The Truth About Being Remarkable And Giving A Shit
Sep

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 I’ve also pretty much withdrawn from all social media in an attempt to concentrate on my goals and gain some clarity about the future of this blog.
That post, which was a survey asking for feedback regarding my idea to create an inexpensive membership site journaling my ascent into online business success, was met with a resounding “not interested“.
The product was to be a highly personal and detailed look at the exact steps I am taking to quit my job and become a digital entrepreneur. My thought was to offer a paid membership to access my journey as I take people through how I started, got up to 15,000+ monthly visitors, and what I’ve learned.
I thought that by helping the average person, who is feeling totally trapped in their job, find a way out in a unique and personal way, it would be a hit.
I was wrong.
The survey results were exactly what I asked for-complete honesty. I wish I could say that everyone loved the idea and is now on a waiting list for my product, but that’s not the case.
A few of my favorites responses (and by favorites, I mean those that got me thinking the most), were:
-
“Actually I see no reason why I should pay you to make your dream come true. If it is my dream to escape the grind, then I’d rather spend my time and my money to make MY dream come true, not your dream”.
- “Here’s a thought–maybe you should gain some success first, and THEN tell people how you did it. (And it should be more robust than selling e-books, videos, and such about how to make money online, which turns out to be suckering in other people to buy info products about how to suck people in to buy your info products, etc, etc, ad infinitum”.
- “I think that if you build something with your heart and thought on helping the end user, instead of focusing on yourself and your goals, you’ll make it worth paying. Remember it’s about helping other people get what they want, so you can get what you want”.
- “Whoa.. this one requires quite a bit of thought… I guess, for me, some means of monetization benefit for members, not just for you. Then it would be an investment, not just an expense. If your subscribers are trying to do the same thing as you, using us to finance your success is a win-lose. You add income, we add an expense. Doesn’t work for me”.
Overall, the main reasons that this idea didn’t work:
- There are already plenty of people doing this online for free!
- You want to learn from someone who has already had proven results.
- You don’t like the idea of a membership site.
I feel kind of foolish that I didn’t foresee these things coming as they are all great points. After reading over the responses several times, I started to really think about how and if I can actually help people with my blog.
On the surface, it seems that providing the information I do here is helping people. It’s motivating them to question the status quo and start thinking about their passions.
But underneath the surface, how much of an impact does it really have? Is it actually changing lives?
If you’re wondering why this matters to me, it’s because that’s why I’m here. I’m here to change lives for the better. I’m here to create a permanent change not only in my life, but for others as well. I’m here to get that email that says “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been because of your advice” or “thanks to you, I will no longer be spending the next 25 years in a cubicle”.
The Goal
My goal has been to provide inspiration to those, who like me, are trapped in a shitty job they hate and need to find a way out. I chose an online business as a way to make my escape and I want people to follow suit.
I realize that with my goals I need to do 3 things and do them extremely well:
- Inspire people to take action on pursuing their passions
- Teach people exactly how to create an online business around that passion
- Help them create a business successful enough to allow them to quit their miserable jobs (after I do this of course).
The problem is that there are soooo many blogs out there doing what I’m doing but doing it better. There are plenty of people that teach from experience of having already quit their jobs and/or made money online.
So, what am I offering? My experience, my passion, my story. Me.
What’s that worth? That has yet to be determined.
A Deeper Look
For some time now, I’ve been doing some soul searching. I’ve been thinking about the impact that I have on others and if there really is any at all.
You see, I really have no interest in being just another blogger. What I really want to do is make an immediate and permanent difference in someone’s life. Even if it’s just one person.
The problem is I don’t know how.
I have skills, yes. I have much life experience, yes. I have the ability to lead and teach, yes.
But what do I do with it all? This has been the problem. This is why I am stuck at a standstill. This is why I feel like I can’t move forward.
The last thing I want to do is start selling something out of desperation and although there is no rush for me to create products or services, I am feeling more and more stressed about not having income coming in.
I think at some point, whether it’s 6 months or a year, many bloggers think they have to have a product or service available. Many, even though they don’t have anything exceptional to offer, create one anyway.
I won’t be that person.
The Information Superhighway Is A Massive Clusterfuck!
Many of us probably think we are doing great things with our blogs. We’re teaching people how to lose weight, how to create affiliate websites, how to meditate, how to grow a vegetable garden, etc..
We spend all day sharing links on Twitter, we talk about how to rank for keywords, which apps are best for social media, or what eBooks we must read. But really, what does it all mean?
It’s all just one big information clusterfuck.
Information does not equal change. We read, write, share, comment, share some more, and write even more. But why?
When I look at my analytics, I see the following:
- 15,000+ monthly visitors
- 20,000+ page views
- 2,700 total comments
- 157 posts
- 100+ emails each month
Guess what? That doesn’t mean a fucking thing.
How many lives have I actually changed? None that I know of.
How much closer to my goal of quitting my job am I ? None at all.
How many “A” list bloggers and entrepreneurs have I interviewed? 20+. How many people care? Few.
I’m not trying to beat myself up here or throw a pity party. I trying to make it clear that nobody fucking cares what I’m doing. Nobody cares what you’re doing either. Seriously.
Don’t get me wrong here. I love comments, I love my readers, and I especially love getting emails from people who were inspired by my writing and/or need help. But so what if I love it. There a hundred other blogs out there that they visit as well. Mine and yours is just another blog in their reader.
A perfect example
Let’s look at a superstar in the blogging world, Pat Flynn from SmartPassiveIncome.com. His blog is massively popular, especially with other bloggers. The reason is that he offers incredible information, has helped many people build their online businesses, and is an extremely nice guy.
If tomorrow you woke up to find the GoDaddy parked domain page there instead, what would you do?
Would you frantically try to find out what happened? Would your business crumble at your feet because it’s gone? No and no.
All you SPI superfans (I’m one of them) are hating me right now, but my point is that it doesn’t really matter. Life goes on, business goes on, and the world keeps turning.
Ask yourself this: What if my blog disappeared tomorrow. What would that be like for you? Really shitty I imagine. Personally, I would beside myself with anger, frustration, and sadness.
Now ask yourself what would your community, friends, and fans do? Would they be distraught? Would they be unable to eat for a week? No. They would forget about your blog about as fast as they could click over to their next favorite blog.
That’s it.
The BIG Picture
In the grand scheme of things, nobody really cares if we’re blogging or not. They don’t really care if we’re following our passions or achieving our dreams. What they care about is themselves. That’s just human nature.
My job (and possibly yours as well) is to give people what they most want. It’s all about others, not us.
