Is It Time to Hang Up My Hat and Quit?

Hi Caroline, you are doing great. You buy your freedom by leaving your full time job which is priceless I guess. By the end of August 2008, i will be leaving my full time job too. Your success is my main motivation. Therefore you can not go anywhere! :)

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Good for you, Caroline. I find inspiration in your blog writing. Please continue! :)

Caroline, I thought you might like a reminder of a comment you left on my blog on 1/6/2008:

“…The thing I value probably more than anything else is freedom. I am a free spirit and cannot be tied down, or constrained in any way. I felt so trapped in my job and felt as though I was suffocating. I simply had to quit.”

So unless you’ve saved up enough oxygen reserves to avoid suffocating, it doesn’t seem like quitting is an option! But of course, you already know that.

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Caroline,
Any of us who have studied online marketing even from a distance know it takes time and consistency and quality, not to mention great marketing. I seem to remember a post of yours recently reporting that you made $1300 or so on a month that you took completely off… think about that… that is amazing.

My advice is plan your consistency. Decide that you will be consistent and tell your readers to expect a post every Monday and Thursday or whatever YOUR schedule should be. Then do it for several months and then take a planned break, we all need a break from time to time.

You provide value and the rewards will come. Chart your income for the last 8 months and then project it at the same pace… Its an interesting exercise…

regards…

Wayne

Caroline - your post today really moved me.

I read it in my email reader as I subscribe via email through your Feedburner optin.

I”ve referred several people to your blog because of your great transparency and candor.

My expertise is in helping bloggers monetize their traffic.

Since you’ve expressed the cash flow situation as such, I will take the time to review your site and get you some ideas if you are open to that?

Just shoot me an email and give me the green light. (No charge, of course.)

Please count me as a vote to perservere. You are just one or two tweaks away from being in the $50K + by the end of this summer.

Best wishes,
Rick Butts

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Caroline… to your doubters… the average business takes 3-5 years to get off the ground. It may take that much, if not more, to turn a reasonable profit. Internet based enterprises are no different. Anyone who thinks they will make a killing in under a year is kidding themselves. You start, you learn, you make mistakes, you correct your mistakes and try again.

It took me two years to build my very very narrow niche site into 100 distinct visitors per day (when I don’t post anything new) and 400 when I do post new material. I’m only just putting together an estore, as well as evaluating other online business forms to see what would work for me and my particular audience.

The whole internet business model is yet experimental and open to innovation. Anyone who believes otherwise, or who thinks they have the Answer, is more likely teaching instead of doing ;-)

Keep on Trucking
Gary

Caroline,

I really really enjoyed this post. I have been following and reading your ups and downs, and I have really enjoyed watching you stay strong, believe in yourself and keep pushing.

In regards to the comment you got: doesn’t it seem as if they were talking more about themselves, and their fear of not being able to make the jump?

You have been showing and proving time and time over that you are consistant, and that you have passion. Yes I think financially we all want to succeed, however, those of us who are invested beyond just reasons of income: free time, make our own decisions, call out the path we wish to take, etc. that is the main goal.

I have learned that the journey is much more exciting and meaningful than the destination. A lot of my friends look at the destination, and how fast they can get there, and they make sacrifices too, but sacrifices that I don’t wish to make. 9-5 schedules, always spending most of the time during their day for others, hardly any time for themselves. and much much more.

I have downsized some by choice, others not, and it was a right of passage to transition, now to a feeling of freedom, less attachments, and much more time of my day is focused on myself, my love, and my happiness. I am much more stable and happy than I have ever been. And this is all with less money, and on a journey where the future really is unknown.

and I could not have it any other way!

I have really enjoyed reading your strength, and determination, and getting through your hiccups in life! You are constantly growing stronger and stronger!

cheers to caroline!

glad you are taking advantage of opportunities and doing it!

you rock!

Good for you Caroline…I love reading your blog….And would hate to see you quit…You are an inspiration to many bloggers…So kep going gal !!!

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Hi Caroline,

First off congrats on the $1300 a month. That maybe much less than the full-time job but at least you are making it on your time, at your pace.

Enjoy the freedom that comes with it as well. As a part-time blogger I’m just now looking at ways to monetize my blog.

