The Grass Is Definitely Greener…


As I sit here writing this on my 46th birthday,with my daughters sitting on the couch next to me and my girlfriend quietly working around the house, I’m at peace. Pure, unadulterated peace. But...

A Most Unexpected Thanksgiving Gift


I have a great deal to be thankful for in my life but typically Thanksgiving’s aren’t particularity important to me because I don’t have my girls nor do I have any family here. But...

50 Ways To Be Awesome Instead Of Ordinary


This article was originally posted on SingleDadFitDad.com Life is nothing more than what we make of it. We can either live a life that inspires nobody or we can chose to live a life...

6 Lessons I Learned From My Darkest Days Of Marriage And Divorce


This post was originally published on SingleDadFitDad.com. I though it was very relevant to all those who read this site, so here it is… In December, it will mark the three year anniversary since...

The Longest Product Launch In History


On a chilly autumn day almost 5 years ago, I sat down at my computer and started typing my first ever blog post. Roughly 30 minutes and 27 grammatical errors later, I was officially...

I Had A Dream….


Yes, I had a dream. Not quite as prolific as MLK, but significant in its own way. The other night I woke up freezing cold, yet my shirt was soaked with sweat. I was...

Life Doesn’t Get Better Until You Make It Better


Man, how life can change. It still blows my mind to think where I was just a few short years ago and where I am today. I’ve been thinking a lot about my past...

So Good I Can’t Be Ignored


As you may or may not have noticed, my frequency of posting on EndingTheGrind has slowed quite a bit over the last few months and there are a few reasons for this: I have...

How To Stop Your Ego From Wrecking Your Dreams


This is a guest submission from Sarah Moore from PositivelyDreaming.com Lots of people spend lots of time looking for lots of scapegoats on which to pin their bullshit. They rustle up elaborate excuses for...

WTF Was I Thinking When I Walked Away From Two Ivy League Degrees?


This is a guest submission from Ling at business-soulwork.com I am a Misfit Rebel Maverick… always have been, always will be. I have cut off my limbs to fit into “other people’s boxes” and...

Baby Got Back


I bet you wish this was about booty shaking and early 90’s hip hop, don’t you?!? Unfortunately, it’s not quite as exciting as all that but I do want to talk about something that’s...

Don’t Give Up On Your Passion. Ever.


This is a guest submission from Ron Schaffer from fanningtheember.com Actually, this wasn’t intended to be a post at all. Ron sent me an email in response to a post I write a few...

6 Months And It’s A Whole New World


This is a guest submission from Lauren from TheMadToLive.com Have you ever been, or are you, in that inertia-filled place in your life when you wake up each morning thinking, “What the hell am...

Is Following Your Passion A Terrible Idea?


Truth be told, I have been struggling a lot lately with my mission. My mission, as I have made clear to you all, is to inspire people who feel stuck in a boring, unfulfilling,...

OK, I Surrender. Now Get Me Out Of Here!


This is a guest submission from Laura Jones from lauragjones.com I’ve always known I was meant to be an entrepreneur. Maybe that’s because of my issues with authority. Or my insatiable desire for freedom....

The Not So Comprehensive Guide To Getting Your Shit Together


Last week I wrote a post called 8 Things I Know About You and received quite a mixed response. From people calling me out on my offensive language to people calling it the most...

Embracing My Inner Rebel


This is a guest post from Carla Krueger from carlakrueger.com I was a rebel as a youngster – someone who took risks, truly explored places and had lots of (legal) fun most adults frowned...

live your passion

8 Things I Know About You (And You Won’t Admit)


I like to consider myself somewhat of an expert in the field of human nature. I’m someone who can spend 10 minutes talking with a person and have a pretty good understanding of who...

alden tan

Sorry, But Online Business Ain’t All Unicorns And Rainbows


This is a guest submission from Alden from Alden-Tan.com Quit your shitty job. Tell your crappy boss you’re done and leave. You decided to do what you love instead. You plan to create a...

I’m Talking To You, Stupid


I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and expressed some of my feelings in my post last week, The Struggle Within. I’ve come to the realization that when I am not being completely...

existing2living.com

How War, Drugs, And PTSD Led To My Freedom


This is a guest submission from Akshay Nanavati from existing2living.com Less than 2 miles to go and the heat cramps began to spread beyond my legs. I could barely walk anymore. Running was no...

The Struggle Within


For years I have been telling you the same thing. That my goal is to help people who are currently in the grind I was in for 10 long years. And that’s feeling trapped...

When Your Head’s Up Your Ass You’ll Probably Never Like The View


This is a guest submission from Peter Mis from LivingHalf Full.com How did I end my grind? I took my head out of my ass. Amazing what I was now able to see. How...

The Good Will Hunting Guide To Online Success


Good Will Hunting has been my favorite movie for years. I’ve probably watched it more than 20 times and know the lines inside out. Its inspired me many times and because I grew up...

What I Learned From Screwing My Comfort Zone


This is a guest submission from Jill Stanton from screwtheninetofive.com An incredibly smart man by the name of Stan Dale once said, “Comfort zones are plush lined coffins. When you stay in your plush...

Forget Have A Nice Day, Have A Nice NOW!


I’m writing this post at 10:04 pm sitting 10 feet from the ocean in Duck Beach North Carolina. It’s a moonless night and nothing but the sound of the waves can be heard. The...

Get Ready To Wake The Fuck Up


As I walked through the doors to the bar, my head hung low from another painfully long day at the office, I glanced up to see an old friend sitting there with a big...

The Life And Times Of A Card Carrying Underachiever


This is a guest submission from Sabra Kay Before you read her post, I wanted to share the email I got from Sabra after she sent me this post. I really admire her willingness...