But in order to give others what they want, we need to be more remarkable than we ever thought possible.
We need to look deep within our hearts and minds and find our greatest strengths. Then we need to create the most incredible fucking business we are capable of.Β Are you doing that right now?
Bullshit if you said yes.
Although Internet marketers and bloggers make their living from selling products and services, how many of these products are truly remarkable? How many challenge people to alter the course of their lives?
My point is that the Internet and the world does not need another average information product. We don’t need another fucking eBook about building an online business. We don’t need another person telling us how to build niche websites. We don’t need another blog spewing personal development babble that we’ve all heard a million times.
What the world needs is people to get off their fucking ass and make a permanent and immediate difference in someone else’s life.
Creating Greatness For Others
To be completely honest, I have no idea if this blog will be successful and allow me to reach my goals. And this has been my biggest problem. I keep thinking about my goals and my wants. It’s not about me. It’s about you.
How can I help you reach your goals is the question I need to be asking every day.
If I can solve your problems, then mine will also be solved. If you get what you want, then I get what I want.
And what I want is for you to get off your couch and start building your ideal life.
Right. Fucking. Now.
What we both want is being part of something so incredible that it will change the direction of our lives. We want to be inspired to take massive action towards living a life that we really, truly want. We want to wake up each day knowing that we are working towards something fulfilling and meaningful. And if you don’t, I have no idea why the fuck you’re here.
A Needed Slap In The Face
In the midst of my writing hiatus, I had an interview with the author of Brazen Careerist, Penelope Trunk. She is a very well respected author, entrepreneur and blogger and I was very excited to talk with her.
What ensued was far beyond what I had anticipated and she basically called me out on a number of things, including:
- Not having goals
- Escaping reality and hiding behind my blog
- Being lazy
- Not being honest with myself and my readers
- Wasting my time with this blog
Pretty harsh stuff! Needless to say, we didn’t agree on much. If it had come from some knucklehead blogger, I would have chalked it up to them being an idiot. But it didn’t, it came from Penelope Trunk.
I’ve listened to the interview several times (it will be posted on Friday), and have opened my mind to what she said. At the time, I thought she was misjudging me completely, but I now see more truth in her statements.
Anyway, much of what she said led med to write this post and I’m thankful to her for the candid honesty.
What Happens Now?
As you can tell I’ve come to a crossroads with my plans here (and thanks if you’re still reading this 2,100 words later). I have no intention of stopping my work here but I do need to start thinking about the big picture.
I don’t have all the answers. Actually I have very few.
Maybe you will find this post to be your own wake up call. Maybe you think I’m full of shit and will stop reading my blog. Or maybe we’ll find a way to live our best possible life….
What are your thoughts about all of this? Does this make sense to anyone but me? I’m all ears….

Chris Harris
Keep it coming…
I will be interested to know where this goes. I will be looking for your next update.
Steve
Thanks for your support Chris.
Chris Harris
Don’t mention it… your post resonates with me. In my own mind I am having some of the same thoughts expressed in your post.
I suspect whatever you decide, it will be something I can learn from.
Steve Rice
Steve, thank you so much for your honesty. I have been going through the same things with my blog and business and I don’t think I could have taken such direct critiques so graciously.
Your peeling back the “onion skin” of your blog and experience has encouraged me.
I recently posted a fantastic interview with Oprah at Facebook on my site. In it, she talks about the fear of starting OWN.
Interestingly, she experienced some of the same questions you faced: “why does this matter?” etc.
If you have the time, I highly recommend you watch the interview.
You’ve had some tough criticism, and I know that your work and blog will be a thousand times better for it. So I want to encourage you with a quote from Oprah from the interview.
(Talking about OWN) She said, “The world doesn’t need another TV channel. What the world needs is a different way of seeing itself”
You are just realizing exactly what Oprah did…the world doesn’t need another blog (about anything…inspiration–my niche, or escaping the 9-5–your niche)…but the world *does* need us to help it see itself in a different light!
That my friend is exciting, because you and I are uniquely positioned to do this work. It will be the toughest work of our lives (that’s why so few are real game-changers), but if we persist and do the things we have never done…and become the people we are not yet, we will succeed.
And we will change the lives of others. And because we have given them a different way of seeing their world and seeing themselves, we will bring value. Value is reflected in our physical world by $$.
So don’t fear your outcomes. Let them be. Dedicate all your energy, mind, wit and gifts to being the best damn game-changer you can be…The rest will take care of itself. (At least, that’s what I’m holding to)
Brilliant post!
Steve
Steven,
Although it was a very hard post to write (and even harder tp publish), I felt it had to be done. I’m not doing anyone any good by continuing on without a clear focus on what I want and what my readers want.
I will definitely check out the Oprah interview, sounds interesting. As far as the critisism, it was pretty harsh, but I needed to hear it. I also neded to make it public becasue I can’t stand bloggers who pretend that they are successful and really are struggling like everyone else.
That’s an awesome quote from Oprah and the connection you made between what I am trying to do and what she did is a pretty inspiring way to look at it!
The last three paragraphs of your comment are incredible! I love that you see the vision and I love even more that you are doing it too!
Here’s to changing lives and findig out what life truly should be about!!
Steve Rice
Thanks, Steve. Glad it connected…especially those last 3 para’s cuz I was writing them directly to you (and me) more than the rest of the readers.
Yeppers…you’re not in it alone! There are others of us in this crazy uncertainty with you…all of us just trying to “figure it out”.
It’s all unfolding exactly as it is meant to.
Joe @ Not Your Average Joe
Hey Steve—
I’m glad you’re not beating yourself up, because it certainly sounded like you were! I’m sorry your project hit this roadblock, but one of the things I’m sure of is, the more meaningful action you try to take, you can guarantee rejection is coming your way. Take the rejection you just got, and use it as feedback. Adjust.
The “make income from your passion” market is pretty saturated right now. Everybody and their mother is going to try to do this. Most will fail. And you know what? They should! Because most bloggers pushing this stuff don’t know what the hell they’re talking about!
Seriously, think about it. Why do I need an e-book or a coaching session to figure out what my “passion” is? If I can’t do that on my own, some should def kick my ass. And this concept that your paid work should be your passion…enough already!! We get it! I need to stop all this noise in my head…
I like this post, thanks for being frank here. We’re bloggers, man. We’re good for five minutes of entertainment until the next task comes along. Keep doing what you’re doing and I’ll keep reading!
Steve
Hey Joe,
It took me 5 hours to put this post together and I won’t lie, there were times when I did feel like beating myself up. I’m sure some of that came across in my writing, but that certainly wasn’t the goal.