With a full-time job, a family and the general time commitments that come along with life today, it’s very hard to find time to post.

Keep up the great work and I’m looking forward to Stumble Rush to taking off.

@Hunter, hehe I don’t remember writing that comment! But yeah that pretty much sums me up. I probably value freedom more than just about anything else in life.

@Wayne, well that *was* the plan originally. The month off was due to an unexpected personal crisis and that is something I couldn’t have planned for. I do intend to be consistent in general but when life throws us a curveball you just gotta do whatever you gotta do!

@Rick, thanks very much! And thanks for the tweet also… To be honest, monetizing the blog itself has never been part of the master plan, that’s just a little bonus and as time goes on I would actually prefer to move away from third party advertising and use my screen real estate for promoting just my own work.

@Gary, yup business is business. Thankfully, in the past I have always managed to work up to a full time income in around one year (this is 3rd time in business for me) but I’ve not been doing this full time so it might take longer. Of course you see so many stories on the Internet of people making fortunes very quickly and it is possible so people don’t know what to believe. However for me personally, I’m not attached to the timing. It doesn’t really matter how long it takes.

@gcrush, no I only posted an excerpt of the comment and I think it was a genuine question and it didn’t feel like any kind of criticism.

Interesting that you talk about ‘destination’. I have been thinking a lot about this concept recently, more from a personal level than financial. However I’m starting to realise that there is no destination and when people attach too much importance to some event or milestone in the future that is when they are constantly stressing, constantly wanting and ultimately, never satisfied. I am trying to think of everything now as part of an ongoing and ever-changing journey with no ultimate destination. That allows me to handle change and lifes hiccups a lot better!

If you had a job your income would be dependent on one source that you (probably) have very little control over anyway :)

I always recommend that people should ease into this by doing it part-time rather than quitting a job. I didn’t ease into it either because I was laid off from a job, but it would have been easier if I had. Still, I’m happy to hear that you are going to stick with it. I believe in you too. It does take time, but the ones who are persistent are the ones most likely to succeed. (Plus, you could go out and get a little part-time job if you absolutely had to, but this is your baby! You can’t give that up). :)

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Hi Caroline,

for me it is crystal clear: This was absolutely the right decision!
You turned to something that you really enjoy doing. Much more than most people will ever be able to look back to when growing old.

And you are lucky, too, as you are in a good financial position. So no need to worry about that at the moment and enough time to put all your effort in your already quite successful business.

You are making more money with your internet business than most of your readers are even dreaming about.
So enjoy your success and keep on the good work.

All the best to you
Kirsten

Caroline,

Loved loved loved your post.

I hated my corporate career for most of the 20 years I was in it. I waited wayyyy too long to get out and do my own thing, but it was my body that finally gave out and blessed me with a chronic pain & fatigue condition called Fibromyalgia.

It was at that point that I HAD to stop working. The pain was so bad that I no longer had a choice about making a change. Now I’m living on about $900.00 per month from disability, plus the bit of income I make so far with my internet-related work.

My income has basically been reduced to 25% of what it used to be, but guess what? I can’t remember when I’ve ever been happier or more content! My health is better, I have a fantastic community of online friends and mentors, better family relationships, and I’m heading toward my dream of making a living online, slowly but surely.

I never want to have to work “full-time” ever again. I just want enough to take care of the basics, plus the freedom to travel and learn and be with family and friends, and of course buy the occasional Mac gadget ;-)

There’s no way I’m ever going back to the corporate world, even if I never make more than what you make, a very respectable and hard-earned $1300.00 per month.

I learned it the hard way, but I finally realized that freedom is more important to me than so-called “security”.

Keep up the great work and keep following those dreams that support your values.

Cheers,
Barb

Hey Caroline, You go for it Caroline! You are doing wonderfully, everything is moving in the right direction and most importantly you are living your passion and doing what feels right. You are a talented blogger and motivate and inspire many others. Glad you are in it for the long haul! Gratefully, Jenny

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“I simply cannot see any possibility of failing”.

This is just wonderful.

Given your life/ financial circumstances, it would be a huge mistake to cave in and go back to doing something you hate doing.

