Sometimes thoughts strike me and, as much as I’d like to keep them from entering my head, they somehow take hold.
I got an email from NaNoWriMo the other day, talking about preparations for the next challenge. If you haven’t heard, it’s an open challenge where you can set yourself the target of writing a short novel, 50,000, throughout the 30 days of November. It happens every year.
I attempted NaNoWriMo in 2008 and failed miserably, mainly because I have no clue about writing a novel. So I tried again in 2009 and wrote 50,000 words worth of eBooks and reports. These were written to help fuel my passive empire.
How Have Those eBooks Helped Me One Year Later?
The honest answer to that question is that they haven’t helped me one bit. Not at all. And I am ashamed to say it! Apart from a short report for my PLR site, I haven’t used any of the eBooks that I wrote in November 2009. They’re sitting on my hard drive doing absolutely nothing.
What Else Have I Achieved In That Year?
I also started thinking about other “challenges” I set myself back in 2009, such as writing (almost) 100 hubs in August – which have earned me ok money but nothing amazing over the course of a year – and building way too many niche sites to handle. In fact, since August 2009, I’ve gone through more projects than I can count!
The Shocking Truth
It really is shocking to me a) that I managed to have the discipline to set myself challenges like 50,000 words in a month and b) that I had absolutely no discipline to stick to one thing in that year, or even use my eBooks!
I suppose this shows that I’ve learnt a lot, but I could have learnt a lot more. And am I even better off right now?
In my last post I wrote about the excitement of seeing my PLR business start to take off, and I hope that’ll last for a while. Thankfully, having a PLR store also now means I can put those eBooks to good use – as PLR! But apart from that I’m really hoping that I will have come further by this time next year, rather than just zigzagging on and off the path I’m supposed to be following.
This isn’t me being down about what I’ve done – I’m still very much positive. But how does it make you feel when you think about where you were this time a year ago? How many things have you tried to tackle, and how many things have you stuck to? I’d be interested to hear!
No related posts.
Twitter: TheAvgGenius
says:
Ruth –
I really enjoy your transparent self-disclosures. Some might shirk the practice – I find them really informative and reassuring.
I have tackled:
My children. They always, always fall to the ground. I think it’s a weight advantage.
Actually re: business, a year ago if you asked me what SEO was, I’d tell you, “Something Everyone Oughtaknow.”
I actually didn’t know what a keyword was, or what SEO was, or how Google worked (not kidding). Looking at things like that, I’m pretty proud to say it’s been one big long lesson in all thing IM and ranking, etc. – actually it was about a year ago exactly.
Hm. That’s pretty weird to think of it! Now I know that I know what I need to know – it’s more a matter of acting on it and crafting the discipline to get more done in less time for clients, and craft time for me (oh, and my family somewhere in there!).
Love your honest posts, Ruth – you’re always an inspiration.
JamestheJust on Elance´s last [type] ..How Do I Find Blogs To Comment On
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
James – Thanks for saying that as I was wondering if my personal ramblings would even be of interest to anyone else!
As for your progression, I do firmly believe that nothing in those “learning” stages is wasted. It does take a lot of time to learn what everything means etc. (I love your year-ago-self’s definition of SEO by the way
)
Keep doing what you’re doing, it seems to be going well! But I do hope you get that extra time you’re after.
Yeah….I have to admit that I check everyday to see what is new in your world as well!
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Dusty – Aww thanks
Hi Ruth,
Thanks to you I am in the process of creating a PLR store of my own. I am not sure if this is good news or bad to other PLR writers since this is more competition for you.
I must say I have been following your journey and am impressed that you are starting to make some real money. I am currently reviewing the PLR course by Tiffany Dow that I linked to and bought from your site.
Thanks for being an inspiration.
Best,
Bob Bessette
Bob Bessette´s last [type] ..Separation Anxiety – How are you dealing with your child away at college
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Bob – Oh thanks for buying through my link! I actually have bonuses for people who do that so I’ll email you about them. You’re right that PLR stores mean more competition for me, but I’m thinking we will all cover different niches etc so there should always be room for more. Good luck!
Put it all down to experience Ruth – what you’ve learned over the last year will play a big role in your success yet to come.
Your PLR store is doing well and this could be the big turning point for you.
I don’t even want to think what I’ve done – or haven’t done – over the last year. I’m certainly no better off financially than I was back then so I need to do more, stay more focused and be more positive
Sheryl´s last [type] ..Blogging PLR Report
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Sheryl – Yes I feel kind of the same as your last statement, I know you’ve been feeling down about it lately. I had an off day the other day but generally positive which is good. My biggest barrier is still focus. But at least we can say we have learnt a lot – and hopefully it will start to really pay off soon!
Hi, Ruth:
Even though I’ve been lurking a bit, I follow you on Twitter and do read many of your articles. Funny you should write this as I was just thinking to myself how far you have come.
I remember you from way back when you were into site flipping and I think that is how I know you.
It’s interesting that sometimes the path we think is “the one”, turns into something else. For example your recent PLR success. Maybe that is your path.
Of course this doesn’t mean you only do PLR, but it’s always nice to see success on an attempted venture. Right? Glad to hear its going well for you in this area.