I’m totally good with getting the feedback I did because now I know what people don’t want. How many people have skipped this critical step, put a ton of time/money into something, and then realized that nobody wanted it.
I’m sure I’ll have many more failures as well.
Your right when you say that the “make your passion pay you’ market is flooded. It definitely is. That’s one of the points I was trying to get across with the post. We don’t need another blog about this stuff. When I figure out how to be unique, different, and exceptional, that’s when you will see a product from me.
I’m working like hell right now to try to find that angle, but it’s not easy. Thanks for reading and supporting me, I appreciate it!
Leanne
Steve,
I also sent a comment on your survey. I commend you for conducting it. It saved you a lot of time by realizing what your audience wants, (and doesn’t want). It also shifted your thinking and it sounds like you are entering the next phase of your business.
I found your blog one day because I have been trying to figure out how to get out of the grind for FIVE flippin’ years. I have a strong entreprenurial streak, but, I haven’t gotten my business going yet. Enough about me…..
I recently read the book “The Millionaire Fastlane” and it talks about exactly what you have discovered. The world doesn’t care about your passion. The world cares about the value you bring to it. The value is what is rewarded. I will go on further to say the trick is to figure out what your passion(s) is, and then, see how working with passion can deliver something the world values.
I think you are on the right track.
On the flip side, I understand your frustration because you want to be there NOW. Out of your soul sucking job, not wasting another minute of your life. This is the part I can’t help you with, since I am in the same boat. Getting this next piece of your puzzle figured out will, however, get you closer to the personal goal of quitting your job and doing something you really love.
Keep us posted on your thoughts and discoveries.
Steve
Leanne,
First off, thanks for filling out my survey. Any and all feedback is gold.
5 years of grinding out a shitty job is tough, but what will you be saying after 20? I’d be happy to chat with you and bounce around ideas on how you can possibly get out. Send me an email if you are interested.
I actually interviewed MJ DeMarco a few months ago and his book definitely changed how I looked at my business. The Millionaire Fastlane is a very powerful book and I was actually surprised by how well done it was.
Thanks so much for your support and taking the time to share your comment π
Kaylen
I agree with all of the above, especially where Leanne said, “the world cares about the value you bring to it”.
If you don’t have a very specific goal, and you don’t have a specific value you bring, then you’re just like the rest of us who want to “escape the grind”. We want out, we just don’t know how. It doesn’t bring us any value to read about someone else who is in the same boat.
If you want it bad enough, google Ramit Sethi and read some of his stuff. He’s got some great material and it could really help you out. I’ve been reading his blog for awhile and although it doesn’t cost anything, I have found some value in it because he brings a different perspective. And can show results.
Good luck!
Steve
Kaylen,
You make a great point is saying that without a goal or an idea of the value offered, there is no value. Like I mentioned in the post, I feel like on the surface, my blog does offer value in the form of inspiration and to an extent, some how-to advice. But I am looking under the surface to where it really counts.
I’ve got a lot of momentum and support, I just need to figure out how I can use it to help people.
Thanks for the advice. I have read Ramit’s stuff and it’s excellent..
Adrienne
Hey Steve,
Wow, reality check right! I’m sorry for the results of your survey but I was also one of those that said we don’t need that. But it doesn’t mean we don’t care to learn from you or that you don’t have valuable insights to offer.
Personally, people come to the internet to find a better way to escape corporate America. Because there are so many different ways to go about this, you can’t fault people for spreading tons of information because there are so many different directions you can go.
Personally, I prefer learning from someone who has already been there and done that or are in the process of recreating a business for themselves. They don’t have to be stinking rich, they just have to know what they are doing. I connect better with people who are honest, have integrity and are doing this for the right reasons.
So you have to ask yourself what you really want to do here. I mean what is your passion? I know you want to help people but doing what? You have to start asking yourself those hard questions and doing what Penelope suggested. I write out what I need to accomplish every single day in order to get me to where I need to be. I also believe that I help people while they are on this journey as well. So if they decided to join me in my primary business, they know I won’t leave them behind and I’ll be there to continue to support and help them as they learn how to build a solid business of their own.
People prefer purchasing products from people who have experienced what they want to do so those products are necessary. Are there way too many out there? Absolutely which is why people need to do their research first. But they are helpful so I’m not going to bash information products.
I know you will keep going with your blog but just take some time to think about what you really want to accomplish and darn it, go for it! To hell with what everyone else says! You have to take action on a consistent basis to get results. Bottom line my friend… Now go for it!
I’m behind you Steve! Always!!!
~Adrienne
Steve
My dear friend Adrienne,
Thanks for responding in the survey and I appreciate your honesty. I do think I have valuable insights but I was really looking at the underlying factors. There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to learn from someone who has results already. I’m the same way.
I have been trying to answer many difficult questions as of late and am learning more about myself each day. Personally, I think there is far too much useless information being spread around and not enough substance. I do like your business model and love your integrity. When I call out information product salesmen, I’m not referring to people like you who are doing the right thing for people. Unfortunately, you are in the minority.
As far as what people are saying, I’m ok with whatever comes my way. I don’t mind taking brutal criticism as I can learn from it all. Anyway, I’ve got a lot to think about now…
Thanks as always π
BethanyBob
I love you. I would be quite sad if EndingTheGrind.com disappeared tomorrow — but only if it meant that you were giving up for good, instead of putting your passion and talents to use on StevesNextGreatProject.com.
I’ve heard that entrepreneurship should also be called experimentership. Yes, you’re at a crossroads and you’re backed into a wall. This is where you need to be to figure out how you’re going to break through the wall.
You’ll figure it out — just maybe not in the first few tries. There’s something great in you. It’s just a matter of making it tangible.
Steve
Bethany,
This is the first “I love you” I’ve received here π
Yes, I will have to experiment. Yes, I will fail. Yes, I also think there’s something great inside of me π
Thanks again for your continued support!
By the way, love the domain name…may just have to register it…
Stephen Gibbons
just came across your site today as someone tweeted this out and i clicked into it and read the article.
why did you start this blog?
did you start this blog because this is YOUR true passion?
or did you start this blog because you could see this catching on and working out?
literally this is my at a first glance opinion. probably way wrong and if so I apologize for that.
just shooting it out there. what is your true passion?
what wakes you up in the morning and what keeps you up at night?
– Gibs
Steve
Stephen Gibbons,
These are great questions!
I’ll be as honest as I can here:
1. I started this blog as a way to chronicle my journey from day job hell to online business owner and self employed entrepreneur.