An inspiring post.

Vereds last blog post..Not Sure I Am Ready To Be 37

Thanks to Barb for twittering the link, this post pretty much hit the nail on the head as to why I made a decision to pursue an entrepreneurial path as opposed to staying in the illusion of a safe zone that is a job (from which you can be fired at any time and that brings zero personal satisfaction).

Think about it this way: What you’re making on your own is exactly what *you think you are worth*, not what someone else thinks you’re worth. And once you hit those 60-70k/year, do you really want to wait for 5 more years of 9-5 for another raise? The concept of self worth in the corporate environment so ridiculous but it can’t be any other way if the companies are to turn profit. So be glad that most people buy into that ideology and that you didn’t wait longer to get out.

You’ve attained quite a following on the blogosphere and some income. That’s a great start already. Rock on and fuck the system. ;)

(ps. “If I was on a timescale, up against some deadline then it would be a different story.” Do make deadlines. This is probably the single worst enemy of online marketers)

I think you have a good writing style and from what I see, good topics that I personally would be interested in.

Like you, I too have perhaps spread myself a little thin, but I’m working toward narrowing that focus this year. Last year was my year to throw everything I could at the dartboard to see what would stick. That done, now I’m anayzing the results and looking at things differently now that some time has passed.

Good on ya for quitting that day job though. Sometimes that’s exactly what a person needs to find their true calling. I have done that many times, and each time, while scary, turned out to be best for me. I always congratulate people when they quit or get laid off. It’s an opportunity, not neccesarily a bad thing.

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Caroline,

Keep doing what you’re doing. I feel the same way about “authority.” That’s usually a misnomer at any job - having authority doesn’t mean you ARE an authority.

You give too much stuff away for free lol. Seriously, great blog. How about trying something besides the Internet Marketing niche?

Lowell

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I’m so impressed with your “belief in yourself” closing. I’ve been blogging for a couple of years on my golfnoise blog and have learned tons of cool stuff. I’ve dabbled in a few money generation ditties but haven’t really made any significant money with any of them.

And yet, I too, believe that with step by step persistence I’ll reach a place where I can actually make some money on line. So on to the 08 30DC. I’m ready for a whole new rash of Ed Dale’s goodies!

I truly believe the web is the juiciest marketplace on the planet!

Hi Caroline,
Long time reader. I know I sort of live vicariously through your journeys and feel like your victories are my victories and vice versa. I think it would be safe to say we all love your honesty and transparency. As a father of 3, I know about financial realities but hope you can somehow stick with your blog for the long haul. Just want to encourage you for what it’s worth, you have a gift. dave

There’s more to life than money and certainly more measures of success. And, as others have pointed out, it takes time to build a business. With the perspective of your questioner very few would ever start a business or stick with it for the time required for it to be a success.

Sending congratulations and wishing you every possible success.

Evans last blog post..How to Deal with Your Perfectionism

Can I just say? You’re my HERO!!! Love this post - thank you so much for writing it!

Make a difference? Hell yeah, you do!!!

Lisa Marie Marys last blog post..Will Sen. John McCain Walk Ellen Down the Aisle?

You’ve come a long way in eight months. I’m glad you’re staying the course. The first half the of the post made it seem like the opposite. The fact that you can pay a typical mortgage during a month of inactivity clearly indicates what’s on the horizon once your future projects come to fruition.

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Caroline, please DON”T EVER QUIT! You and your blog are very important to me. I open your email first thing whenever I see it in my inbox. I admire you tremendously and you ARE making a big difference in the world, through your honesty, your bravery and your well, actually, your smarts. BTW, Shoemoney just blogged about a Wordpress hacker. Did you see it? I’m too much of a newbie to totally understand it, but maybe you should take a look at it? Thanks for being you…

Caroline,

You know you’re doing the right thing (though the headline had me wondering). I think the last section is so profound, especially: “I simply cannot see any possibility of failing.”

It may take time, but it’s that shot of self-esteem that makes it so likely you’ll succeed. You believe in yourself—that makes all the difference.