You Can Do It, Put Your Ass Into It


Yea, just like the Ice Cube song, you CAN do it if you put your ass into it. Although the song is definitely not about building a business or pursuing your passions (unless your...

being rejected

Being Rejected Sucks, But It Changed My Life


This is a guest submission from Stephen Guise from DeepExistence.com Have you ever been told—directly or indirectly—that you’re not good enough? I have, and here’s how it changed me. Summer of 2010 brought sweet...

full of shit

You’re Full Of Shit (And I’m The Shit Remover)


So there you are, pretending to work like a good employee and counting down the hours until the end of the day. It’s only Tuesday morning and you’re already bored to tears. And as...

How Taking A Risk And Moving To Chile Saved My Life


This is a guest submission from Bud Hennekes from aboundlessworld.com The statistics don’t lie. A recent study showed over 70 percent of Americans are unfulfilled in their career. Are you part of the 70...

Getting Pissed And Saying Fuck You To The Rules


I’m pissed. I went for a run today and in the midst of listening to “Titanium”, I got to thinking about my life. By all accounts, I have it all: A thriving personal training...

Confessions Of A Highly Creative Introvert


This is a guest submission from Andy Mort from sheepdressedlikewolves.com My birthday. Again? Already? I felt no different from last year, or the last five years for that matter. But the statistics don’t lie....

Your Time Is Worth Much More Than You Think


When I wrote my post, Grab Today By The Balls Because It Just Might Be Your Last, last week, my goal was to try to get you thinking about how short life is and...

crazy wild love

How a Harvard Grad Who Hated Her Job Started a Crazy Wild Love Movement


This is a guest submission from Alexis from crazywildlove.com I was 22. Like many other 22 year olds, I had just gotten out of college with excitement and ambition. I had majored in “Management”...

life is short

Grab Today By The Balls Because It Just Might Be Your Last


I think about this every day. Every single day. Life. Is. Short. If you’ve read my blog at all, you know I have a very strong stance on how short I believe life to...

You Too Can “Just Quit”


My name is Ridea Richardson and before there were lots of blogs on this subject – I “Just Quit” my job. I had graduated in 2001 with a Masters Degree in Human Resources Development...

The Thunderous Sound Of Silence


This is a story of a very special person. If you are on my email list, then you have heard me speak of one of my personal training clients, Linda (not her real name...

Sometimes You Have To Close Your Eyes And Leap


This is a guest submission (the first since 2011) from Michaela from WorkerBeeMarketing.com I should have known there was a problem in my marriage when I allowed myself to come this close to having...

Turn The Page


I’m not sure if I’m happy, sad, angry, or hurt. I think I’m just indifferent at this point. I got an email from my attorney last week telling me that I’m officially divorced. That’s...

Calling All Grinders: Reloaded


Back in February 2011,  with my blog only 4 months old, I was writing my heart out and things were going well. And as much as I loved sharing my personal story about my...

Fuck Off, Resistance


“Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experience it as an energy field radiating from a work in potential. It’s a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim...

Don’t Let My Regrets Become Yours


At this moment, I’m sitting in a large field, covered with newly green grass and a blanket of dandelions as far as I can see. The sun is shining in a cloudless sky, the...

The REAL American Hustle


If you’re hoping this post has something to do with the movie, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Although, who doesn’t want to see Bradley Cooper sporting a sweet perm?!? The hustle I’m talking about...

It’s Time To Become A Rock Star


So I was sitting on my couch yesterday afternoon watching one of my favorite Gary Vaynerchuk clips on Youtube and decided to listen to some tunes. For some reason, I came across a concert...

The Evolution Of An Inspired Blogger


It’s been 2 months since I’ve returned to blogging and honestly feel like I’m back home. This is where I find peace and happiness and know now with certainty that I want to make...

ungrateful bastard

5 Reasons Not To Be An Ungrateful Bastard


So there I was yesterday morning, just going about my business and planning my day out. My to do list, like most of yours, is about 30 things deep and I’m constantly struggling to...

Becoming A Change Agent One Grinder At A Time


In my quest to make this the best possible blog I can, I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time perusing through the thousands of comments and emails I’ve received over the last few...

12 lessons learned

8 Lessons Learned From 24 Months Away


Today marks the 2 year anniversary of my departure from blogging and although I’ve been back writing here for 3 weeks, it’s still a significant day for me. When I left blogging in early...

Life is Short…Do What You Love


I’ve spent this past week thinking about how to follow up on my last two posts. In years past, I had so much creative juice flowing through my head, it was easy to write...

Risking It All For A New Grind


First off, I want to thank everyone who has come to support my relaunch of this blog. I wrote my first post in nearly 2 years recently and have received numerous comments and emails...

Reawakening The Grinder


Tweet I’ve been on the verge of writing this post for a long while now and up until today, it just hasn’t felt right. It’s coming up on 2 years since I last wrote...

The Only Decision I Have


As I boldly proclaimed on January 2, this is the year of change for me. As many of you know, I decided to challenge myself to become a better and happier person and committed...

Who Is Your Personal Hero?


A few days ago, I was presented with the idea of writing about my hero by my friend, Danny Iny. And to be honest, I had no real interest in writing about it mainly...

A Personal Question; What Does Transformation Look Like To You?


When I started my year long journey on January 2, I knew one thing. And that was this was going to be a year of change and progress. The goal from the start has...

A Lot Can Happen In 17 Days


So it’s been 17 days since I introduced The Year Of The Grind. In that time, I quit my job, made $80,000 on a massive product launch, and moved my family to the tropical...

Small Changes and Shared Ideas


Well the year is off to a good start for me. After almost quitting this blog altogether less than a month ago, I am feeling great about my new direction here. Since committing to...

Leaping Off The Edge


My name is Shane and I am an entrepreneur of a different kind. This is a short version of me. A Short Background I raised myself on the streets of a small town, slept...

The Man Behind The Curtain


A Lesson From The Bard Maybe you have felt like this before. I know I have. I’m the type of person who’s driven…but not always in the right direction! No matter how stressed I...

Writers, Like Teeth, Are Divided Into Incisors And Grinders


I’ve been told to be my authentic self and to write using my most natural and genuine voice.  So here it goes folks – warts and all – your very first glimpse of the...