2. I did NOT start this because blogging is my true passion. My true passion lies in unconditionally helping someone and seeing the result.
3. I had no idea what I was doing when I started this blog and had no clue if it would catch on. I’m kinda surprised that it’s done so well to be honest. I’m not an internet marketer and actually suck quite badly at it.
4. Other than what I already mentioned, my motivation for this is having freedom over my time and being able to enjoy my life. The reason that is so important to me is that I want nothing more than to have the option to spend whatever time I choose with my 2 young daughters. I can’t let myself be the dad who only sees them for an hour a night or on weekends. I want to raise them and be a very integral part of their lives.
In order to do that, I feel as thought I need to be working for myself. I have developed a deep passion for writing and becoming part of the blogosphere since I started this though. I love, love, love being part of an online community. So yes, this is a passion and it’s something I’ve never had. I’ve never once in 25 years of employment been excited to wake up to what I did for a living.
I’ll tell you what wakes me up in the morning. It’s the thought of being able to live in Boulder, Colorado and have a successful online business which will give me the freedom to enjoy the beauty of the mountains. It’s about smelling the fresh air, living a healthy lifestyle, and raising my children in a wonderful environment. It’s about sitting on a rooftop bar at 2pm drinking a Fat Tire beer with my wife because I can. While everyone else has to be in their office, I don’t because I’ve built a business that allows me to choose otherwise.
Does that answer your questions? π
Paige Burkes
My initial reaction to your reply: Maybe you’re focusing too much on ending the grind and not enough of where you want to be. You get more of what you focus on.
After writing out and visualizing exactly what I want my days to look like, I just got the opportunity to live it but in a very unexpected way. I’m moving from a job that totally sucked to a new job that feels more like a cause and I’m surrounded by awesome people. And, while this is still a job by definition (working for someone else’s company), I’m part of the founding team so I’m creating value, helping people and starting a great company with the lifestyle and values we’re all looking for.
While I never thought I could do it with a job, I live in the mountains of Colorado (3 hours south of Boulder), am building a successful online business and have the freedom to enjoy where I live. I’m living a healthy lifestyle and loving being home with my three young kids. And I love sitting on the deck looking at Pikes Peak and having a Fat Tire with my husband.
Letting go of the “how” and focusing on what I really wanted is how I think I got all this. The coincidences that brought me to this place were too eery.
I agree with the path you’re taking: create some very specific goals and focus on them and only them. Forget about what you don’t want. Don’t resist your current situation because it will never change if you do. That’s been one of my biggest lessons.
Another lesson I’ve learned is that marketing is crucial to creating a successful online (or any other) business. I thought I hated it and thought it wasn’t that important (build it and they’ll come, right?). Wrong! Marketing is EVERYTHING! There are tons of people/businesses out there selling a lot of crap to prove it. And lots of people out there like you with something of value that have trouble making a dime because they don’t know how to get it out there in a way that people want it. I’ve become a student of ethical online marketing and I’m really enjoying it (did I really say that?). And it’s becoming awefully handy.
So keep your eye and heart on your vision and learn how to market it.
Steve
Paige,
Great comment! What you’re saying makes a lot of sense and you’re right, I haven’t spent enough time figuring out exactly where I want to be. It been hard because my wife and I are not on the same page with our “ideal” life. I want Boulder, she wants the ocean. Obviously there’s a lot more to it, but it’s hard to form a concrete dream when it doesn’t coincide with your spouse’s.
It sounds like you are doing great things and living a life you want. I’m jealous! And you are drinking Fat Tire!!!
Letting go of the “how” is sooooo hard for me to do but it makes perfect sense. “don’t resist your current situation because it will never change if you do” is a GREAT way to look at it. As you can tell in my writing, I focus almost entirely on what I don’t want.
As far as marketing, I realize that it critical to our success to become proficient at it. I hate sales to be honest and have a hard time taking money from people. I always want to do things for free, but I’ll always be broke doing that. I have not spent nearly enough time learning how to be a marketer, but if I am ever going to quit my job, I need to work on it..
Thanks for this….
Stephen Gibbons
I had another thought and that thought is – when did this whole thing become your passion?
i understand the point of the site but has quiting your day job and doing this site always been your passion?
im looking forward to talking to you more and again i apologize if any of this offends you because im not trying to at all.
I just see the dilemma that you are in and I understand where you are coming from.
cant wait to chat more –
Stephen Gibbons
It doesn’t really.
All your responses just seemed to be looking forward to the future and what it has to offer if you could just break free.
You started a job to chronicle your journey to do what you love and what you love is to help others learn how to do what they love.
Totally get that – i still think your stuck between a rock and a hard place and thats why you hit this road –
the key line that hits me is where you mention that blogging isnt your true passion and that helping someone and seeing the benefit behind it.
in your article it looks like you havent had much luck that you know about.
i guess my question is why the blog then? gotta do what you really love and stick to that – no filler
Steve
Ok, let me try to clarify this.
I started this blog to chronicle my journey out of my job. That’s it. I didn’t go into it thinking I would help people. I knew very little about blogging and how it worked. While blogging was never my true passion, I have come to love it. I love almost all aspects of it and can see myself doing this as a career/business.
My passion is helping people unconditionally and it’s not necessarily just to have them pursue their passions. I probably would have been a social worker if I thought I could make enough money to live on. Instead I chose a profession that I thought I would like (wrong) and would make a ton of money (I didn’t).
Given what I know now, I am choosing to work on this business and find ways to truly help people get what they want in life.
Steve
Stephen,
This blog became my passion when I started receiving email from people telling me that they were inspired by my writing. It became my passion when I began making great friends with many different people across the world. It became my passion when I realized that this could quite possibly be exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I’ve been in finance for 9 years and have hated it for 8.5 years. I felt like it was a “secure” job and it was prestigious. I wanted to be a hot shot stock broker back in 2002, but quickly realized that it wasn’t glamorous at all. It actually sucks.
I’ve always had a passionate hatred for my career and never really thought about writing about it until last year. I’ve tried tons of jobs, moved across the country and back, and never found something I could get excited about. I had tricked my mind into thinking that I was happy or at least content in my job. But that’s bullshit.
I am trapped right now because of my debt, mortgage, expenses, a non working spouse, and 2 very expensive children! As much as I want to quit my job, it doesn’t make sense to go find another job because of all the experience I’ve gotten here. So my goal is to build my online business for as long as it takes in order to replace my day job income. I don’t know what that will look like right now. Maybe life coaching? Maybe Consulting of some form? Maybe an innovative approach to building online businesses?
