I didn’t write an update post last month as there really wasn’t anything to report. However, there has been quite a bit going on since then, so, I felt a progress update was appropriate at the end of February.
Blogging
Just as I stated in my last update, the blog hasn’t grown much in the last two months. However, I don’t see that in a negative light. The readers I have are sticking around, and the percentage of you that are commenting is pretty high. I love that, because it means people are engaged with what I’m writing. And, that’s far more important to me than a bunch of numbers anyway.
Also, I’ve decided to dump my posting schedule. I felt way to too constrained. And, having to get a certain amount of posts up on the blog meant that by default, some of them were going to be ‘fluff’ posts.
I hate that.
If I’m going to write something, I want it to be valuable and useful. Looking back in my archives, it disappoints me to see articles that weren’t really all that useful, or, that I didn’t really put my heart into.
I would rather post twice a month and have that content me awesome, than post every day and have the information be sub-par. I know there is a lot of variance on this in the blog-sphere, but it’s just how I’m going to run things.
Ultimately, these posts are going to collect and sit on my site for years. I want each one to be as valuable as possible. Consequently, you might have to wait longer than you’d like to read fresh content. I’m not sorry. It’s better for both of us in the long run.
Web Design
I’m THRILLED to say that may my design business has gotten its start. I’m finishing up my first site for one of my employers, and have acquired my first real client (who has a fair amount of work for me). In fact, I’ve been so busy with all of that, that I don’t even have my portfolio Online yet.
It feels good to be making money on my own. When I started businesses in the past I always focused on the wrong things. Now, I have cash-flow from day one (and I don’t even have my site up yet). Doing it right this time.
Scalable vs. Non-scalable Careers
After reading “The Four Hour Work Week”, as well as Steve Pavlina’s blog, I’ve been pretty much convinced that scalable, passive income was the way to go for me (and for those of you that want to travel and live a care-free lifestyle). However, the reality is that building a business that generates money passively is not easy. In fact, it takes a great deal of time. (Years for most people.)
Regardless, I still always made a value judgment when it came to active vs. passive income, i.e., passive income is better than active income.
But I really think this issue is both context, and person specific.
I’ve started a service based business in one month, and went from zero to profitability in that time. Yes, the income is active and I’m going to have to work while I travel. But most services can’t be scaled (making them a fairly stable form of income), i.e., articles, websites, and SEO work can’t be done efficiently by technology, so, there is a great deal of demand. And, you can build client’s very quickly.
Honestly, if you’re wanting to get out of your job, travel, and make a major life change sooner rather than later, I think a service based business is the way to go. Sean Ogle made this recommendation to me at the start of this whole endeavor and I’m glad I listened.
A second issue with passive/scalable income is that your likelihood of success is statistically much lower. I know, I know. We all think we’re going to be the unique flowers that succeed with our brilliant idea.
But what if you don’t?
I would rather have to work here and there as I travel, and know that my dreams are reality, than take a big chance on not being able to do what I want. Passive income is still on the table for me and my future, but it’s going to come later.
A smart cookie would pursue both avenues. Just something to think about.
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Great post, John.
I’m in bullet mood today:
–Posting schedule: I’ve never had a schedule and not sure if at one point I’ll need one. My blog is for me first and foremost, and the community is secondary. Maybe that’s contradictory for a lot of people but I started my blog for me and I write as the inspiration in my life comes. I don’t sit down and say “you must write now” since I know that wouldn’t be productive. Usually I get an idea, marinate it for 2 days or something, then it just flows out when it’s ready. Pushing for pushing’s sake produces fluff like you said, and I’ve seen it around quite a bit.
–Web design: congrats!!! Isn’t it exciting? I am starting my steps towards my own design business, both print and web. Honestly, once I made the decision I just started getting work without really trying. My old boss (at the company I just quit) hired me back to do the things I actually liked doing at the company, my cousin knew I did design so he threw me a project, and I met a guy in a coffee shop when I gave him my pen to write something down. Now he is a big client throwing me multiple projects!! Committment moves mountains. I can’t wait to see what I can bring in when I try a little!
–Passive vs. active. This is interesting. I haven’t read the 4HWW, but I see the difference. I feel as if design is like you say more scalable, a dash passive. But of course we must fill in the gaps with active while we are building the scalable/passive. Otherwise, if we focus our whole energies on passive at once, it might all come falling down since there is a loss of support. I still take a few promotional modeling gigs here and there that pay a good rate for selective few hours whenever I want. Of course, the rate isn’t as great as design and takes more effort physically, but I know that wherever I go in the country I can pick up some work if I need it. That’s liberating.
Thanks for the thought provoking post,
Quinn
Hey John!!sorry i havent been commeting a lot lately but i read each of your post, following your journey behind the curtains. Im so happy for you, everything seems to fall into place and im glad to see that you are making huge progress
On my side, things have changed a lot too and soon my blog will be up, time for me to put a face and story behind the name, even if its a bit scary…
Congratulations again
@Quinn,
Yeah, I’ve read and heard from so many bloggers that, “you have to have a schedule” etc… But, like you, it just doesn’t jive with who I am. I try to be a laid back kinda guy. On the other side of things though, I do find that I get a better flow of ideas when I’m writing regularly. I’ll have to look into a better way of harnessing that.
I’m loving the design work. It’s time consuming, but I like learning. And, it so cool be be making money without the middleman.
Do you have travel plans in the near future? I know you’re focused on some other things right now. Thanks for commenting, Quinn.
Thanks for the heads-up, Caroline. Make sure you send me a link so I can check it out when you’ve got it up.
No worries or need for apologies. I just appreciate that you folks are interested in reading or commenting at all. That really helps keep me motivated.
Hey John, sorry I missed your reply.
No travel right now as I’m in a year-long yoga teacher training program that is pretty intensive. That said though, I’ll probably head to NYC & Nashville during my break in July. Maybe some little weekend trips around my area in the meantime. Looking forward to both the staying in one place for awhile and the small outings!
Do you have any planned? Or waiting until the big day instead?
I def will
I will follow you on twitter as well! talk soon
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