Regards,

Kelly

Kellys last blog post..Why Aren’t We Making More Money? Your Pain Points Revealed

Blog success seems to usually come from doing what is a passion. Then it slips into something else. At least that is what I hope. :)

I feel that part of your doubt about this blog is a result of the personal complications that have absorbed your time and intellect and emotions the past couple of years–especially the romantic snafus. I hope that you can find a way to separate the two elements.

You say that you don’t think of this blog in terms of making money–yet if you are to really succeed, perhaps you should rethink this mindset. There’s no reason not to combine the writing you love with the income producing activity you need to survive, hey, more than survive. The ambition evidenced by your undertaking such a time consuming activity demands that you push this blog to its highest potential. Don’t be afraid. Don’t give up. One day you’ll have the income you feel is equal to your efforts.

Don’t lose faith in yourself by taking the words of others so much to heart. And the next time you get romantically involved, perhaps you can find someone who will be a true partner, even in this blog that you love so much.

I can tell u a story about the difference between a winner and a loser, using MLM as an example: (note I am not involved in any MLM)

Winners make a decision and stick to it no matter what. If she chosed a particular MLM business, she will stay with the company for decades. In the end, everyone in the town knows her and what she can offer. After several years, she become the most knowledgeable person about the products and most people will refer to her whenever they have certain health problems.

Losers keep jumping ships. Even before a month with an MLM company, she will continuously finding newer MLMs with better offers. Whenever an offer looks promising, she will quickly jump to that company. In the end, she will be ridiculed by everyone. People could not associate her with any products.

So Caroline, keep with what you are doing right now. Success is so close to you now.

DO NOT JUMP TO OTHER SHIPS

Following your journey is fascinating. I think it’s GREAT that you haven’t had instant success because you can really identify with the bulk of others wanting to follow a similar path.

I guess in a way I’m in a fortunate position in that I don’t earn an income YET. I don’t have to make the difficult decision to actually quit. I do however have a deadline of sorts of when I WOULD have started bringing in an income (in about 12 months time).

I’m continue to follow your progress with great interest. Thanks for your incredible honesty. It’s very refreshing.

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When I told you that all your income was coming from one source and that your $$ numbers were not impressive, you and everyone else here jumped on my back and dismissed everything I said. They all worship you for some strange reason.

Now that someone else who is not me brings it to your attention you listen you them and admit that you are not really making that much? You may know StumbleUpon but that sure isn’t going to make any of your readers any money.

Caroline, I’ve been following your progress since you quit your job last year. I can relate so well to what you were experiencing on the job and why you just had to make the break. We only get on trip around the block in life and we have to make it the best!

I will continue to watch as I am still working out my own career path. More than twenty years in one career has made me successful, but not fulfilled. That’s is exactly why I started blogging…to talk about my journey and to find another connection in my life.

I wish you the best, and thanks for sharing so openly with all of us.

Coryan | UTurnAheads last blog post..Coryan Update: Where the Heck Have I Been?

It takes real courage and self confidence to quite a paying job with nothing in hand but a dream. When someone takes such a risk and things don’t go exactly to plan the less courage will say, told you so. Most of us who follow a dream pay a price measured in blood sweat and tears. When things actually do work others may attributed it to luck rather than hard work.

You have been doubly courageous by first following your dream and second putting your life on stage for others to see, admire or criticize. In both instances you have been honest to your own heart and in doing so displayed a kind of honest direct and unvarnished courage few other can claim. In an age of double talk, flip flopping. media hype and spin such honesty is remarkable and very refreshing - especially when it come to internet marketing in general.

It is often quoted that success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration - something those who want a quick buck never seem to understand. Building a real business requires persistence, something I’d say you have in spades.

Congratulations and all the very best.

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“Even if this source seems secure it is hardly good to be so dependent on the policy of a company you have no control over.”

You know, I actually laugh at these kinds of people. People who think that a job is more secure than IM. Seriously… You can get fired in a day and loose all your income but online even if one source of income gets to 0, you still have the others…

You’re doing the right thing. Hang in there!

Sarah, the reason I admire Caroline is not because she pulls impressive numbers.

It’s because I can relate to her and her challenges ( in life and Internet marketing).

It’s great to read about the experiences of a human being, and not the glamorised version of what Internet marketing is about.