We shall see my friend…
Stephen Gibbons
i responded to yur email by mistake lol – check it out there
Greg
Steve,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months and it’s the only one where you can actually feel the ups and downs of the emotional roller coaster that you have chosen to ride to escape the grind.
After reading some of the comments, I just had a few questions.
You mentioned that you wanted to be able to “smell the fresh air”, “live a healthy lifestyle” and “raise your children in a wonderful environment”. Can’t you do any of that right now where you’re at? It sounds like “when I achieve this or when this happens, then I can be …. happy, fulfilled, etc”. Isn’t it about trying to do those things today?
Also, you mentioned about your debt, mortgage and other expenses in one of your replies. Are there ways to downsize your lifestyle today so you won’t have to make so much money and work at a job you don’t like?
Finally, I did leave the grind a few years ago and know how turbulent the journey can be. Don’t ever quit on your vision Steve and be grateful for that hour you spend with your daughters because some may not even get that.
Thanks for always keeping it real.
Steve
Greg,
I’m glad to hear you say that about feeling the emotions because I write from emotion, not just when I have to put out a post.
To answer your questions:
1. Yes, I can do that where I am now but in my mind, I have a specific location in mind. I spent 6 months in Boulder, CO and fell in love with it. It’s the one place I still go to in my mind when I am thinking about my life. I actually live in a great neighborhood in the suburbs of DC, but it’s just not the same.
2. I definitely tend to look at the future and think “I’ll be happy when I’m living here or I’ll be happy when I am working for myself. This is actually a huge source of my unhappiness and I have never really felt content with my life. It’s like the grass is always greener-all the time. This is not a good way to go thru life because you miss out on all the great things that are happening presently.
3. We are working on budgeting right now, but it’s so hard because of a single (not large) income and a high cost of living. I feel like I need to stay in my job to provide a decent life for my family. My wife didn’t sign up for a blogger husband and I’m not prepared to cut all costs to the bare bones and make everyone else suffer because of my wants. Although I am miserable, I still often feel like I am being selfish by going after my goal of becoming a digital entrepreneur.
And I think about my time with my daughters every single day. I literally think about the brevity of life every day and how someday (too soon) my girls will be grown up.It breaks my heart to think of the day that they no longer want me to hug and kiss them. Of the day they leave the house. Of the day they are no longer my little girls.
-Here’s to keeping it real, my friend.
Judy Helfand
Steve,
Good forthright post. There is a lot I could say or offer, but I think I said most of it in a Skype conversation that you and I had on February 1, 2011. Skype gives you the ability to view old messages. We talked for about 1 hour. You might find it interesting to re-read it.
To tell you the truth after we had that conversation I had the feeling that I offended you. I hope not.
I don’t have much more to offer today, but I saw Coke’s new ad for Coke Zero and…it seems to fit how you are feeling right now. Real Coke Taste – Zero Calories | Coca-Cola Zero: http://www.cocacolazero.com/?id=165
Take care,
Judy
Steve
Hi Judy,
I do remember our chat, but it will be good to back and look at it again. I don’t remember being offended, so no worries. I know you have some interesting takes on things and I appreciate the feedback.
The commercial is awesome and really did hit a chord with me. Thanks for thinking of me π
Barry
Steve,
Kudos for your continued transparency. Not everyone is so willing to share what you did.
I’ve long believed that failure doesn’t exist, only results do. Results are disappointing only when they don’t agree with the vision we are attached to. So we shift our vision.
Case-in-Point: You know that this week I shut BookBlogBusiness.com. Why? Results indicated it wasn’t viable. As you know, I’d written a book for that site. My vision didn’t match the results. Not what I wanted but results rule, right? π
So you go on. You write because you must. You experiment until you find what works for you and then you tell us about it. It’s a shift from the Goal-Do-Evaluate model to the Do-Evaluate-Tell model.
It’s good to take a hiatus, but keep writing -even if you don’t publish it all- you will find what makes a difference and make you a living.
Steve
Barry, my friend,
I love your view on failure, I’ve never really thought of it that way but it makes perfect sense. I actually didn’t realize you shut your blog down. Wow, I didn’t see that coming! That’s a tough thing to do from an emotional level given all that you’ve put into it.
But then again, you’ve had success online (and offline) and probably know better than many the reward vs time model.
You’ve been a great source of help to me over the last 6 months or so and I really appreciate everything. I would love to hear more about your business when you have time.
Abby
I had a comment written out in my head, but all of the intellectual replies that have come before me pretty much summed up my thoughts.
But (my) bottom line? While everyone likes to believe that if they work at it, they will be paid to do their passion every day and “never work a day in their life” because they love what they do, I call bullshit. Well, I believe it’s technically true, but I also think that a majority of us have to work butts off doing other things and scratching that itch (the passion) on the side. If things work out for the best, it will be because of hard work, not luck, and it might take a bit longer than planned.
People like us will always work hard-even if we’re not sure what we’re passionate about exactly, we know that we’ll work hard to get it. But that doesn’t mean anyone else cares unless it affects them in some way. As it was said, the “passionate” profession market is saturated, as is the blog world. I struggle every day with the fact that while I’m “talented,” so are other people. What can make me “extraordinary?”
Now I’m rambling, but I guess my point was that this sounds like a reality check. In my humble opinion, I think that’s great. Now that you’ve switched the focus of your expectations, you’ve cleared out more space for new opportunities. You give a shit. We give a shit. That’s worth something and will amount to anything you make it.
Steve
Abby,
I don’t think anyone is going to be living their perfect life every day or enjoying their true passions each moment either. I think it’s the big picture here. When we are working towards our goals and where we want to be in life, then work becomes meaningful. Sure it’s going to take a shitload of hard work, but it will be worth it.
I think most of us want to wake up with a sense of greater purpose. That doesn’t mean getting to sit on the beach all day, it means we will work as hard as we can to feel fulfilled.
I personally get a lot of fulfillment from writing this blog. I live for the comments and emails I get. When someone says that I’ve helped them, that the best feeling. My post went much deeper than that and I began to look at the real meaning of all this.
This was definitely a reality check and wait until you listed to my Podcast interview with Penelope Trunk tomorrow. THAT was a reality check!
Cleared out space for new opportunities-I like that π
Thanks for this Abby
marlon @ productivitybits
Steve,
I am one of those who said…”Not interested! Why would I pay to read about ‘your’ story?”
Does that mean I don’t believe in your story? No.
Honestly, I believe in your story. I want to hear it, except that I don’t want to pay for hearing it.
Your blog is one of the blogs I have in my reading list (not a few of them). I admire your blog’s achievement.
I’m on my second year of blogging but I am yet to reach the level where I can earn from blogging.
