Thoughts on a summer morning
Hiya friends,
It's been awhile since I blogged here, and quite frankly, struggling with what to write about. I don't want to write about coffee or my trip to Florida or my son's graduation or any of those other personal experiences because I'm not sure that is really relevant here.
I don't want to blog about how I am trying so desperately to get my site off the ground and ranked -- or how I am trying to gain traffic by any means possible -- or how exhausting this is, and how discouraged I am feeling. I don't want to blog about that because it is a downer and I feel like it compares me to all the other successful people here.
My site stats have improved, -- see the screen shot below -- but if this is any indication of how things are going, it will be another few years before I see any significant income.
This is better than it was a couple of months ago, but not nearly what it should be.
I don't want to blog about the fact that I have spent SO many hours working on my site -- about 20 hours a week, that it has taken me away from running my graphic and web design business, and now I am struggling to pay my bills. So I'm not making money there, and I'm not making money here.
Working full time has me at a HUGE disadvantage, as compared to other success stories here, and that is very disconcerting to me.
Anyway, maybe I need to blog about changing my mind-set, and knowing that a change in perspective may be a good thing. I can't over-generalize or compare myself. There will always be people who are more successful than me, and there will always be people who are less successful, and what's the point of the comparison, anyway? It just serves to make me feel bad.
So, not sure if anyone has noticed that I've been quiet, but this is why -- just struggling to figure this all out.
Thanks for reading,
/a.
Recent Comments
32
well, I have taken some silent time as well... I felt exhausted - it was the end of the semester: finals, marking, presentations... a lot of traveling, tomorrow - nephew's graduation ceremony at university... I hope things will come down and I will be able to focus on business...
Hi Amy! Hang in there! If it was all easy, everyone would be doing it. Having an entrepreneurial spirit does take heart and conviction to press on in belief that it will happen.
Best wishes!!
Hi Amy,
I'm not sure how much you are relying on your graphic and web design business. If you need to make more money out of your graphic and web design business first, why not just utilize what you've learned here and grow it? In business it's good to utilize limited resources effectively, so you might want to reconsider your goals and focuses when you get stuck.
For me I have to keep my full time job to cover my mortgage payments, car payments, and other family expenses. But on the other hand, the income from my job provides steady financial support to my business adventure, which is absolutely necessary. And I can take my time, slowly working on my business. I just come to WA on a regular basis and find the motivation and inspiration i need.
Best regards,
Hugh
Hi Hugh,
I rely on my full-time income to pay the mortgage and the bills but my bills exceed my income so I’m in a bind.
Ultimately I would like to build out my web design biz here and help build site and create social media campaigns for those who don’t want to, don’t know how or don’t have the time.
But I can’t solicit on this platform so I’m not sure how that would play out. I could take my existing web design website and bring it here on WA with a new revamp.
What do you think?
Thanks!
Hi Amy,
I bet soliciting in WA is against the policies. Since you are relying on your full-time income, you probably need to shift your focus and spend more time in your business until it generates enough income for you.
Do you have a marketing plan in place? I'm talking about a marketing plan specifically for your offline business, as I'm assuming most of your clients are offline based. Maybe you can check out the live training sessions about local marketing and local listing, and see if those can help you figure things out.
Other things I can come up with:
- Do some SEO on the website for your graphic and web design business and see if that can bring in customers
- Do some freelancing to add extra income
- Develop a marketing plan specifically for the graphic and web design niche if there is more room to grow
- Or add other services such as SEO on sites, local SEO etc, to your offerings
Hope these ideas can spark your inspirations.
Best,
Hugh
Hello, Amy.
Your struggle resonates with me. My resolution: I do a bit everyday. I have even gone back to some of the lessons in the Certification Course to embed them in my mind a bit more. Gradually, it is beginning to clear how I should go about writing that article for my very new website. My target: end June.
We all have our own pace at which we work and achieve. There is no rabbit-turtle race. Just individuals with their individuality within a very supportive community that assures success if we, the individuals, put in the work, at whatever pace.
Awesomeness!
Mojalefa.
Thank you, and awesome suggestions. I will take them to heart and all the best to you as well.
/a.
Boy do I understand Amy. I've been doing this for a year and working full-time and it is very difficult to keep up. I never seem to get ahead. I only know that I am determined to make a success of this and with the help of WA I feel I can do it. I guess the trick is to keep patient and just keep going!
Another full-timer...?!!!! Woo-hoo...!!!!!
Music to my ears.
Yes we have to make this work, and you just made my day.
Thank you...
Not quite sure how to reply to your post. It is obvious that you are unhappy at the way things are going, hate to say it been there and done it, also not yet made a penny or a dime, but I WILL succeed and so will you if you stick at it. So carry on young lady, try a change of direction, or your mind set, or your way or times of working. But do not give in.
Stuart
Hi Amy,
What I have found that really works well, is to find a system that works.(Obviously there are many systems that are working out there) Tony Robbins has always talked about modeling. Find a model (system) that works and use that same model for what you're doing. I think you will find that to be very effective.
Cheers and Success,
DREW.
It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one struggling. I guess misery loves company, as they say. Maybe we should form a club! The Struggling To Succeed Club. The catch-22 is that content is key but to keep coming up with original content day after day is difficult, at least for me.
Thanks for your post. You made me feel better.
Grant
Hi Grant —
So glad I helped you to feel better, and I love your idea of the STS Club here at WA....
Yes it is a catch-22 because it is exhausting to come up with content day after day — that anyone would want to read.
I keep hearing that we have to come up with content that speaks to our audience and keeping that in mind has made it a bit easier for me. What would I like to read about?
Aside from that, it takes me way too long to write a post and by the time I am done, I’m out of time.
Keep in touch and all the best ....
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Amy, I think we all struggle, to different degrees at different times. Not to bore with details, but I was basically offline for 3 months, did no training, wrote one (yes, numeral '1') post to my site, and sent all WA correspondence to a separate folder, deleted when I got back home!
Frustrating? Not really, I was busy doing other things, things that I enjoyed and which enriched my life. Personally advantageous? Yes and no: enriched my life for sure, but did not advance my goal of and independent online income stream.
But I still believe that I can achieve that goal, even after a hiatus like that. And based on that belief, I further believe that, given the work you've done and reported to us, given the beautiful writing you've just presented us, that goal achievement is in your future, too!
We're here for us, and thanks for sharing! It lets us know you a little better, it helps us understand someone else's (your) travails and tribulations, and it helps bolster our own resolve when we hit these patches, like you have!
Did it feel good to write it and get it off your chest? I'm betting it did!
Thanks, Amy,
Tim
No — I think I owe YOU the thanks for a beautiful post that served to help me see that this is life — the ebbs and flows, and that I have everyone’s support here and that means more than anything! You are right that we just have to boost our own resolve when we hit the rough patches.
What’s that expression? When the winds change, adjust the sails.
Thank you.
/a.