I’m Caroline Middlebrook, who are you?

Hi Caroline,

I LOVE stories like this. People with dreams and motivation, I really love it! I recently quit the JOB too, and am just “going for it” with both online business and offline.

Remember the only way to fail is to quit!

You’ll do awesome!

Mike

PS you’re one of the FEW people I follow on twitter, and I’m glad I did. It’s motivating to know motivated people!

Holy Crap Caroline! This is almost my exact same story! I left a good job with no specific idea and no savings – only a belief that I could succeed if I put my all into it. I purposefully left myself without a life preserver so I would have sink or swim. I tried starting businesses in my spare time, but I think that in order to really succeed, you’ve got to have that fire under your butt of having no other choice but to succeed.

Congratulations for making this bold decision to take back your life!

Christine

WOW, amazing. I will be doing the same by the end of this year. I do have others dependent on me so end of the year is it. I will have several blogs that will be niched and will see which produces the right living I need to be in.

I love the sound of making money for myself rather than making money for someone else. The fire she be a burning. I look forward to seeing us all living on our own easy street.

You are an inspiration!!!
Thanks,
Pamela

@Pamela, oh yes I am familiar with that fire! Glad you found it inspiring :)

Hey Caroline!

Huge congrats to you for taking the leap into the unknown.

I’ve been an entrepreneur myself ever since I arrived in San Diego, CA in ‘99 (from my home of Edinburgh, Scotland for 20 years prior!) I’ve never looked back.

I now run an entirely mobile internet business traveling the US and Canada in a big motorhome with my hubby. I have information products and affiliate programs; I do coaching & consulting and teach an online intro class about using Facebook for business purposes.

If I can do it, you definitely can!!! I’m so excited to connect further with you.

Cheers,
Mari

Congratulations Caroline!

I myself have that same itch that can’t be scratched. All my academic life I have been working towards a life in the corporate world. A basic degree, an MBA, & a few jobs later, I am only feeling that desire to carve my own path. I have been with a few blue chip companies already, yet I still don’t see myself up there.

I have actually left work twice already to be my own boss but somehow my partner & I didn’t manage to get things off the ground. I think it was just bad planning, because while I have gone back to fulltime employment, partner pressed on (albeit in a totally diff industry) & now is a partner of a retail chain; with (I think) he’s 3rd store opening soon.

And things for me are even more complicated now that I am a father with our 2nd one coming soon.

At this moment in time I may have finally found something I am passionate enough about to take it through- parenting. Even I myself am surprised at how much I enjoy it since being a father 3 years ago.

My parenting blog is only 3 months old & I am now starting to plan on where I want to take it – all this while I have only been concentrating first on building some valuable content & readership.

I hope to “absorb” some of your motivation & guidance in your path, even if it is online!

Thanks!

@Mari, thanks very much, it’s always encouraging to hear from other entrepreneurs. You have some beautiful photographs on your blog – very inspiring!

@JLow, Your son is almost the same age as mine. I’ve failed in business before, several times. I think that a lot of the time, success doesn’t come until a trail of failures have been endured first! Stick at it :)

Good for you Caroline. Life is too short not to find one’s dream. It has to be done or what’s the point in living?

By the way, why not make a web badge for your blog so people can put your badge on their site if they wish to do so ?

@Katrine, exactly! And what do you mean by a web badge? Do you mean like a link button?

The oracle called Wikipedia has that answer for you if you type “Web Badge.” :>

Just take a look at my blog and see the tiny version of my blog’s banner in the upper right hand corner. That is a web badge. Click on that web badge and it will take you too a site where you can make your own web badge and supply you with the html tags and attributes.

Best wishes to you…

I hope everything is coming together for you. I liked reading your story, and wish you the best of luck.

“I know there is a better life out there for me and I just have to find it.” Agreed.

@Rob, Thanks very much Rob :)

Nice story. after 10+2 exam , i started blogging… never go for a job, now it’s my profession.
Good Luck to you!