I want to earn from my blog. I am not embarrassed to admit that. I know my friends and acquaintances in the Tech World are laughing at my back right now. But who cares?
It is not bad to be wanting to earn money from something you are passionate about doing.
In the past two months, I purchased a 6 horse power wet and dry vacuum and 190cc Lawn Mower (around $300 in total). Why is this so special? The money I spent on those 2 items are from the earning of my blog – the first earning of my blog in almost 2 years.
Blogging experts would say I made the wrong move. I should have put that $300 back to my blog for improvement purposes. But I need to see something concrete to re-affirm that I made the right decision to continue spending time on my blog although – on the onset – I have something inside me that was telling me to give up.
You are on the crossroad right now. You’ve gone so far.
Turning back is not an option. Make your move and continue the journey.
Whatever road you decide to walk on will not matter in the end.
What will matter is that you didn’t quit the fight.
π
Steve
Hey Marlon,
I’m glad that my story is something that keeps you interested. Like I mentioned in my post, I was pretty naive to think that people would pay me on a monthly basis to hear about it. Granted, I only shared a small amount of what I had in mind for the site,but just the same, it didn’t really work. I’m not sure what I will do. I may do this project anyway for free, I haven’t decided yet.
I love that you’re so committed to making your blog work. That will keep you motivated. Being 2 years in is great and you’re just that much closer to making it happen for yourself.
And you’re absolutely right, turning back or quitting is NOT an option. I know it’s not for you either.
Thanks for your support..
Ryan Biddulph
Hi Steve,
I appreciate your honesty here.
I encountered much of the same inner turmoil until I took this step. Actually, I still run into it at times, but I am able to release it more quickly.
Drop everything for 10 minutes each hour. I mean EVERYTHING. Go into a meditate state, a sleepy state, a trance. Whatever you want to call it. Then, repeat your dominant intent to yourself. Whatever you want to accomplish. Make it 1 or 2 lines. Short and simple. Smile in your mind, as you see it come true. Feel its truth. Laugh. Visualize it. Do all this mentally.
Do this every hour. No exceptions. It works like magic if you stick with it, because this mental picture and feeling absolutely overrides the mental chaos your ego creates. I know. I am a master of ego-based mental chaos at times, as are most of us π
When I made a blanket decision to stick with this practice, much of the mental chaos subsided. Order reigned. It’s because I trusted in God, or the Universe, or whatever you call it. I trusted for 10 minutes every waking hour, and now I am travelling Asia for a year. My team grows. I just published a book. I have remarkable clarity in what I do. All because I made surrendering my thoughts a habit, and allowed myself to see and feel my dream life over and over.
Thanks!
Ryan
Steve
Ryan,
Wow, this is a very interesting idea you have here. I like the concept but I don’t see how it’s possible to spend 10 minutes each hour in a quiet, peaceful place when I’m stuck in my office from 9-5. Any suggestions?
I am a big believer in seeing the end result already achieved in your mind although I rarely take the time to do it.
Would love to hear your thoughts on how to work this into my day.
Thanks
Ryan Biddulph
Hi Steve,
You can pack two or three 10 minute sessions into your lunch break. This is about 20 or 30 minutes.
Also, depending on how many breaks you can take, try heading out to your car for 5 to 10 minutes every 3 hours or so. Or maybe a quiet spot around the office (bathroom stall? π It really works, and is so worth it to try to fit it in no matter what.
The idea is to introduce this mental picture to your consciousness on a consistent basis, so it takes root.
Thanks!
Ryan
Steve
Ryan,
That’s going to be tough, bit if I’m committed, I can make it happen. I’m going to try it next week and I’ll let you know if I feel like it’s working.
Thanks again
Benny
Hey Steve,
It does suck people didn’t like your idea but better now than putting in all the work and releasing it.
As for SPI bring gone and people going crazy, I think it would happen. People would be on the hunt for what happened! Eventually they could find the content elsewhere but they would miss Pat. It’s like Oprah leaving. People got to used to making her a part of their lives that they miss her more than the content I think.
I would miss ETG if it went away! You’ve built it from nothing to having stats bloggers would die for!
I have more to add but will do it when I’m not typing on my iPad!
Steve
Benny,
You know what, it did suck that my idea was a flop, but I had to hear it. I was jacked about the idea and would have gone ahead and started working on it if it wasn’t for a friend of mine.
My point with SPI was that after the dust settled, in all reality, it would be forgotten quickly. Now you and I both know that Pat produces some of the best stuff online, but at the end of the day, it’s just a blog. People will find a replacement and move on.
As far as me, I’m not going anywhere.
Thanks for your support!
Keith
I can imagine this was difficult for you Steve, and I know you have a bunch of passion for this site, but in all honesty, it is very hard to make it in a “teaching” or “coaching” type niche without any track record. If you had already built an online biz in another niche and escaped the 9 to 5 that way then this would be an easier niche.
If you look at the big names (Risley, Rowse, Flynn, etc..) everyone of them made their money in some other niche (computers, photography, architecture, etc…) BEFORE they tried writing about how they did it.
I always tell my clients when I am consulting with someone to find what you are passionate about, but also what you have real world expertise in.
I know these are hard decisions because I have to make them too (most of my money online comes from a fence products website I have, then I make money from building sites and managing social media for local businesses here, and my lowest income source comes from a few small adsense sites).
While I don’t consider myself an expert at any of this I have enough knowledge to get paid doing it, and have been marketing online for several years now.
Keep your head up Steve, I am confident you will work through this bro!
Steve
Keith,
Glad to see you came out of the woodwork for this one π
Your point is exactly where my frustrations lie. I’m trying desperately to avoid creating a side business in which to make money in order to teach that to people. I know it goes in the face of conventional wisdom and online marketing, but I’m trying to find a way to help people based on my current experiences. Obviously this has been a challenge and I have no idea if I will be able to.
I’m working with a few people on unique ideas and will surely let everyone know when I figure it out. I just have little interest in online marketing in the traditional sense. Build traffic–>Build a list–>Create a sales funnel–>blah blah. That’s fucking boring. I’m not just looking to quit my job. I’m looking to quit my job to do something I love.
And I love this blog. I do not love IM. Hence my dilemma. I don’t want to do what people have proven works, and that’s a problem.
I admire what you do and it takes a certain type of person to have their hands in so many baskets. I’m an all or none guy. I want to put 100% of my effort into something or not at all. I understand that this mentality is not ideally suited for having an online business, but that’s how I see it.
I will figure out a way to make this work-it just may be a while…
Thanks for the comment dude, I appreciate it.
