Using a Second Site as Leverage — Not Distraction (My Case Study Approach)

I wanted to expand on something I briefly mentioned in a recent post — the decision to start a second site without losing focus on my main project.

This wasn’t a spontaneous “new shiny thing” decision.

In fact, I was extremely hesitant.

The Hesitation

Like many people here, I’m already building something I care about — The Gentle Earner. It has structure, momentum, and intention behind it.

When I started following Jay’s case study, I was genuinely interested… but cautious.

I didn’t want to:

• Split my attention
• Stall momentum
• Undo the consistency I’ve worked hard to build

So instead of jumping in, I paused.

The Lightbulb Moment

What changed wasn’t a sudden burst of motivation — it was a reframing.

In a conversation, I made an observation and that led to a simple question to myself (and ChatGPT) while brainstorming an 'in the future' travel site:

Could the travel site idea actually support my main site instead of competing with it?

That question shifted everything.

The moment I stopped thinking in terms of “either/or” and started thinking in terms of “leverage,” the hesitation faded.

And so, The Layered Traveller was born.

The Shift in Thinking

The real shift came when I changed the internal question from:

“Should I start another site?”

to:

“Can a second site strengthen the first?”

Instead of treating it as a distraction, I began to see it as:

• A live case study
• A real-time application of WA training
• A way to maintain momentum across projects
• A demonstration of systems, not just theory

That made it feel aligned instead of divided.

The Travel Site Is Now Live

The site is now live, and I have just finished category 3 of 5. I must be approximately 150+ pins in (I think).

It’s not fully built.
It’s not monetised.
It’s not polished to perfection.

But it exists.

And more importantly, it exists with intention.

This isn’t about chasing another idea. It’s about building a second asset in a way that reinforces the first.

Why I Framed It as a Case Study

By consciously labelling this as a case study, it changes how I approach it.

It becomes:

• A transparent learning process
• A demonstration of WA training in action
• A way to document systems, Content, Social Media, SEO, structure, and growth in real time

Rather than hiding the work behind finished outcomes, I can show the stages.

That feels more valuable — both for me and for anyone following along.

The Guardrails I’ve Set

To avoid this becoming a distraction, I’ve set very clear boundaries:

• Clear time allocation between projects
• Systems-first planning (content calendars, workflow tracking)
• No pressure to rush monetisation
• No expectation that it replaces or overtakes my other site

That said, I’m not ignoring long-term positioning.

There are early foundational steps I can put in place now that simply make future monetisation easier — without forcing it or locking anything in prematurely.

The goal isn’t speed.

It’s readiness.

That distinction feels important.

Why I’m Sharing This

I know many members struggle with:

• Whether it’s “too early” to start something new
• Fear of losing focus
• Guilt about having more than one idea

My experience so far has shown me that it’s not about how many things you build.

It’s about how intentionally you build them.

My second site isn’t a distraction.

It’s leverage.

Final Thought

Sometimes progress isn’t about doing more.

It’s about asking better questions.

I’ll continue sharing updates as this evolves — not as performance, but as documentation of the process.

Who knows what the future might bring.

Onwards.

-- Elyta.