Hi Caroline, I congratulate you on your courage! I’m from Italy, I teach English in my home town and I’m very fond of my job even tough it is bad paid and incostant…Many times I’ve thought to give it up and change job but that’s really what I’d like to do…Try to make dreams come true is the most important thing! You are trying and I’m sure you can succeed!
Bye, Claudia

Hey Caroline,
This is an awesome story and similar to mine. I moved my family over from Australia in April 2006 to chase the dream and it is all happening. There is still lots to do – but hey – what else is there to do? Nothing but strength to you!
Bruce

Hi Caroline,
I read you ebook on niche sites, I was glad and surprised it was free. Very good info there. I also followed the steps to start setting up my own sites, but most of the problems I’ve run into are due to my incompetent host. So I’m going to take your advice and give BlueHost a shot. I tried to save some money by going bargain and that’s what bit me.

I love your story and though I aim to do exactly the same I simply don’t have enough courage to quit my job flat out, well not yet. But I’ve been up late everynight and weekends spending all my free time reading, researching and experimenting. So something’s gotta give, at least that’s my theory.

Thanks for the awsome advice in your ebook.
Charlie.

@Charlie, Yeah its very difficult getting a new venture up and running whilst also holding down a full time job as well but these days I think new sites can be developed more quickly. I was very fortunate that I was financially viable enough to just quit my job, not many people have that luxury.

hi Caroline, congrats for making hard decision. I left my good job January 2008 to pursue my dream of become Internet Marketer too, and yet here I am still no clue what I’m going to do. I do have some adsense sites but I don’t want to depend on it, I want to learn about affiliate, still researching and learning …

My problem would be English is not my native language, so misspelling and improper English sometimes can make visitors leave my website quick.

I’m so glad I’ve found this website, reading your journey, we can do it !

I am to scared to sacrifice the sure pay check for the unknown. I to would love to make my blogging offset enough income to one day go at least part-time at my day job. Perhaps only do Tues through Thursday. Have a nice four day weekend to do my other passions.

Keep up the great work and good luck.

Jeff

Jeff B’s last blog post..Freaky Friday Link Love – 15February2008 Piratepods Interview

Hi caroline.. I’ve wrote some blog review about your blog, if you need to replace or fix the writing or adding something else please let me know.

locos’s last blog post..Caroline Middlebrook

Hi Caroline,

I’ve visit your web from referred by shoemoney.com. I got your wordpress how-to file and I’m interesting to work on Internet also.

This year i will be 35 years old. I am now working as a teacher in the university. I hope before 40 I will become successful on Internet business enough to stop teaching face-to-face and focus more on giving knowledge the way you are doing now.

Thank you and look forward to hear from you sometimes,
Chatchai

Hi Caroline.

I just just dropped by and took a quick look here. I read several posts, and appreciate your candor. I do, however, wonder why you’re in IM. I may have missed it — I think I only had a chance to read six or seven posts, and I do tend to hop about while reading…

Like I said, why IM? I understand your interests are in programming and gaming (specifically MMPORGs…), so why not blog about those? They might be more fun for you, no?

Good luck, and really, if you haven’t already, do think about writing a programming and/or a MMPORG blog.

—

BTW, did you know you have a nemesis? You can thank him for my visit. ;-)

@Rick, this blog didn’t come about as a result of asking the question “what shall I blog about?”. I was a programmer and I decided to quit my day job in order to build an Internet Marketing business and this blog was put here to record that journey. I’m no longer doing programming so I couldn’t blog about that.

A nemesis? Who? I’m intrigued lol!

Caroline:

Fair enough about not wanting to blog about programming. But why would you not want to blog about [insert your favorite MMPORG title here]?

As for your nemesis, he’s a Black Hat SEO guy living in Puerto Rico. He’s quite rough around the edges and has a lot of disdain for white-hatters.

Vic has a LOT of good information on his site; it just rubbed me the wrong way how he repeatedly holds your blog up as an example of how to do a lot of work and still not make money.

Here’s the link: http://bloggerunleashed.com/monetization/making-money-online-a-different-beast/

Vic has been doing a lot of vlogging lately, and I don’t think a day goes by when he doesn’t disparage your efforts here. He seems to have an axe to grind, hence I have dubbed him “Victor, Nemesis of Middlebrook”.

