Ideas

Jon’s first attempt failed. Instead of doubling down and wasting time, he pivoted quickly. He looked for a niche that was under-served such as self-studying cloud aspirants and delivered exactly what they needed: certification practice exams. In that calm “blue ocean,” demand was high and competition low. The ability to recognize failure, learn from it, and shift course quickly is fundamental, not just in digital products, but in any tech career path.

Jon’s success is not unique in the global digital education and online business space. Many creators and entrepreneurs have built long-term income using a similar model. Ali Abdaal, for instance, leveraged online courses, digital products, and passive income streams such as membership programs and affiliate revenue to build a sustainable business. His example shows how knowledge-driven products can become serious income engines. Another is Rob Percival, a web development instructor, built Udemy courses that continue to generate passive income years after launch. His approach was simple: pick in-demand topics, deliver real value, and keep the content evergreen. Online courses, templates, toolkits, and digital guides can continue generating income as long as demand remains steady.

Similarly, many people have turned simple digital courses, e-books, or templates into passive income. Case studies show that with automation and consistent value delivery, even low-cost digital products can yield significant returns over time. That is why evergreen tech courses, certification prep materials, and foundational programming or cloud-based content remain a smart strategy in 2025.

The Investment: Savings, Discipline, and Financial Safety 

A Cash Cow provides income, but it can get sick. Without a strong financial base, earnings can evaporate due to mistakes, algorithm changes, market shifts, or personal emergencies. It is important to build a financial discipline that can protect your wealth and can enable your growth. 

A High Savings Rate as Business Capital

In contrast to the standard saving system which is around 20%-30% of your income, Jon built financial stability by consistently saving 70–80% of his income. This aggressive savings rate created a massive cash buffer that provided him with financial freedom. It allowed him to:

1. Invest in New Tech: Pay for AI tools and high-quality tech that cut content creation time from weeks to hours, minimizing burnout and enabling fast expansion into new topics.
2. Offer Deep Discounts: Sell loss leaders without stress, because the business’s financial base was secure and not dependent on immediate profit from each sale.
3. Fund Migration: Savings and assets such as stocks and REITs provided essential documentation for his visa application to Australia.
4. Make Strategic Moves: Take calculated risks without pressure or panic.

In parallel, Jon invested in assets like stocks and real estate trusts to diversify income and build long-term financial resilience. In other words, while the Cash Cow generates active income, the investment side creates safety and freedom. Through this disciplined approach combined with a scalable Cash Cow, He achieved financial stability in his early 30s before migrating, not through luck, but through deliberate strategy.

How This Blueprint Applies to Your Career

Jon’s story is powerful because it is repeatable. The path to building wealth and creating options in tech, whether you aim for remote work or migration, depends on adopting this two-engine model.

If you are reading this and feel stuck in a low-paying job or unsure about giving up stability for risk, this blueprint is for you. Here’s how to begin:

1. Find a problem people are constantly solving globally.
   It could be passing a certification, learning a programming language, mastering Excel, or building project-ready skills. These problems are not local, they are universal.
2. Build a minimal viable product (MVP).
   Don’t wait for perfection. Create something that solves the problem now: a practice exam, a cheat sheet, a short course, or a template.
3. Price it for a global market.
   Use USD or other internationally accepted currencies. Even if you are in the Philippines, global buyers will pay global prices.
4. Save and invest from the beginning.
   Treat your earnings not as spending money, but as capital. Build financial discipline before scaling up.
5. Automate and scale.
   Once the product sells, automate as much as you can: delivery, updates, marketing, and customer support. The goal is to generate income without trading more of your time.
6. Be ready to pivot.
   If something doesn’t work, learn quickly. Use feedback and data, and shift to what works. Avoid getting emotionally attached to ideas.

With this approach and the right discipline, you do not need luck. You need consistency, strategy, and the grit to build.

Why This Matters for Filipino Tech Professionals and Global Aspirants

For many Filipinos, tech offers a way to earn more, work remotely, and explore opportunities abroad. But local salaries and local pricing can limit how much you actually earn.

Jon’s approach shows a different path. By thinking in global dollars, focusing on skills that stay in demand, saving and investing consistently, and building digital products that scale, you’re not just increasing your income. You’re creating freedom.

Freedom to choose where you live, when you work, and how you grow. Freedom to invest in yourself, take risks, and plan for the future. In a world where tech skills meet global demand, this “Cash Cow + Investment” approach isn’t just a strategy, it’s a way to open doors that many never realize exist.

Takeaways That Can Shape Your Career

Jon’s story isn’t about luck or being in the right place at the right time. It’s about building two engines that work together. One creates income, the other creates safety. The Cash Cow generates revenue that scales. The Investment system protects that revenue and gives you the freedom to take risks, learn, and grow.

This approach works not just for Jon, but for anyone in tech who is willing to think globally, act deliberately, and stay disciplined. You don’t need a perfect idea, a huge audience, or millions in savings to start. You need one useful product, a clear plan to save and invest, and the courage to pivot when something doesn’t work.

For many Filipinos in tech, this kind of approach simply creates more room to breathe. You can earn from global clients while still living at home. Remote work feels more secure, not like something that could disappear any minute. And it opens up real choices whether you want to save more, grow your skills, or someday explore opportunities abroad.

So here’s the bottom line: start small, think big, and keep moving. Build something that lasts, protect your income, and give yourself the freedom to make choices. Jon did it after a failed course. You can do it too. The next step in your career or life might just start with one idea and the discipline to see it through.