I too have tried many different things, it’s in our entrepreneurial nature. lol. And have had success with site flipping, however the more I think about it – the more I wish I hadn’t sold some of my sites. They were good passive income earners and by this time established in the eyes of Google.
Am working on a new slate of sites, and building my portfolio up. But don’t plan to sell any this time around.
At least not anytime soon. lol.
Cheers,
Missy
Missy´s last [type] ..Wanted- Your Guest Posts
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Missy – That’s nice, thanks
And yeah I remember talking to you in the Google group set up for a site flipping challenge that most of us never completed lol – but your site was great (mine got abandoned :/). I can see why you may have wanted to hang onto it. But there’s always a toss up between flipping for cash NOW and then waiting for the passive income. You’ve obviously got a skill for building good websites then, so I think building up your portfolio is a good idea!
I think I usually set goals that are just a tad bit ambitious which has the upside of motivating me to try to achieve a lot but the downside of usually not meeting my goals – which in the long term can be a bit depressing. Looking back a year ago, well, in September, 2009 I earned $129 in passive income. In September, 2010, that amount was $1242 – nearly ten times the amount. Not really enough to live off of yet, but I’m getting there.
I think one of the keys about setting goals is making sure you really want to meet them – or that they don’t make your life much harder if you do. Perhaps setting goals that require less work after the fact is the way to go.
Michelle´s last [type] ..Weekly Update 19- October 6-12
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Michelle – You are always a great inspiration because of how focused you are. You don’t seem to get distracted by the shiny things that many of us do. Your progress is great!
One of the biggest pitfalls of being able to work for yourself, is that you don’t necessarily have direction. It’s easy to go where the wind blows you. Site flipping today, Amazon product sites tomorrow, and PLR the day after.
I think you’re starting to learn something that a lot of successful marketers eventually find, which is that you need to try things until you find something that really works.
Once you find that thing, you build on it until it *really* works. A lot of ‘blueprints’ out there are just explaining one strategy someone got to work for them. Which is why they often can’t be duplicated easily.
Now I’ll share something that has worked an absolute miracle for my own Internet income, which is to keep a daily summary of what you’re doing to further your income (and that really is the point of it all isn’t it?).
Here’s what I did yesterday (I’m building an ebook niche site):
-Wrote 5 articles and submitted them to Ezine articles
-20 Blog comments (for backlinks)
-Installed Google analytics
OK I didn’t do much
… But the point is, I review the previous month at on the 1st and see if my overall direction fits with my goals. If not, I give myself “directives” which are just bullet points of what I’d like to do for this month and the cycle repeats. It’s not complicated and works extremely well for me.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Jack – Thanks for this great comment! You are so right about what you said about blueprints, and I definitely took a long time to learn that one.
I am loving your daily summary idea. I’m thinking I should do it too. Do you physically write it in a notebook or leave it on the computer? Do you go back over it to see your progress? Oops,I see you already answered that second question. That’s a fantastic way of doing things.
Sometimes we may do less one day than on another day, but listing what you’ve done towards a goal I think at least shows that you did SOMETHING to further that goal that day.
The key is just to write what you did for every single day regardless of whether it was productive or not. I have entries that say “had a hangover all day”. Sometimes my monthly direction is to just do something
I use Microsoft OneNote and have a “section” that is daily logs. Another section for “directives” which gets updated monthly. And finally, a section for “ideas” which eventually makes it into directives. You could accomplish the same thing with any note taking software, such as Evernote.
Twitter: TheAvgGenius
says:
I’ve been hooked on your comments, Jack – (um – everyone else’s too, lol) – Sara from NoteworthyTips.com a while back mentioned OneNote – but I’m WAY too cheap to get it (it’s not free to use if you don’t have a MS package, at least not on my laptop).
Evernote sounds like a winner.
Thanks for the tips!
JamestheJust on Elance´s last [type] ..How Do I Find Blogs To Comment On
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Jack – I agree with James, love your useful comments. I’m going to start doing this. Evernote looks really cool (and they have an iPhone app!) – it’s what I need to bring me out of a “funk” I’ve gotten myself into today! I think seeing that I am at least moving the right way, if only slowly, will keep me going.
Hey Ruth!
I can definitely relate to that
when I first started online, i used to see myself quitting my job after a couple of sales, then when it would dry up, I’d be running after the next shiny thing..
To make it all worse, I was giving myself way too big of a goal and I would end up disappointed. Lesson learned, I do have much smaller goals now to look at which leads me to my bigger goals and I no longer run after the next “best” thing
Widmaer´s last [type] ..Goal 1 Achieved – Market Samurai News & Bonus Surprise
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Widmaer – I think that’s definitely a good idea, giving yourself smaller, more achievable goals. I think I am the same too.
hmmmmm….maybe you should have a contest for other people ruth. Like a PLR version of NaNoWriMo. Nothing brings a community together like the chance to show off your skills and possibly win prizes
I haven’t been reading your blog for a whole year but it seems like you’re really making progress. I also would’nt think of your accomplishments in terms of strictly goals you may have reached, but rather take into consideration the skills you have aquired. After all it’s the skills that retain value after you achieve any goal, and they will continue to do so.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Gabriel – I have considered your kind of contest idea but settled on something a bit more boring I’m afraid (will post about it tomorrow). Thanks for your encouraging comments!