Deeone
Hello Steve,
OK, for me it makes a hell of a lot of sense. And I’ll tell you why. Months ago, I truly didn’t have a clue as to why I was blogging, all I know is that I really enjoyed doing it. It helped me to make sense of my world. I didn’t really care about my readers, and that’s probably because I didn’t have any readers.
Then one day this chap hit me up in a email, and dropped some knowledge on me that quite honestly pissed me off. The knowledge however that he dropped on me was a reality check. He told me in so many words, that my blog replicated that I had no earthly idea as to which direction I wanted it to go. Which in part was very true… but I just didn’t want to hear that bullshit. Call it denial or just being a stubborn brat, I’ll take them both.
You know what it did though, it knocked me into action; not just with my blog, but also helped me to see that my trying to appease everybody was taking me down the wrong path. A path that I really didn’t want to go anyways. I had no interest in telling people how to go about making money online. So what his insight actually did was pushed me to figure out what the heck I wanted to do with my writing.
I say all of that to say this, that chap…my friend also let me know that no matter what other’s actually think about your work, you have to do what you truly want and love.. if for no one else but you. If this happens, they’ll come and keep coming.
It took me a minute, but I know that truth now… thanks to that friend. π
Steve
You are the reason I do this, Deeone. I saw a light, a passion, a heart in you and I wanted to do what I could to get you to see that as well.
I love that you’ve taken off like this and are pursuing your passion.
It means so much to see something like this happen in front of my eyes. To see someone take that big leap and going for it.
You are a very special soul and I thank you for your friendship. You’re going to do great things with your life, this I know.
I’m with you all the way, my friend….
Deacon Bradley
It was great to read such honest thoughts, thanks for sharing those! You and I do have one important thing in common: We both have great things to offer the world, but don’t know what that is yet. It’s a hard search, and I understand it can be frustrating.
I disagree slightly with your perspective a bit, and maybe I’m reading between the lines here. It seems like your goal is to do *anything* that people would find useful. I think that’s going about it backwards.
A quote comes to mind that encourages me, “Don’t go looking for what the world needs and try to fill it. Go looking for what makes you come alive, because what the world needs is people who come alive in their work.”
Your membership community may not have worked, but I’d encourage you to keep pushing on something your passionate about until you tweak it just right.
If you haven’t read Dan Miller’s book “No More Mondays” you should. He has inspired a lot of creativity in people who have built businesses no one ever thought possible.
Steve
Hey Deacon,
I think we are in a spot that many of us feel stuck in. This is extremely frustrating and I feel like time is wasting each day I haven’t found it.
As far wanting to do “anything”, that was not my point. I’m not interested in just doing something just to do it. I want to help people on a deep, emotional level and have an immediate impact on their lives. I could certainly “help” people by showing them what I’ve learned and what tools I use, etc but that’s not my passion. I do talk about these things here, but this is not where I envision my business going.
I’m working on ideas and doing lots of soul searching to try to figure out exactly how I can use my passion to help others.
And thanks for the tip on Dan Millers’ book, I have not read it.
Jason
Steve, Nice honest post. I just recently found my way here (through your podcast with Pat). I feel your frustration on your podcasts when you ask the “how can a family man succeed” question? I’m 35, married, 2 young kids, one income. I don’t hate MY job, but I do loathe the whole corporate job idea. I’ve enjoyed your site thus far, though I don’t read your guest post. I want to read what you have to say.
Your response to a comment up above pretty much explains why I want out: “Itβs about sitting on a rooftop bar at 2pm drinking a Fat Tire beer with my wife because I can.”
At least twice a year, I will take just a Wednesday off. My co-workers think I’m nuts. For me though, it’s so motivating going out during the day mid week and seeing the lifestyle that I want.
Steve
Jason,
Thanks for checking out my blog. Sounds like we have a bit in common although you seem to be quite active in the Internet marketing space.
My comment revolved around one thing and that’s freedom. It’s not about drinking or about taking a day off, it’s about having control over our own time and lives. I know you know this and want the same thing. Most of us do but will never make it happen.
Good for you for taking off a few days for R&R. I take a half day every other Friday for the same reason..sanity!
Jason
I wouldn’t say I’m quite active in the IM space. I assume you checked out my blog. Honestly, I have 0 readers. Which is fine. I spend most of my time on other sites. I do follow the crowd and post income reports because these interest me and think others feel the same. And I do agree. It’s about freedom. My family was on vacation in Oregon this summer. My wife and I were standing on the beach. I said, “You know, if I made my living online, we could stay here 2-3 weeks and I could just work on my laptop.” That’s the dream.
Also, my goal is not to be a millionaire (though I’ll take it if it comes to that). We live comfortably, not extravagant on my salary. If I could just make enough online to where the net amount matches my current net amount, I’d be extremely happy.
Finally, please don’t respond to this comment. You got enough going on with your latest post. Take some time to figure out what you want.
Steve
Jason,
Thanks for checking out my blog. Sounds like we have a bit in common although you seem to be quite active in the Internet marketing space.
My comment revolved around one thing and that’s freedom. It’s not about drinking or about taking a day off, it’s about having control over our own time and lives. I know you know this and want the same thing. Most of us do but will never make it happen.
Good for you for taking off a few days for R&R. I take a half day every other Friday for the same reason..sanity!
Paige Burkes
Steve,
I’m hearing lots of what you feel you can’t do to change your current situation. Leo at ZenHabits.net has shown tons of people that you really can make those kinds of changes. Is it really a sacrifice for your family to make cutbacks if it means spending more time together – time you’ll never get back?
We turned off our land line phone and I bought a hand held phone that works with Skype that costs $60/year for a regular phone number. I can’t rely on my cell phone since there’s no cell service at our house.
We pulled the plug on our satellite/cable TV and plugged an old laptop into the TV and signed up for the cheap version of Netflix.
Family entertainment involves hikes and camping, not expensive trips to restaurants or amusements for the kids.
I, too, spent over 20 years in corporate finance as the CFO of a variety of companies. Due to the job market, I had to take my last job at about a third my normal pay and I’m the breadwinner in my family. The pay, conditions and low level of responsibilities were a massive blow to the ego I didn’t realize I had. I hated and resisted it like nothing before for the first 9 or 10 months. Then, when I realized the resistance was only causing me pain, I let it go and my life began to flow. I was infinitely happier although nothing had really changed.
This experience showed me that anything is possible if I decide to let it happen. I never realized how tied I was to seeing myself in a position of “stature” with the accompanying lifestyle.
