Change Your Mindset About Blogging
Most people enter the world of blogging with an employee mindset. They are accustomed trading hours for dollars. In other words, work 10 hours and get paid for 10 hours of work.
Most people can understand that way of making money, because that’s what they have been taught by their parents, grade school and college.
Some of these folks quickly discover that their job does not provide the income or lifestyle they desire, so they decide to start a blog (or some other type of part-time business). They are looking for extra money to supplement their income and standard of living.
What I have noticed over the past 10-years of blogging full-time is that most of these people QUIT blogging within their first three to six months. They set up a blog, try it out for a few months, and then abandon their blog because they aren’t making money. As a result, they think blogging doesn’t work.
On the other hand, the successful bloggers, the ones that press on and eventually succeed in a big way, think much differently. They think like a business owner, not an employee. They think of their blog as a business. They think of their blog as an asset. They understand they are not trading hours for dollars like an employee does.
They are willing to work for 1, 2 even 3 years without making money from their blog, because they know they are building something that is (1) an asset, and (2) their blog can eventually create an ongoing residual income, even if they stop working.
That is the mindset you really want to have about your blog, if you hope to succeed. You need to think of it as your part-time, long-term project. Don’t think of it as a solution to today’s money challenges. It won't help you with that problem.
If you are hard up for money today, get a part-time job (or a full-time job)! And, then work on your blog an hour or two a day UNTIL it is where you want it to be.
Going full-time in blogging on day 1 because you do not have another source of income is a HUGE mistake. Expecting a new business of any kind to provide an immediate, livable income is unrealistic expectations.
It takes time to launch, grow and develop a successful business of any kind, whether it is a restaurant, liquor store, dry cleaners, or a blog!
In a nutshell, get a job or primary source of income and think of your blog as your long-term part-time project. It WILL NOT make you much money in the early years, but if you do a little bit each day, press on, and stay the course, it has the potential to provide you the lifestyle and income you want and deserve.
It worked for me and I know it can work for you!
Recent Comments
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Great post Chuck! I agree that blogging shouldn't be seen as an answer to today's money problems, but many people get those unrealistic expectations from fake gurus. I know I did, and I don't know why I believed them!
It was awesome people here that corrected my unrealistic expectations and helped me to think more long-term, but there are plenty of scammers and liars out there. Some people will say "make $XXX per month in 24 hours" and leave lots of details out.
I knew what realistic business expectations were like offline, but for some reason, I thought online would be different. I've learned that hard work, persistence, and patience is essential in growing a successful "business": online or offline.
If "quick cash" is needed, you're right, a job is probably a better bet.
Chuck, you are absolutely, right. I agree with you. I tell people to keep their income and build this as additional income. When it grows, you can decide later what direction you want to go. Every business needs time to grow before it can break-even. You need a business mindset and not an employee mindset to make decisions affecting your business.
The mindset you speak about is true for most that are still working full time.
I was brave 11 years ago and jumped from corporate to full time online with no safety net.
Blogging is a great way to showcase that path warts and all.
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Thank you for sharing this post. Maybe this is what I'm looking for in answer to my question.
During your ten years of blogging, how many years before your site gained enough trust and financial sustainability?
It's about my third-year maintaining my three sites but I still can't see financial sustainability.
Close to 7. I've always had other income streams.
Maybe that's the factor that extended your patience in waiting. Thank you.