On Balancing Life, Work, & a Baby (Plus My Vegas 2018)

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108.6K followers

I don't think I was ready to have a child.

Well, let me clarify.

I don't think ANYONE is ever ready to have a child.

You can read every book in existence, attend every baby class, read every mom blog, and study until your brain can hold no more and you still won't be ready.

Nothing really prepares you for what comes after the baby arrives.

Enter Vincent...

Today, he's a cool little 8-month old dude with an independent personality and a big cheesy smile with 4 little teeth.

For a while though, he was a total time suck.

I'm talking, if at the end of the day, Amanda, Vin and I were still alive, I counted that day as a total success.

Needless to say, my business took a little bit of a hit. One that I am still recovering from today.

The thing is, there is no guide out there on how to raise your child and run a business.

Vin didn't come with an instruction manual.

Every day we learned something new and every day a little less time was spent focusing on my business.

Sprinkle in a little seasonal depression with a dash of sleep deprivation and it became easy to completely set my business aside.

Luckily, I was able to see the downturn and make some changes before shit really hit the fan. Today, I am refocused and back to work. Any more distractions could mean losing my business and everything I've worked so hard to achieve over the past 11 years.

I'm not going to let that happen.

I want to continue to stay at home, be a good dad to Vin, a good husband to Amanda, and a successful entrepreneur.

And that's why it's 6PM on Valentine's Day and I'm in the office writing a Wealthy Affiliate blog post.

Don't worry, Amanda understands.

Wealthy Affiliate & Vegas 2018


My trip was a little different this year.

Usually Amanda accompanies me and we get to spend the week partying with every one.

This year, she was at home with Vin and I spent most of my free time facetiming the two of them.

I was going through my phone to pull up some pictures from the trip for this post, but I only took two the entire time I was out there.

The panorama above.

And this picture below.


(Sorry Vitaliy)

All in all it was a good time, like always.

Kyle & Carson have reinforced my beliefs that Wealthy Affiliate IS the best platform to build an affiliate marketing business.

The value, thought, and consideration those two put into WA and its members cannot possibly fit into a blog post (and video ain't my thing).

The super affiliates are given sneak peeks into some of the projects that are being developed and I think you all will be pleasantly surprised with some of the upcoming releases.

The fact that these guys continue to improve their service year, after year, after year, and don't charge any extra for it is why I'm happy to continue to recommend WA.

I look forward to seeing how the rest of this year plays out.

It's going to be a good one.

-Steve

PS. Yes, this blog post was a thinly veiled attempt to show off my kid.

He's adorable and I love him to pieces.



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Recent Comments

78

Your baby is super cute, I love that age. They are so aware but not able to moving around yet... just wait til he starts moving! LOL

Yeah I was wondering how this would impact your business. Every parent understands how you can never be ready for a baby no matter how prepared you are.

When's #2??!

He's gotta have a playmate.... it helps, trust me! :)

I need to forget a few more things before #2 comes along lol

Vin is growing up and you are blessed to have such an amazing little dude (and wife) in your life.

There really isn't anything that you can "plan" for in advance when you throw kids in the business mix, you just have to take things head on as they happen and remain flexible to your situation, as everyone's situation is completely different.

I know the year ahead is going to be a brilliant one for your Steve and I look forward to seeing it unfold. In your corner, rooting for brilliance!

I'm pretty sure at one point I said "How hard could it be really?" Well, yeah. I quickly learned my lesson.

You kid is soooo cute!!! I can see how it would be challenge to focus with such a cute little guy being a little guy.

I'm confident your business will continue to grow as you all develop and refine your routine.

P.s. I"m glad you had a great time in Vegas.

The hardest part is having to set aside time to work when it is much easier to sit around and play with Vin.

Ah I remember those baby days and still look back with longing sometimes, although I remember how challenging it was too! Mine are 8 and 11 and I absolutely love having older kids too, so just treasure every moment... really, every year brings something new and it's an adventure. I hope you get your business back on track, I understand seasonal depression too, it really sucks! All the best Steve!!! Your little boy is adorable!!! Nat :)

Thank you Nat! It's hard wanting him to grow up and out of phases, but wanting him to stay tiny forever as well. Time definitely move faster now.

Yes it’s a bit of a catch 22 lol. It does go so fast!

What a great post !!! You have a beautiful family. I wish you the best on your parental journey, and I can tell you from experience, " it never ends " :)
But the love you have for the children you have is so special. I treasure my two children, they are 45 & 49,
I still can't believe that they are grown, however, they are not Gone :) Pics of them on my profile :)

stay humble & kind,
riley

It is crazy how quickly time does speed up after you have children. Vin just passed 8 months yesterday and I honestly have no idea where that time went.

I know you expected your baby and you prepared for it and always included as your inspiration in your business.

You said you have had a little challenge in your business but it's still having you sufficient income.

As if I am seeing that in the very stage of my site development, instead of growing in traffic the more it is going down or it's static.

Could you please share one hint that you have seen the number one traffic booster.

Hey Steve,

Believe me, I know what you mean... no one is ever ready for a kid...

I had my first daughter in 2012 but since she was such a bad sleeper we delayed the 2nd way too much .... we just didn't have the courage to face it all over again...

Now Sara is 9 months old and she's an angel during the day... but during the night she is a lil devil.. keeps waking up more than 10 times per night totally wears one off ......

lack of sleep is a productivity and creativity natural killer...

Glad to have you back on track... you are a plus to this community

cheers m8 and hang on

they are totally worth it ;)


Vin is finally getting on a regular sleep schedule and getting a 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep has been a God send. I forgot how it felt to wake up well rested.

Steve -

Vincent is really cute! You must have already had earned the Vegas trip before he distracted you from your business. :)

Congratulations on your Vegas trip, and to you and your wife on your first child.

You're right about them not coming with manuals, but they help you learn quickly.

I have decided to follow you, and it is my goal to make it to Vegas next year.

Lydia

He's certainly taught us quite a few things. A manual would have definitely been handy.

Congrats Steve! Yes, Vin is so cute!

You are an inspiration to many here in WA as you are one of the pioneers who has been here for quite a while.

Yes, I am in my RV office too, have been all day working on my new website and things inside the WA system. We all have to do what we have to, but love to do.

If we are passionate about what we are doing it is never called work!

Press on Sir! I look forward to meeting you in Vegas at an upcoming event!

I look forward to that as well Howard! Thank you :)

Awesome Steve!

Vincent is adorable, congratulations on surviving the first 8 months of being a Dad.

It must have been great to have FaceTime available to see them while you were gone.

Years ago when I traveled across the Country for work, we didn't have FaceTime so I would talk with my Son Vance and the phone.

I stopped the traveling cross Country when he was 4 years old as it was too hard on both him and I. (I cried more than he did when I had to leave)

Thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures and also for sharing that WA is still an amazing place that keeps getting better.

In my 31 months here, I agree and look forward to witnessing the upcoming improvements and also to meeting many WA Friends in Las Vegas next year at the Super Affiliate Conference.

Tony

I'm incredibly grateful that technology has advanced so far by the time we had Vin. Staying away from him for a whole week with no pictures or videos would have been torture.

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