Thinking that you can’t leave where you are because you’ve “invested so much into it” is total BS. It’s living in the past. It’s a sure-fire way to stay where you are. It’s very hard but you have to let go to allow the life you really want in. I’ve been there and done it and it’s magical.
So get out of your own way and let the good times roll into your life. And have a Fat Tire on me!
Tom Ewer
Hi Steve,
I should say first – I haven’t read of the comments. But I did read the whole post and the thing that strikes me the most is – Steve, stop beating yourself up, and please try and get rid of that cynicism!
You’ve got a great blog here, and I’m sure you’ve got followers who are much more loyal to you than I am. And yet, if this blog did disappear tomorrow, I would be trying to figure out what had happened. I would be trying to find you so I could ask what was going on. I would worry. And we barely know each other! But I feel like we have a connection in that we have a common goal, and your passion to get to where you want to be shines through. Your drive is a great trait, and it shows in your writing.
I am a HUGE fan of Pat Flynn – he is a huge reason for where I am now. If he disappeared, that would be a big thing for me (within the ‘box’ of my internet marketing life). I disagree that people wouldn’t be bothered. But humans are resilient, and they DO move on. That’s nothing to feel jaded about – it’s just a fact of life.
Many people would kill to be in your position (myself included). 15,000 monthly visitors? And how old is this blog? Fantastic! You’ve achieved a great deal already. So what if you haven’t quite figured out where you are going to go from here? That’ll come, and in the meantime, you’ve got a great platform to help others.
I don’t know how much help I could be but I would love to chat with you about what you want to achieve, and how you could maybe get there. Just drop me a line if you’re interested mate.
Chin up!
All the best,
Tom
Steve
Tom,
I was trying not to sound like I was beating myself up and that was not my goal. As far as the cynicism, that is just my personality. It comes from years and years of doing shit I hate. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism, I don’t know, but as you can tell, I use it a lot in my writing.
I hear you about trying to find out what the issue was if I shut this blog down, but my point was that after the initial “WTF just happened?”, you would move right on. There’s nothing wrong with that and my point was that it’s just a blog. I’m just 1 person in a sea of billions. At the end of the day, people have enough going on in their own lives to worry about.
And I agree that Pat’s impact is huge. He is an incredible guy who is providing thousands of people with top notch advice on bettering their lives and businesses. Of course he would be missed by many, including me. Bu my point was what you said-people move on.
I can;t complain about my stats and I know many people would love to have them. I certainly wasn’t trying to brag or anything, I was just stating that it doesn’t really matter. What matters is what I do with it. How many people’s lives can I touch?
I definitely would love to chat sometime, so shoot me an email with your Skype handle.
Thanks Tom.
Ross Corbett
First of all I think you have a great blog and I admire your passion.
The brutal truth though is that you are a few years to late as there already many established people showing people how to make a living online so it will be difficult to get people to pay for your services.
I think that you should continue this blog to document how you are striving towards your goals but look at other ways of making money online.
Never give up though as you know you will make it!
Steve
Hey Ross,
I realize that there are tons of blogs already teaching people how to make money online and that was never my intention here. My goal has always to provide inspiration to quit a shitty job and pursue something that will excite you. In my case, it’s an online business that excites me and I’m simply sharing my progress.
I have never tried to teach anyone how to make money online and if I do, it will be a longtime off. I ideally want to build a business around inspiring people, but that’s a very hard thing to do. Hence why I’m still blogging my ass off for free. I really don’t mind doing this for free but as I have mentioned in the past, I have to start building a business because my job is literally killing me.
I’m working on figuring it all out and I have a TON of great advice and feedback from you all. Thanks for this!
Becky
Hi, I came to your blog via Penelope Trunk’s. After listening and reading about you and your career wishes, I suggest that you and your wife start a childcare business. You say that your most important goal is to spend time with your daughters and to have a meaningful impact on people. Working with children would allow you to do those two things.
Steve
Now this is a first Becky!
A childcare business is definitely not in the cards for us, but I appreciate the idea. I always thought I would make a great social worker and I probably would have become one if they made more than $35,000 per year. I got into finance thinking I would be making the big bucks and as you now know, I don’t. Not even close.
Claudia
Hi Steve. Got here via Penelope Trunk as well. I thought I was smart to get a master’s degree in a field other than social work, though I truly felt drawn to social work. Everyone told me that the burn out rate in social work is so high, you get no pay, you get no respect, etc. Fast forward 6 years. My master’s degree has proved useless and I lack passion for the topic. I make $47,000 and am semi-miserable. My husband (met him after grad school) has a master’s degree in social work. He started at the bottom making crap and has moved up the ranks incredibly quickly and is now making $70,000 and loves his job. (It is easier to move up in a field where there are clear ranks/rungs, and where there is so much churning on the lower rungs with people burning out.) By the way, consider moving to the Midwest – our homes/lifestyles are cheap, there are great state parks, nice people, and traffic is not a problem. We have Fat Tire too :). Good luck to you – I can relate to a lot of all of this!
Laur @ The Mad To Live
I could write so much here Steve after reading this and listening to the podcast (which I myself really needed to hear), but sometimes more is said in fewer words.
I’ll leave you with this quote by our man Gandhi…
“Everything you do in life will be insignificant, but it’s very important that you do it”
You’re the only you out there.
Steve
Great quote Laur! “You’re the only you out there” is very significant to me given my recent “soul searching”. I’ve come to some fascinating realizations about myself and your comment really struck a chord with me. Thanks for this π
Sebastian Aiden Daniels
Hey Steve,
Damn that was a pretty blunt and brilliant post. It is so true that there is a clusterfuck of bullshit on the world wide web. How does anyone ever get heard? It is also true that your blog would disappear and no one would care. It is true that most people don’t really care about your goals unless it helps them. I’m going to go listen to the podcast right now to hear exactly what she said to you. Hopefully it doesn’t discourage me. This was an inspired post. I could feel the emotion behind it.
Steve
Hey Sebastian,
I’m not sure if you knew this, but I did take 2 years off of blogging after I write this post. And I was right, nobody really cared. When I came back, some of my old regulars came back to say hi, but they’re mostly gone now. I’m not upset about it as it’s the nature of things. People move on. I now get to make my mark on the Internet for the second time!!
Sebastian Aiden Daniels
I did not know until I just read your other reply to one of my comments. That makes sense. Most people will drop out of your life if you don’t make a consistent effort to work on the relationship, even more so in the blogging world where you don’t have face to face interaction and bonding moments.
Steve
Very true. I have kept a number of personal relationships alive by consistently connecting with them. Those who I haven’t seem to fall by the wayside.