So it’s taking her time to build up her business; that’s normal in business. She inspires me because she perseveres.

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Hello Caroline, I like the points in your post.. But I think some people really have mistaken the internet as a goldmine.. It’s not that I say you can’t make money online but because of stories like you and darren rowse and some other guys who left jobs to go w/something other people can feel despicable, many people are thinking of doing the same thing which I know for sure is not the right thing… I always put it this way.. Making money/living online isn’t for everyone..

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Wow, I didn’t expect to have this effect.

Thanks for such a full answer Caroline. Incidentally my original comment was written a little hastily and reading it back I don’t think I was expressing myself clearly enough. I didn’t actually mean that you should go back to your old job. My comment was meant to say shouldn’t you be diversifying your income more. But at least I have given Ruchir a laugh.

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Having the time and financial freedom to work towards your goal is HUGE. I struggled away at this working full time for years and once I was able to quit, the time I freed up has allowed me to start lots of projects. Still need to finish them too though… oops! ;-)

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I think you are doing great. it’s just 8 months, at least you are earning something and seeing results. There are tons of blogs out there which are earning close to nothing. It takes a little bit more time to get a much bigger profit compared to your full time job. but you will get there eventually, i’m sure.

Hi Caroline - Great title! :-)

I think I said in one of my older comments that you had great courage in quitting your job to go online, whereas I was ‘forced’ to given my illness, and laid off a job paying a handsome 65,000 - my first job outside of Academia!

Fortunately I discovered a passion for the internet like yourself, although my little ‘blogspot’ ‘aint up there yet, but that wasn’t my initial plan to earn. I was originally in the more ‘hard-core’ IM arena, learning the ‘old-style’ ways of marketing, some of which I don’t have a heart for.

Now I know my passion is in writing - it always has been, although I haven’t passed that onto the net just yet. But these are my goals - in blogging and as a freelance writer for other people online (and in the offline world) - but I’m the boss!

Discovering the blogosphere, and being around on the net, watching it change so quickly, especially with this move and trend in the social media/web 2.0 arena, has really sparked my passions even further. there is soooo much to learn. It’s really exciting (so am also looking forward to your Stumble Upon course when its finished - no pressure! I have much to do, including the 30 Day Challenge, so please take your time, hehe)

And when I discovered your blog awhile ago, this ‘cemented’ things for me. :-) You know I love your blog - and you, your writings, your spirit :-)

I can’t wait until I get my blog[s] up and running further - I can’t wait, I can’t wait!! But I just don’t know the technical stuff - I have my wp theme ready, I have 2 main blogs coming, planned (one - a continuation of my ‘hobby’ selfhelp blogspot, the other, which I planned nearly 2 years ago on the same, or similiar topic you are doing (no - am not copying!!!!!!). My ‘online journey too’, which is likely to be quite different from yours.

But I just love reading about people’s journeys online - the ‘real’ stories, not the IM sales pitch we often hear. The blogosphere is so different. and I also look forward to the 30 Day Challenge - hmmmm, will I manage the 1.00! I hope so, but as noted, it is the ‘journey’ that matters.

As others have also said, even with less income/loss of job, even with illness, I have not been this happy and FREE for a long time. I choose when to get up, I choose when to work. I choose to stay in my jammies :-)

No, I am not earning yet - I still have a lot to learn - but because I have been on the computer for 2 years, nearly every day (except when in hospital/ill) - no, actually I take my computer to hospital hehe - I know that I will succeed.

My own money won’t last forever (although I was fortunate in receving a lump sum insurance payment, so finances ok too), but I just feel it in my heart that it will all work out for the best. I am not ‘attached’ to an outcome, as you note too - I am enjoying the good times (and waiting out the ‘bad times!) and believe in myself. I don’t even think about it. I just know.

When I saw your title for this post in my email/in box, I thought - nah! Not Caroline!!! I almost thought - eeh gad, and then I thought - no, I bet when I get to Caroline’s blog, there’s going to be perhaps - “yes it may have been reckless, but it was the best thing I have done” or similiar - and I was right. I know you love your freedom! And I know you would have a hard time returning to corporate world.