@Ric, oh yeah I’ve heard of him, don’t read his blog tho. He doesn’t live in the same world as me so I don’t think it matters too much if he doesn’t like me.

I didn’t start a blog about mmorgs or whatever because blogs are hugely time consuming and don’t make much money! I need to make a living, not just spend all day writing about games :)

My congratulations for having the courage of convictions to pursue your dream. The fact you can develop software is no doubt a big advantage to you as a blogger, to offer your readers original software.

I wish you success.

Bravo !

Put you in my RSS Reader and subscribed to your newsletter !!

I’ll be following your example !!!

~ Alex

Alexander Zoltais last blog post..Aaarrrrrgh !!!

Hi Caroline,

Great intro to a blog. Looks like you have been fairly successful here. 3500 subscribers is a lot. Keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Jeremy

Jeremy Days last blog post..Interesting News From the Blogosphere

Hi Caroline,

Remarkably nice site. You have a great clarity about you.
Have downloaded your ebook(pdf) on WP(Niche Sites).
Am currently devouring it as my Christmas reading material.

Could we have your permission to pass this on to our own readers, via our web site & email?
You will get full credit & link on our site.

All the very best, & a very Happy Christmas.
Good luck with your continued success.

Was going to ask if you were interested in becoming an affiliate partner of the ThinkAndGetRichBootcamp, see you are already there. FinancialCoaching.ie has its base camp here in Ireland. Any way we could collaborate, would be open to suggestions?????????

Darrell

Darrells last blog post..Think & Get Rich Bootcamp – What’s the Big Secret?

@Darrell, it is best to contact me privately via my contact form with your questions: http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/contact/

I like your story.I now want to make my dream come true like you but it does not succeed yet. I always think I want to support myself independently, by not working for companies. I just create blog a few years but still not earn enough money to support me. Therefore, i am still working for getting pay-check every month.

vuthas last blog post..Cricket Vendor

I feel like imitating this introduction post of yours.And as a matter of fact I think,you have indirectly asked me to do that through the title that says: “I’m Caroline Middlebrook, who are you?”

I will do that soon on my blog leave a link to your site to give you the credits.Thanks for the inspiration!

John Onams last blog post..CASHBANC Guide

Hi Caroline. I noticed you are located in the same town where I grew up. I live in Devon now but am quite nostalgic for Essex! I went to Greensward school. Ah – those were the days. Elizabeth.

Hi Caroline

I was wondering what them you used for your blog and where I can get one like it.

Thanks

Ken

@Ken, scroll down and check my theme footer.

Hi Caroline
I’m doing your course and have set up my blog which is very basic at the moment. Caroline I’m really impressed by the way you do things and the way in which you explain the blogging subject with such ease. Caroline I’ll be sixty in March of 2009 but may not announce that on my blog. I was one of Victoria, Australia’s first women Computer programmers and am passionate about putting stuff on computers. Caroline thanks so much and when my blog becomes good enough I intend to support your site when you think that will be O.K. Is there any way Caroline that I can get you to help me to design my blog so that it does not look so amateurish and Word Press themish-like? If you can help I don’t mind paying you. I’ve got some experience with HTML. I’m actually trying to optimize my blog ASAP but haven’t been able to cocentrate on making it look really great as it took a couple of weeks orientation to get it up. Thanks for the terrific articles. If you are interested in sending me some material on design please email me when you can about how much it will cost. Thanks Again. Regards Janice Ridley-Lee Melbourne, Australia.

Janice Ridley-Lees last blog post..Welcome To janice-lee.info A New Blogger’s World

@Janice, the best way to get your site not to look amateurish is to use a good-looking theme. That way you don’t have to worry about HTML or anything like that. I don’t do any client work myself but try ELance if you need some technical or design help.

Hi Janice – Take a look at my new site. The blog there is my design and I did it by tailoring Thesis. I’m not a designer, I just enjoy being an amateur designer. Thesis is infinitely tailorable and was developed by Chris Pearson. My site is offering online courses in using Wordpress and Thesis together, but these won’t be starting until April.

If you want to get going on your own, you can buy Thesis (it’s reasonably priced) and use it out of the box. Then later when you are ready you can ask someone to tailor it for you or do minor modifications yourself.
Liz