How To Make 2012 A Year Of Exponential Growth – Personally And Professionally


Hello! I’m Tom. You probably don’t know me, but since you’re here, I can be pretty sure that you know all about Steve. Over the past few months, we have probably shared something in...

I’m Here To Learn


In Wednesday’s post, Meet The Grinders, you well..met the grinders. What I failed to mention is that next week I will be posting their stories Tuesdays through Friday. In their posts, you will get...

Meet The Grinders And Join The Circle Of Trust


No, I’m not actually calling this the circle of trust, but you have to admit, it IS funny! In Monday’s ridiculously long post, I introduced my project for 2012. It involves me, four online...

The Year Of The Grind


Well, it’s finally here… The year that is going to mark the turning point in my life is upon us and I am pumped! Win, lose, or draw-this is going to be the year...

Coming Soon To A Blog Near You


As 2011 comes to a close, I have to look back at all that has happened in my life this past year, and wonder WTF happened?!? It’s been a year filled with ups and...

Calling Bullshit On Myself


In September, Penelope Trunk called bullshit on me. In our interview, she called me out on a number of issues such as having no goals, avoiding reality, and blogging for the wrong reasons. In...

Fear Of The Almighty Dollar


It sounds ridiculous, almost to point of abject laughter. Who in the hell is afraid of money? Well, uh..me. Obviously I’m not afraid of the physical bills, although paper cuts do sting something awful…No,...

Taking One Step Back And Ten Steps Forward


It’s become painfully clear that I am spending far too much time thinking about my life, my business, and just about every other damn thing possible and not doing much about it. This is...

My Life In 2300 Words


Thanks To YOU I was hoping to post this article yesterday, given it being Thanksgiving and all, but I just couldn’t get it done.. Given the dramatic shift in my life recently, I’ve been...

Life Lessons From A Friend


I’m not going to lie, I haven’t felt like writing lately. Life has been a struggle to say the least and unfortunately, things are not going great on the home front. Out of respect...

The Wheels Are Finally Starting To Turn


If you’ve read my last post, Falling Down, then you know that there is a lot of stuff rolling around in my head right now. Emotions are all over the place and life recently...

Falling Down


Given the recent turn of events on my blog, many of you are probably expecting me to announce all the projects I’ve started and the progress I’m making. You might even be expecting me...

The First Steps Towards Freedom Are The Steepest


In my last post, Viva Las Vegas and The Winds of Change, I dropped some really heavy stuff on you all. I made some pretty powerful proclamations of wanting to change my life in...

Viva Las Vegas And The Winds Of Change


Aaaah, where to begin? I’ve been laying low for the last few weeks, mainly because I was in Las Vegas, but have also been sorting my thoughts and trying to make sense of everything...

How To Succeed At Getting Your Ass Kicked By The Internet


This is a guest submission by Shane from Rewirebusiness.com April 11th, 2011, the day that will forever be etched in my mind.  Two significant things happened that day which would force me to make...

The Ultimate Magic Trick: Escape From The Box


This is a guest submission by Cara from 17000-days.com We all want to love our lives, do meaningful work, and enjoy ourselves. It’s strange and unfortunate that so few people actually do that. If...

Betrayed By The System


This is a guest submission by Hector from InternetEntrepreneurConnection.com It’s easy to hate your job and it’s easy to hate what you do. It systematically shifts the blame to someone or something else and...

At The Crossroads. Ending The Grind At One Year


Well, it’s official. I’ve been at this now for one full year. As many of you know, it’s been an interesting year for this blog. Throughout my life, I’ve always had an all or...

From Here, The Only Way To Go Is Up!


First off: Holy shit! Secondly: HOLY SHIT! Since posting my article The Truth About Being Remarkable and Giving a Shit last week, things have been pretty crazy around here. The comments and emails have...

I’m not Happy. You’re an Ass. I Quit- A Story About Beginning The Entrepreneur’s Journey


This is a guest submission by Lauren from TheMadToLive.com “I’m just not happy.” I finally admitted it to myself. Well, I guess you could say I always knew I wasn’t happy in my job,...

Penelope Trunk

ETG Podcast 22: Penelope Trunk Calls Bullshit On Me. BIG Wake Up Call


ETG Podcast: Episode 22 For those of you not familiar with Penelope Trunk, she is a very successful entrepreneur, blogger, and is the author of the book Brazen Careerist. If you have read her...

The Truth About Being Remarkable And Giving A Shit


Since I wrote my post, From Hobby To Business, It’s Time For Change, 12 days ago, I’ve basically stopped writing. I’ve also pretty much withdrawn from all social media in an attempt to concentrate...

What Happens When You Lie At Work


This is a guest submission by Sarah from WheresMyToothbrush.com When I used to work at my office job, I was kind of a liar. Now before you start pointing fingers, judging me, or even...

ETG Podcast 21: Taking Control Of Your Finances and Business With Adam Baker


ETG Podcast 21 In the last year or so, I’ve spent an incredible amount of time online. Writing, reading, interacting, making friends, etc. As I began to introduce myself into the blogosphere, there was...

Being The Boss Of Me


This is a guest submission by Abby from AbbyHasIssues.com So, what did I want to be when I was little? What I wanted to be: I can’t distinctly remember every ambition, but I know...

From Hobby To Business, It’s Time For Change!


Changes Ahead It’s been 11 months now that I’ve been writing at Ending The Grind and I can honestly say that it’s become an obsession. I’m obsessed with trying to find like minded people...

Confessions of a Serial Job Hopper


This is a guest submission by Sueann from OffbeatGirl.com Last year, I quit my job again. It was a big relief for me: I was at the worst possible position that any junior client-servicing...

quotes to live by

In Remembrance. 37 Amazing Quotes To Live By Each Day


One Life Many of us will take life for granted. We will put our heads down and follow the heels of the person in front of us without ever looking up to see if...

ETG Podcast 20: Interview With Social Media Personal Trainer Natalie Sisson


ETG Podcast: Episode 20 One of the things I love about  the Internet is that I get to meet awesome people every day. I don’t remember how it happened, but it was not too...