I would too - I was absolutely miserable there in the end and my illness was maybe a blessing too in this context. I want to write, blog and have many other projects planned too, notebooks full of ideas - and must avoid the trap of spreading myself too thin.

And the trap of ‘analysis-paralysis’, with too much ‘planning and analysing’ and waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment (although planning is important too of course) - there is no such thing as the perfect moment though - ACTION and persistance/consistence are key - you have them all, these qualities!! :-)

I know I will get there, wherever there may be - will ‘be’! And you too.

GO FOR IT CAROLINE. I am with you all the way, and I have no doubt either that you will succeed :-)

Meg

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@Ross, hehe yes that’s so true!

@DazzlinDonna, to be honest if I were to give advice to others, I would also recommend starting off on a part-time basis first. It’s tough though, especially if you have lots of committments such as family.

@Barb, do you ever wonder if you would still be in that corporate job if your health hadn’t made the decision for you?

@Jeka, yeah it was the lack of promised pay raises that made my decision a lot easier. In most day jobs there is usually some kind of ceiling on what you can earn but in business there is no ceiling other than one that you impose on yourself.

@Wayne, yep I can feeling myself narrowing my focus a lot more now.

@Lowell, one of the projects I have lined up for the future is to work in some completely unrelated niches but I probably wont be starting those until next year.

@Lisa Marie, hehe thank you!

@Andre, well yeah I might have used a little bit of drama to spice up the story a bit and give the ending a bit more punch :p

@Peggy, no I haven’t seen that. I do read Shoe’s blog but i tend to just skim it quickly every week or so.

@Kelly, yeah when you can throw enough time and belief at something, it really has to work out in the end doesn’t it?

@Gloria, I never had any doubt. The headline was simply meant to arouse curiosity in the readers :-) Though my personal problems certainly have affected my work in a big way. With regards to making money from the blog, what I meant is that I am not too interested in direct monetization through ads and affiliate links etc. Though I do feel I can make money as a result of the growth of this blog - but in more of an indirect way. For example, the first customers of Stumble Rush have come from my talking about it here.

@WebForms, that’s a nice story but I also think its a valuable skill to know when it’s right to jump as not all projects / ideas are winners. It’s a fine balance between knowing when something is never going to work and when it just needs a bit more persistence.

@Lightening, yeah when I first started out I would read the blogs of these big successful guys and I couldn’t identify with them at all. That’s why I was so keen to start blogging from day 1 because that way if I do ever start making some err ‘real money’ (whatever that means!) other people can see how that was done starting from zero.

@Sarah, nothing has changed over the last few months. I started Stumble Rush long before you started commenting here. I’ve only ever reported my income as fact, I’ve never judged it as low or high - I leave that for others to argue over.

@Marvin, I don’t take much notice of “I told you so” type people :-) Thanks for the vote of confidence Marvin. When things don’t go so well (like last month) I sometimes wish I didn’t have it all public in this way but hopefully I won’t have too many more personal catastrophe’s to deal with!

@Melvin, I think any business can be a goldmine but the same rules of averages applies - the majority of the money will be made by the minority of the people whilst the majority of people don’t make very much at all. But for some reason, a lot of people seem to think that it is so much easier to make big money on the Internet.

@Colin, yeah I did have every intention to diversify my income more but my personal life has been a bit of a mess ever since I released the ebook so I’ve just not quite got around to it yet! But thanks for your comment - it’s great when a good blog post gets born from a reader comment!

@Kirsty, yeah it is huge. I have to remind myself every day how lucky I am - it’s easy to forget and just take it for granted.

@Megan, I had a few blogs before this one and they were all in the ‘my journey’ type format. One was about my weight loss journey, another one karate training and so on. The cool thing about these kind of blogs is that you don’t have to worry about competing with others because your own story will always be unique and if people like you or resonate with your story then they will read it.

Hehe yeah the title was meant to make people gasp a little bit :-) Anyone who knows me will have known in advance what the conclusion was going to be!

I learned about Internet marketing from Ken McCarthy and every month he interviews a guest and distributes the interview on CD. One of his guests (I forget which) made the comment that most people involved in Internet marketing have some level of attention deficit disorder. I have it and it appears that you do as well!

