If it was easy then everyone would do it
My last website post was the most in depth so far. I hope it was informative and a bit interesting at least. It also featured affiliate links for the first time. It also took a while to do. And there is my current ponderence. (I make up words btw). When I say current, about a week really.
When I started this project, I thought it would be a good hobby, potentially it might make me a few quid, it would keep me out of mischief in my dotage, would be a way to keep my interest alive in my past profession and hopefully, might well be useful to somewho somewhere. I still think it will tick all those boxes. But. Hmm..But...
But...I feel I have let a genie out of a bottle, the cat out of the bag, opened Pandor'a box (further cliche's available on request). My problem (and I haven't actually decided whether it is a problem yet) is that the training here is excellent. It is all broken down into bitesize pieces which I have followed carefully. I'm currently on Course 3 Lesson 7. Each piece is, in itself pretty straightforward. However, with each section, I am drawn further in the project. A project which, I am constantly reassured, is not a project of quick results. Paradoxically is is that reassurance that is causing me unease. In a couple of months I have a site and I am joining affiliate schemes. I have an advertiser that is waiting for me to forge ahead. According to google analytics, I have not a lot of traffic though, I am told it takes time. I am told it can take a year to get established. I am not sure I have a year to devote to it without knowing if I am going in the right direction.. That doesn't mean that I don't want to, I just do not know how to gauge progress and without even incremental pointers to refer and compare to, I feel I am in the dark.
As of this moment, I have about 40 posts in various states of draft for the site that is currently live. In addition, I have the skeletons of four other sites that I have either been asked to do, or are solely my own fault. I don't easily understand the SEO side of things, and the look of my site is still not what I want. To research each post properly and then find appropriate affiliate links takes time. I do not find it easy, but I do find it fun.
The question is, am I going to forget about "retirement" and spend the next year committed to doing something that I will not know how successful it might be until I have spent a year doing it? If I were a young flibbertygibbet, there would be no question, but there are considerably fewer years ahead than behind and i need to be careful with limited resources.
Over the last week, I've taken a break and been on a bit of a band fest. Went to see James, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding, One Republic, the 1975 and a number of others. At one point, I lay on the grass, in the sun, listening to Years and Years and decided that I would buy a VW campervan, get the earring I've promised myself and keep driving til I run out of gigs to go to. It's an attractive idea. But...
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I've asked myself the same question about retirement and building a new business. I simply decided not to worry about it, and to let things unfold as they will ... Which means becoming comfortable with slow website development and slow progress. I'm not retired yet, but I'm self-employed, so I can do what I want, when I want, at my own pace ...like cutting back gradually. I intend to keep this new adventure as a small money-making hobby; otherwise, it will become too stressful, which is something I no longer want. As for the VW campervan thing .. Well, lying in the grass and letting the sun shine on me sure sounds appealing ... And the sun does manage to shine everywhere in the world!
A friend has just got a mobile wood burning pizza oven. Could hook it up to the VW and go from festival to festival. After 30 years of wearing a tie it is so tempting :)
You've just said the magic words to me George...VW Campervan! Me and him indoors would adore one and spend the rest of our days as ageing hippies, touring Italy! Fancy joining us? :)
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Just go with the flow George, and take as many breaks as you like! You will get where you want to be, and the important thing is to enjoy the ride!! :)