It’s Time To Un-Suck Your Blog


When I started this blog almost 11 months ago, I knew virtually nothing about blogging, Internet marketing, or social media. Today I can honestly say that I have completely mastered all three! OK fine,...

I’m Worth More Than $5 Per Hour. What Are You Worth?


This is a guest submission by Anthony from ManVsClock.com On a typical day at the grind, I usually have a sinking feeling in the pit my stomach; antsy in the knowledge that the people...

ETG Podcast 19: Marcus Sheridan On The Power Of Building Online Relationships


ETG Podcast: Episode 19 First off, I want to say that this was one of the best interviews I’ve done so far. Marcus Sheridan from TheSalesLion.com was kind enough to allow me an interview...

Are You Living On Purpose Or Just Living?


Today I have a special video post from my friend and fellow blogger, Jacob Sokol from Sensophy.com. When I first started this blog, I knew zippy about pretty much everything to do with blogging....

Knowing When to Give Up On Your Big Dream


This is a guest submission by Adrienne from ExperienceLifeFully.com Sometimes it’s okay to give up on your BIG dream. Sometimes it’s not. How do you know the difference? I distinctly remember the day I...

ETG Podcast 18: Creating An Awesome Community With Adrienne Smith


ETG Podcast: Episode 18 Before I get started, I want thank all of Adrienne’s readers who took the time to visit my blog when she wrote her guest post for me in April and...

The Spartan Guide To Ending The Grind


If you’re reading this, chances are you want to end your grind (and you have some time to spare because this post is looong!). Hopefully you’ve seen the movie 300 as well! If not,...

How To Ruin Your Career With A Highlighter


This is a guest submission by Illana from Makeness.com I woke up one day and realized that, not only was I not going to be the first female shuttle commander for NASA {thanks a...

ETG Podcast 17: An Interview The Smart Way With Pat Flynn


 ETG Podcast: Episode 17 For the 3 or 4 of you left who still don’t know who Pat Flynn is, he runs a wildly popular blog at SmartPassiveIncome.com. If you’re looking to build a...

The Quickest Way To Blogging Failure


I was all set to write a post about hating my job today (shocker, I know), but an interesting thing happened Monday night. I interviewed Marcus From TheSalesLion.com and was really taken with what...

Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone


This is a guest submission by Matt from 1YearSabbatical.com At work we always joke about winning the lottery. It’s a dream that many people fantasize about. We equate money with success, security and the...

ETG Podcast 15: The World Needs More Of YOU With Mars Dorian


ETG Podcast: Episode 15 As a blogger, I love it when I come across someone like Mars Dorian. Mars is full speed, high octane, in your face passionate about what he does. And what...

The Things We Think And Do Not Say


Why is it that when I’m talking to someone and I ask them about their job they usually respond with something like “it could be worse”, “it’s a paycheck”, or “it pays the bills”?...

Making the Best Out Of Your Corporate Job and Preparing for the Great Crossover


This is a guest submission by JK from HustlersNotebook.com I’m an entrepreneur. Looking in from the outside, my current method of work may not display that of a traditional entrepreneur – but I am...

ETG Podcast 14: Standing Out And Creating Change With Leigh Peele


ETG Podcast: Episode 14 I started my first blog back in 2008. It was (and still is) a fitness blog where I like to rant about all the bullshit information that’s out there regarding...

7 Good Reasons To Quit Your Desk Job To Become A Digital Entrepreneur


The Grind Of Your Desk Job It’s 10 o’clock in the morning and you’ve already had enough. Your eyes are glazed over, you’re half asleep in your chair, the week has dragged on so...

Stepping Off The Corporate Treadmill Into The World Of Self-Employment


This is a guest submission by Lindsay from TheBoomerangKid.com When people ask me why I’ve lived in 7 cities, 5 states and 3 countries in the last 10 years, I typically make some joke...

ETG Podcast 13: Online Entrepreneurship 101 With Blogging Mastermind, Yaro Starak


ETG Podcast: Episode 13 For those of you not familiar with Yaro Starak from Entrepreneurs-Journey.com, you’ve been missing out. Yaro has been running his site since 2005 and is one of the pioneers in the world...

The Overwhelming Fear Of Flying And Dying


I hate flying! There are few things more terrifying to me than the thought of being the victim of a plane crash. Every time I’m on a flight, I always think of the opening...

Knowing When To Kill Your Job


This is a guest submission by Nathan from NonStopAwesomeness.me Five years ago, I had a secure job, excellent pay, and the freedom to do my work without micromanagement. Yes, I was living in a...

17,158 Days Left. How Many Do You Have?


Today is my 40th Birthday and I have 17,158 days left to live. Give or take a few…. That’s a scary thought. According to one of those oh-so accurate life expectancy calculators, I am...

ETG Podcast 12: Creating A Life Worth Writing About With Location Rebel Sean Ogle


ETG Podcast: Episode 12 Sean Ogle runs a very cool blog called Location180, which is about helping people create online businesses that can be run from anywhere in the world. He’s been all over...

The Survey Results Are In!


Last week I posted an article, Help Me Help You Jerry Maguire Style, which was a survey asking for your feedback. I really wanted to find out more about you and what you were...

Live A Great Life Every Single Day


This is a video guest submission by Bernardo from YourGreatLifeTV.com My name is Bernardo and I feel incredibly grateful to be able to do things I love every single day of my life. My...

Ash Ambirge interview

ETG Podcast 11: Fighting Mediocrity With Ashley Ambirge


ETG Podcast: Episode 11 When I first started my Podcast, there were a few people that I knew I had to interview. Ashley Ambirge from TheMiddleFingerProject.org was one of them. She has one of...

Blog Snapshot At 9 Months


This post was originally a snapshot at 8 months, but after I wrote most of the post, WordPress decided that it didn’t want to save it and I lost an hours worth of writing....