I agree with you that this trait is not necessarily bad. It may take a few months longer to absorb the information overload, but the knowledge foundation you will build pays off in the long run.

Jonathan Ginsbergs last blog post..Don’t Throw Money at Your Online Marketing Program

You know, it takes a lot of guts to do what you did, and even when you think you’ve made the wrong decision, you can see where the light is at the end of the tunnel and you strive to reach it.

I was born and raised in Colorado and one day I decided to move to Florida. So I packed up my clothes, my dog and cat, and my computers and just started driving.

My Mother would call that sort of behavior “one with a free spirit” … what she really means is, we take risks because you can’t get anywhere if you don’t.

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Well thought out. Thank You.
Since I have been in working in a great lifestyle environment with very low income I have noticed that very few people in such a situation want their high incomes back.
Yet a great many high income people dream of a laid back lifestyle.

Cheers,

Michaels last blog post..Dolphins from a Greek island ferry

Here is the thing Caroline… I wonder why you don’t take help from someone like me who makes money. Why not go with something that works? Now I am offering you help to teach you, and many people would jump at that opportunity.

It just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me that u would go back to a 30 day challenge which never did anything for you in the first place.

So once again this is my final offer to teach you for free. If not then you will stay in the same rut as you have been and will continue to make no money simple as that.

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You said it best with “I Believe In Myself”. As long as you have that going for you, it doesn’t matter what anyones else thinks.

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@Jonathan, lol I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s true! I can’t even watch something on TV without doing something else at the same time!

@Michael, for me, money is a relatively small contibuting facor to my overall level of happiness. I would rather have a happy home life and be poor than rich and lonely for instance.

@Justin, I do appreciate the offer, but due to my personal circumstances I have a very strong need to simply work at my own pace so I prefer to work on my own. It is not a rejection of your teaching as such so I hope you are not offended.

I’m choosing to do the 30DC again not so much for the techniques but because of everything else it offers - I made good friends last year, several of which I am still in touch with now and I was introduced so so many new concepts so I am very excited about what new opportunities it might bring me this year - I don’t really see it as a money making project as such.

Hi Caroline

Two things as I’m not really into the internet making money stuff and have no knowledge in that area, but I left work to chase my dream and after five years I got there! 5 YEARS!

I earnt over 100K sterling a year and left it for what… to become a 40 euro a day Scuba Diving guide ;)

The things that we want we will achieve in the end! It depends whats important money or lifestyle? One big problem you have is your still in Blighty which is DAMN expensive…

Leave England!!!!! ;)

thank you for an inspiring post and for your honesty! and amen to michaels post!
do or die!

I think what you have done here is fabulous Caroline. As for someone saying you are earning only what a low paid part time job makes - what? You are earning more than my full time job! If I was making that much money by doing what I love everyday I would be ecstatic. I guess it’s all relative.
Making a difference counts - being unique, expressing your talents and having faith in yourself - that’s what counts. I don’t believe any of us was put here to be a cog in a machine. We were all meant to shine like the stars.

Lilys last blog post..Dia de Portugal - National Portugal Day!

Caroline, I feel your pain. I’ve followed your blog for a few months now and I’ve found I have some of the same qualities that make things go slowly, too much planning-analyzing etc. But there’s hope. Here is what I’ve learned - it’s The Pareto principle.

Also known as the 80/20 rule. Chances are 80% of what you make is coming from 20% of your effort so you should cut the 80% non producing fat from your efforts and focus on the 20% that’s earning you money. Then make a profile of the 20% money makers and get more of those started.

I came across The Pareto principle from a book named “The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich” by Timothy Ferriss with bonus chapters and other additional resources from his website like spreadsheets and other forms.

There’s so much helpful information in the book I cannot cover it all but there are many editorial reviews from some very well known succesful people and some 680 consumer reviews up on Amazon. I think it’s just the thing you need. Have a look.

Tarrens

@roger, hehe my brother did something very similar. He is still based in the UK but he is a master dive instructor and travels all around the world as a diving instructor getting free holidays! And yeah England is expensive but it’s all I know :-)

@Lily, yes money especially is very relative. There will always be somebody who earns less, earns more, spends less, spends more etc. You can spend your life endlessly comparing yourself with others or you can just work on your own life.