Help Me Help You Jerry Maguire Style


So, it’s been 9 months since I started this blog and it has become a HUGE part of my life. I’ve never felt so committed to anything in my life (excluding my wife and...

Summer Grilling: BBQ Your Job with a Side of Success


This is a guest submission by Emelie from Revellish.com The snooze button on my black alarm clock is worn white because I dread Monday mornings. Just five more minutes… Please… Five more minutes before...

interview with Srinivas Rao

ETG Podcast 10: Getting Skooled By Srinivas Rao


ETG Podcast: Episode 10 I’ve been listening to Srini on BlogCastFM since I started my blog and have always been impressed by his style and his skill. He has the uncanny ability to extract...

How To Drop Out Of Everything And Succeed Anyway


This is a guest submission by Dusti from UndefinableYou.com My name is Dusti. I am 23 years old, and I have had 36 jobs. That is not a typo. I feel it’s an important...

Take Your Life Back. Or Don’t


Think I want you to do something right now. I want you to look back at your life as it was 10 years ago. Take a few moments to really think about who you...

Standing Up and Not Making Sense: The Pursuit of Freedom


This is a guest submission by Eugene from RealityBurst.com The School Years I’ve always fallen into things. From the very beginning, schoolwork came easy to me. And I became really good at providing exactly...

ETG Podcast 9: Talking Risk With Tyler Tervooren


ETG Podcast: Episode 9 I found Tyler’s blog, Advanced Riskology, when I first started this blog. I was visiting tons of blogs trying to learn as much as I could and I kept seeing...

Life Is Short. Make It Wide


This is a guest submission by Colleen from ColleenFriesen.com “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and glorious life?” – Mary Oliver Go Big or Lagom Lagom (lah-GOME)...

The Choice To Leave Behind A "Normal "Life


This is a guest submission by Julia from JuliaTarquinio.com There are many things I could say about why I decided to up and leave a job, an apartment, bills and family in New York...

Take Action TODAY On Ending Your Grind


The grind sucks, plain and simple. We are working our asses of for little more than a paycheck in return. We are trapped in the rat race, overworked, and under appreciated. Life is far...

ETG Podcast 8: Get More Cash And Joy With Catherine Caine


ETG Podcast: Episode 8 For those of you unfamiliar with Catherine from CashandJoy.com, she is one of the most down to earth and pleasant people you will probably ever meet. Not only that, she...

Confessions Of A Serial Quitter


This is a guest submission by Sally from unbravegirl.com I don’t mean to brag or anything (okay, maybe I do – just a teensy bit), but this whole ending-the-grind thing? I’m, like, an expert...

Finding the Bridge Between Your Passion And The Job You Hate


This is a guest submission by Eric from My4hrWorkWeek.com The Internet is full of entrepreneurs and “wanna-be” entrepreneurs suggesting that you quit your job and pursue your passion.  Some take a conservative approach and...

From Zero To Podcast In 2 Weeks


Let me preface this article by saying that I am the farthest thing from an expert when it comes to Podcasting. This is merely a post outlining the exact steps I took in order...

ETG Podcast 7: Living Prolifically With Farnoosh Brock


ETG Podcast: Episode 7 Farnoosh Brock from ProlificLiving.com has been on my radar for some time now. If you aren’t familiar with her, she is one of the most sincere and sweet people I’ve...

All That Glitters…Can Cause Blindness


This is a guest submission by Kathy from WorkingForWonka.com To the outside world my career was glamorous. I traveled the world; dinner in Paris, lunch in Buenos Aires. I interacted with interesting people; I...

ETG Podcast 6: A Drive Down The Millionaire Fastlane With MJ DeMarco


ETG Podcast: Episode 6 I had never heard of MJ DeMarco until about a month ago when I was listening to one of Pat Flynn’s Podcasts, in which he interviewed MJ. I was literally...

What Is The Point Of Life?


This is a guest submission by Torre from FearfulAdventurer.com I remember the first time I thought: This is what life is about? Work to live? Live to work? What is the point? I was...

ETG Podcast 5: The Interview Made Awesome By Johnny B Truant


ETG Podcast: Episode 5 I’ve been a fan of Johnny’s blog since I first found it about 8 months ago. JohnnyBTruant.com has seen rapid success largely in part to his unorthodox approach to online...

Everyone Has A Breaking Point


This is a guest submission by Benny from GetBusyLivingBlog.com Thanks to Steve for giving me the chance to share my story. If you didn’t know me and I told you what I owned what...

Living Someone Else’s Life Isn’t Nearly As Fun As It Looks On Quantum Leap


This is a guest submission by Kelly from CordeliaCallsItQuits.com If you’d asked me when I was 10 what things would be like when I grew up, I would never have said I hoped I’d...

ETG Podcast 4: Illuminate Your Mind With Jonathan Mead


ETG Podcast: Episode 4 I’ve been a fan of Jonathan Mead’s blog, IlluminatedMind.net for over a year and love his writing style, his passion, and what he’s teaching his readers. Jonathan has build an...

100 Posts In And The Journey Has Just Begun!


Today marks the 100th post for Ending The Grind and I am so excited about the future of this blog. It’s been 7 1/2 months now and I’ve met some incredible people and learned...

ETG Podcast 3: Stillman Says It Like He Sees It


ETG Podcast: Episode 3 I spend a fair amount of time reading blogs. Sometimes I’m looking for specific information on improving my business, other times I’m looking for new posts to read and sometimes...

One Simple Event And I Was Never The Same


This is a guest submission by Justin from IgniteYourEssence.com I always consider my transition from employee to entrepreneur as nothing less than a complete leap of faith. If I were coaching or consulting with...

Here’s To Going Balls To The Wall For What You Love


This is a guest submission by Kristin from KristinLajeunesse.com At one time or another, almost everyone I know has said, “I wish I could travel more…make more money…live anywhere in the world…live better, healthier,...

ETG Podcast 2: Exploring The Virtual Business Lifestyle With Chris Ducker


ETG Podcast: Episode 2 Chris Ducker has to be one of my favorite people online. A naturally genuine and sincere person, it’s hard not to like him immediately. I wanted to interview him because...

seth godin interview

ETG Podcast 1: 10 Minutes With Seth Godin


ETG Podcast: Episode 1 So I was sitting at my desk on Friday counting down the hours until I got to leave my office prison, when I had an idea. Since I’m starting a...

Overworked, Underpaid, And Fed Up: How I Dumped The Grind To Be My Own Boss


This is a guest submission by Kristin from KristinOffiler.com It was out of necessity that I looked for and found my miserable office job in early 2009. I had just started graduate school and...

A Life Of Regrets Is Not An Option


This is a guest submission by Earl from WanderingEarl.com Back in 1999, I left home for a 3-month, post-graduation backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. At the time, I wasn’t too concerned that my bank...

I Can Do Bad All By Myself


Hey everyone, my name is John Garrett from over at Hypertransitory.com. I do art, comics, graphic design, plus I love web and tech stuff like Joomla, WordPress, Bittorrent and other web technologies. I know...

Now Open For Business


It’s been just about 7 months since I started this blog and I’ve loved every minute of it. Even when I was too tired to form a single thought, I was still loving it....

Existing Versus Living


This is a guest submission by Liv from TheWorldsWaiting.com How an English girl who grew up nowhere near the sea (and a cold sea at that) fell so madly in love with it and...

Becoming The Author Of My Own Destiny


This is a guest submission by Gwen from EnduranceMktg.com Escape From Cubicle World I’m not sure I can pinpoint the exact moment that I knew I was living the wrong life. The wrong “work...

live life to the fullest quotes

50 "Live Life To The Fullest" Quotes That Can Change Your Life


I’ve recently had a few things happen that have changed my outlook on life. First, I read The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, which deeply impacted how I want my life to be. I go...

Something’s Gotta Change-Me!


This is a guest submission by Christine from PictureThisPittsburgh The Answer To A Prayer I’d followed the same path for 20 years and I was in the same position as where I started.  Oh,...

How I Escaped A Defined Life


This is a guest submission from CF at OutlierModel.com The Good If you had asked me two years ago what I would be doing in ten years, I would have been able to outline...

A One Way Ticket To Freedom


This is a guest submission by Nicole from WomanSeeksWorld.com When Enough Is Enough, Move Abroad! Seven years ago I lived in Melbourne and led a pretty happy existence – great friends, nice flat, exciting...

Suddenly, Inspired


This is a guest submission by Dalene from HeckticTravels.com It was becoming a routine. Our frequent emails for updates: “What are you doing this weekend?  Did you watch The Office last night?” were divulging...

This Is Your Wake Up Call


My thoughts pertaining to the rat race, the 9 to 5, or the choice we make to spend our lives working in a cubicle are simple. It’s dead wrong. My feelings towards spending 40+years...

Inception Nearly Defined Me


This is a guest post by Jeannie from Nomadicchick.com When an Idea is Planted “You create the world of the dream, you bring the subject into that dream, and they fill it with their...

Finally Living For Me


This is a guest submission from Adrienne from AdrienneSmith.net I have to begin by thanking Steve for inviting me to write a guest post for his blog. I’m truly touched and honored to be sharing my...

From Unfulfilled To Sunshine Filled


This is a guest post from Alison from AlisonQuine.com My Mid-life Crisis – Age 28 and 51 weeks One week before my 29th birthday, my mid-life crisis began, prematurely. I was sitting at my...

How To Write A Guest Post That Doesn’t Suck


Over the last 6 months or so, in an attempt to get more traffic and new readers to my blog, I have been trying to leverage other peoples audiences. Otherwise known as guest posting....

Almost Happy Doesn’t Cut It


This is a guest submission from Ayngelina from BaconIsMagic.ca People hate my story. I had a good paying job working as an Account Director at an ad agency. I spent my days working 9-5pm...

The Grind Within Us All


This is a guest post from Greg at lilmanIT.com “Once you’ve done the mental work, there comes a point when you have to throw yourself into action and put your heart on the line.”...

My Shot At Freedom


This is a guest post from Stella at Bucket360.com Everyone has one. Would you be able to recognize yours? I wish I had an amazing story to tell you about how I ended the...

Follow Up To My 30 Day Twitter Experiment


30 days ago, I published a post about my Twitter strategy and how I wanted to change it in order to better build my brand. I was finding that many of my interactions were...

Planning My Prison Break


This is a guest post from Barry at BookBlogBusiness.com Remember the TV series Prison Break? You know, the one where Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows (possibly the coolest name ever) broke out of prison...

Letting Go Of The Grind For Good


This is a guest post from David at LetGoAndFlow.com I Want More Everyone tells me I have a great job – “Oh you work from home, that must be fun! You get to make your...

Are You Crushing It or Getting Crushed?


I’m going on the assumption that you’ve read Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk, which discusses finding your passion, turning it into a business, and living it with your heart and soul. Sounds great, right? Of course...

Leaving The Grind To Live My Dreams


This is a guest post from Kim at So-Many-Places.com It was on an early spring hike with my husband Brian that I first remember discussing the idea of giving up everything to travel the...

Cubicle Escape In Progress


This is a guest post from Caleb Wojcik at PocketChanged.com When I graduated college three years ago I thought I was doing the right thing by moving across the country and getting a desk...

The Longest 4 Years Of My Life


Today marks the fourth anniversary that I have been at my current job <insert loud sigh followed by several minutes of weeping openly>. Now, four years may not seem like a long time, but...

Accidental Happiness


This is a guest post from Ashley at AfterNineToFive.net How I Knew I Needed To Find It I knew since before I even graduated high school that I wanted to be my own boss....

Goodbye Office, Hello World!


This is a guest post from Jill at JackandJillTravel.com I just gave my 3-week notice to my employer and I managed not to skip and sing my way out of my soon-to-be ex-employer’s office....