@Tarrens, cool name! Yep the 80/20 rule applies to most things but when you start out with something new it can take a little while to figure out what camp all your activities fall into - what’s the 20% and what’s the 80%. I’m starting to figure that out now.

I don’t question your reasoning for quitting, however I do question one thing. This blog. You have 2,000 RSS Subscribers. With a little work you could be pulling in a couple thousand a month on this blog. It wouldn’t be too hard as even blogs with 400 or less RSS subscribers seem to be making $1,000 a month consistently. Just my thoughts.

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The thing is, most people would love to quit their job and do what they like to do all day long.

It’s cool you have such belief in yourself, and it took balls to quit a wellpaying dayjob. It’s only normal you start having doubts every now and then when things don’t work out the way you like them to.

One thing that does make me laugh from time to time is all these super-duper money making techniques from blogging.

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And don’t we all go through that? I recall my original plans to be a speaker that pretty much washed up all my savings, then finally discovering my SEO talents (and a few dollars coming in), then having second thoughts during a dry spell…but it all works out, and now I have a large SEO client base and growing freelance writing agency. It will all work out if you keep believeing in yourself.

On a side note, you might get a chuckle from this article on working form home, and please feel free to reprint it if you so wish:
http://www.thehappyguy.com/hermit.html

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@Jared, yeah people tell me that all the time. However I want this blog to be a record of how I make money online. If the way I make the money comes mainly from the blog then what do I write about on the blog? It becomes one of those blogs that makes money because it talks about making money… Those kind of blogs irritate me. So I prefer to keep the blog fairly low on monetization and concentrate on other projects for revenue.

@Stefson, I’ve never had any doubts :-)

@David, hehe great article! I’m actually finding the hermit style lifestyle to be the biggest downside of this work though. I do like to have some alone time but not as much as I have now. I miss people-contact quite a lot.

caroline, you’ve gone such a long way in such a short time. you’re an inspiration to many of us. please don’t quit!

Lexis last blog post..The Cost of Starting a Freelance Writing Career

Hi Caroline!

Being true to your ideals is really important for self esteem, so hang in there mate.

Lots of advice has come through these comments, and it can be tempting to do what a poster above called “JUMP TO OTHER SHIPS”. When I started reading at the start of this I thought like Justin and Jared, why not Monetize it? But you are right to stick with your intention to make this blog a record. Real long term satisfaction doesn’t depend on dollars!

Hi Caroline, I just found your website after clicking through a few links (can’t remember where from!).

I think the key bit in this post is the fact that you have very little financial commitment plus a nice lump sum in the bank. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for entrepreneurs doing something because they believe in it and are certain they will make a success of it but would you have gone to a bank to borrow money to fund this business if you had been in different financial circumstances?

I did totally the opposite to you…I was living at home and making a nice income for my circumstances but took the decision to get a full time job in order to be able to move out. I now have a full time job that enables me to pay the mortgage, bills etc and the money I earn from the net in my spare time pays for those extra luxuries like more holidays, gadgets etc.

Again, please don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great what you are doing and, judging from the comments, you have a huge and very loyal readership which is a great achievement in itself…I’m off to read more of your posts to see what goes on here!

@Dollar a day, no I wouldn’t have borrowed money from the bank to fund this business. I didn’t have any money in the bank when I started as I still owned my house then but I did have the equity which I knew I could cash in at some point in the future. However, this is one of those businesses that doesn’t require money to start - but it does require time. It’s possible to do this in your spare time though of course it takes a lot longer.

I’ll second the fact that you should!

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Hi Caroline,

Forgive me for posting this comment so long after you posted, but I have just now been catching up on some of your posts that I missed.

I never heard you mention a child before. Is it your child or your partner’s? What is going on with the child now? Is he/she living with you at your mother’s?

Sorry, as a mom myself, I guess I am curious about these things. I find it odd that no one else has commented about the child.

Pat

@Pat, yeah he was my partner’s son and he lives with her now.

Im glad you didnt! Ive been enjoying your blog posts lately and I’m going to start commenting more too to be part of the community!