A Little Story About Commitment


When I turned 30 back in 2001, I had some kind of epiphany or early mid-life crisis and found myself desperately wanting to change careers. Actually, I didn’t really have a “career”, I was...

Pursuit Of A Grind Free Life…Again


This is a guest post by David Damron at LifeExcursion.com I have seen the light folks and it is amazing. Back on March 13, 2009, I left the grind. Yes, I still remember the...

Not Deciding IS Deciding


This is a guest post from Susie at NewDayNewLesson.com I think that so many of us stay in work situations we are unhappy with because inertia is just easier than making a decision. And...

The Lost Art Of Giving


This happened to me the other day. I was taking a walk around the downtown area where my office is located and noticed a man searching for change in his pockets to pay a parking...

J-O-B Quitter


This is a guest submission from Dion Baker from wombapparel.com. Hello, my name is Dion Baker and I’m a job quitter. That’s right. There is no shame in my quitting game. Admittedly, quitting a job...

My 30 Day Twitter Experiment


When I first started using Twitter back in November 2010, I had little idea of how powerful it was. Over the past 3 months, Twitter has become part of my daily routine and can...

A Case Study On Crushing It


We all know who Gary Vaynerchuk is and his motto of “Crush It”. It simply means to find what you love to do most, pour your heart and soul into it, and dominate the...

Blog Snapshot At 4 Months


After receiving several requests from readers, I have decided to publish a post detailing the progress I have made thus far with my blog. My hope is that it will benefit you in some...

I Am Myself


This is a guest submission from Ricky Ferdon at Happiness-Is-The-Natural-State.blogspot.com. The Grind Of The Marina I worked at a marina for 22 years, being operations manager the last nine. I was the guy in...

Calling All Grinders


First off, I want to thank those of you who have shared your opinions with me about the future of this blog. I honestly want to make this blog the best resource possible, which is...

The World Is Your Oyster, Now Go Find Your Pearl


Can you remember a time when you were doing something like watching a movie, taking a walk, or maybe looking at something beautiful and were overcome with an incredible sense of motivation, hope, or inspiration? It’s...

8 Inspirational Blogs That Can Ignite Your Passion


As a blogger, I feel it’s extremely important to build relationships with other bloggers. After all, we are all interconnected on the web and it’s amazing how small it seems when you really get...

A Little Help From My Friends


After much thought and discussion, I have decided to turn this blog into a sanctuary of happiness and tranquility. You can find my new site at ILoveTheGrind.com. If you actually believe this, you’re fired!...

The Theory Of Positivity


It was brought to my attention recently be a concerned reader, that the overall negative and pessimistic tone of my blog had turned him off and may be turning other readers away as well....

Show Me The Money


No, this post is not about how I am going to sell you some incredible eBook or how I plan to make a million dollars online in the next few years. No, this is...

Are You Trapped In Groundhog Day?


Well, it’s Groundhog Day… again. Time to get up and start your ever familiar daily routine. For many of us, our days consist of basically the same things over and over. Depressing…. If you haven’t...

20 Simple Ways To Turn Your Bad Day Into A Great Day


If you haven’t noticed already, I tend to be a somewhat cynical and morose writer. That just comes from living the grind for so many years. I write from the heart and evidently my...

Beyond Bored Straight


If you’ve never seen the television series, Beyond Scared Straight, it’s about troubled teens being sent into maximum security prisons to get a taste of what they have to look forward to if they...

How To Stand Out In The Online World Of Average


As bloggers, Internet marketers, and online entrepreneurs, our platform is our websites. Everything we do revolves around the images we portray and the messages we send to the public. If our goal is to create...

I Love The Smell Of Comments In The Morning


(OK, the picture has nothing to do with comments, but I couldn’t resist! Gotta love Apocalypse Now!) I admit it, I am a comment junkie. It’s not that I get a lot of comments,...

Why Your Personality Is Killing Your Blog


Our blogs are distinct representations of us, in every sense of the word. They tell the world what we’re like, what’s on our minds, and what are goals are. In my constant search for...

Stuck In The Employee Trap?


For some, working a 9 to 5 job their entire life is ideal. There are plenty of people out there who need the structure of a traditional job. While there is nothing wrong with this,...

10 Reasons to Escape The Cubicle


Call  me crazy, but I don’t see how anyone can tolerate a sit-on-your-ass all day desk job. It blows my mind how people (my boss included) can literally sit in front of a computer...

The 7 Habits Of Highly Miserable People


We have all heard about or read Stephen R. Covey’s best seller “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“. This is a fantastic book on personal growth, empowerment, and self-mastery. What you haven’t heard about...

Why Job Security Is Complete Bullshit


If you asked 1,000 people to sum up in a single word what a typical job with health benefits, paid vacations, and a 401(k) retirement plan means to them, they will most likely answer ‘security’. I would have answered this question...

Make Your Passion Pay You


I love the saying “make your passion pay you”. It represents my whole outlook on life. Its meaning is simple: find what you love to do and turn it into an income producing job...

Success Secrets of 28 Pro Bloggers


I probably should have written this post when I actually published my free eBook, Success Secrets Of 28 Professional Bloggers, a week ago, but hey, I’m still trying to figure all this stuff out....

5 Job Burn Out Symptoms


Work is a part of life. A HUGE part of life! We will spend more time working a job than doing anything else over the course of a lifetime. Given that we will spend...

The Year Of Living Passionately


This is going to be my year! I suck at goal setting and following through, so I figured the best chance I have of succeeding is by being accountable to everyone who reads this....

Glengarry Glen Ross For Bloggers


As bloggers, our goal is to try to earn income from our websites. Our goals may include sharing our knowledge, helping others succeed, or even changing the world. But at the end of the day, we want to make money...

8 Things I Don’t Love About Twitter…


I want to first say that I think Twitter rocks! I’ve only been using it for a month or so and I am loving it. I’ve connected with some awesome people, made some great...

The Best Christmas Gift Possible


No, I’m not talking about a new 3G iPad. I’m talking about a gift that cannot be purchased in a store, a gift that has no monetary value, yet is priceless. I’m talking about...

Finding A Passion In Life


When you think back to when you were a kid, can you remember how much you loved your hobbies? Maybe it was collecting Star Wars figures, playing Super Mario Brothers on your Nintendo, or...

Sick and Tired of Sick and Tired


How often do we come to a point in our lives when we’ve just had enough? Enough of everything. We all have a breaking point, it just depends on the level of stress in...

What To Do When You Hate Your Job


Working a job is part of life. At some point, virtually all of us will have worked for someone else. There are those who go on to own their own companies and there are...

Crusader or Complainer?


I seem to have come under fire recently for some of my posts. As it turns out, not everyone think that jobs rants are funny and/or interesting. I wanted to take some time to...

Things Can Always Be Worse


If you’ve read any of my blog posts then you know exactly how much I hate my job. If the whole point of this site wasn’t about getting out of a miserable job, I guess I...

Use The Force Of Twitter


If you’ve read my post “I Guess It’s Time To Learn Twitter“, then you know that I am relatively new to Twitter. As I had mentioned, I was very skeptical of getting on Twitter...

Escape From Office Hell


I’ve probably watched ‘Office Space’ five or six times over the last few years and I always get chills down my spine during a particular scene. It’s when Peter says ” We don’t have...

I Guess It’s Time To Learn Twitter…


Ever since I heard the word “Twitter“, I’ve been avoiding it. I’ve never been much of a fan of Facebook and I just figured that Twitter was like its ugly little stepchild. It also...

Great Quotes From Office Space


This is truly a great movie for so many different reasons, but I think the fact that it hits so close to home for all of us 9 to 5 grinders, is what makes it...

life sucks quotes

The Best "Life Sucks" Quotes


Chances are that if you found this post, you are not happy with things. Maybe your job sucks, maybe your your home life sucks, maybe the relationship you are in sucks. Or maybe your...

Happy Un-Thanksgiving


Yea, yea, we all have so many things to be thankful for. We are thankful for our friends and family, for that superbly interesting Macy’s Parade, and even for the Dallas Cowboys playing (and...

10 Reasons You Will Always Be An Employee


First off, let me just say that I am an employee and have been for 24 years. Of course, my goal is to not be an employee and have an online business where I...

A Case Of The Mondays


As part of my new “Office Space” Monday posts, I thought it fitting that I start with this scene. Office Space is such a simple movie, yet pretty much sums up the mundane lives...

A Brief History Of (My) Time


When I started blogging back in 2008 on my fitness site, I knew absolutely nothing about the online world. I also had zero money to invest in learning how to do it so I...

What Keeps You Sane?


For many of us, the proverbial gerbil wheel we call work is slowly driving us out of our minds. Our days blend together in a blur of coffee (or Red Bull), deadlines, and meetings. The...

Blogging…..With Children


Since starting this blog in October and spending virtually ALL my free time working on it, I’ve started to wonder exactly how long it’s going to take me to get this site where I want...

Where’s The Passion?


(Before you get all “I hate that anti-Semitic asshole Mel Gibson” on me, it’s just a picture….) Walk through any mall, subway station, or busy street, and you will see the faces of people...

Choose Your Mentor Wisely


If you’re new to online marketing or blogging and are looking to earn money doing them, then you’ve already figured out that there a million different money making methods taught by a million different...

The Most Important Thing


When I decided to start this blog, it wasn’t because I wanted to get rich, become an Internet celebrity, or to be a “make money online” guru. I’m doing this so I can be...

Time Goes Quick, Make It Count


For most Americans, the traditional way of life includes going to school, finding a job, getting married, raising a family, and retiring at age 65. That’s all fine and dandy, but have you ever...

The Blogging Roller Coaster


Being relatively new to the world of blogging, I have just begun to experience all that the blogosphere has to offer. This blog for example, has been up and running for less than a...

You Have Chosen….Poorly


Life is tough. When you have an unpleasant job, an overbearing boss, too little time, too much credit card debt, not enough savings, and a mortgage you can’t afford, life is tougher (read: sucks...

Make Time For Your Business, Or Fail


I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve got more on my plate than I can handle. My free time was short before I started this blog and now it’s non existent. I’m not...

Can I Help You?


If you have read My Goals Page, then you know that my goal for this blog is to build a large following of readers by offering great content, honestly helping my readers, and eventually...

I AM Peter


When I first watched ‘Office Space’ in 2001, I thought it was hilarious. When I watched it again in 2006 after working in a cubicle for 4 years, it was a bit depressing. Now,...

Who’s The Boss?


If you’re anything like me, you’re always thinking of ways you can quit your job and go do something you actually care about. Furthermore, if you have a boss that is an intolerable bastard,...

My Hero Is Lloyd Dobler


It has to be one of the best movies ever…for those of you who have never seen ‘Say Anything’, drop your bologna sandwich and go rent it. Lloyd Dobler is the quintessential good guy...

Internet Information Overload!!


Even if you’re relatively new to blogging/Internet marketing like I am, you probably have heard the term “information overload” already. This is what happens when you try to ingest large quantities of new information...

Are You Institutionalized?


If you’ve seen ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ then you know what the term institutionalized means. This is what happens to a person when they are in a controlled environment for so long that it becomes the...

10 Jobs Worse Than Mine


As you know by now, my job sucks. It sucks six ways to Sunday. However, I have managed to compile a list of the 10 worst jobs I could think of. These jobs may...

5 Reasons Your Life Sucks


If you’re like me, you are probably constantly looking at all the negatives in your life. Good habit, I know… Life can be a tedious, monotonous, and difficult grind and for many people, it’s...

Our Jobs: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly


Jobs are those pesky things that get in the way of us doing what we really want to do. It’s a part of life that most of us can’t seem to get away from....

A Driving Lesson


I’m a complete asshole when I drive, I admit it. But I didn’t used to be that way. Back when I was carefree and enjoying life, I could take the back roads, relax, and enjoy...