Clouds of Uncertainty - I've Lost My Way, Where Do I Go From Here?
I'm not sure why I'm writing this post or what I'm looking for. Maybe words of encouragement from the WA community (all of you are great by the way)? Maybe just to express what's going on in mind and solidfying it by typing this post?
I'm essentially in a rut. If you've read my one and only previous post you know my history with WA. In a nutshell though, I've tried and fell a couple of times trying to get a site going.
I thought that this most recent and third time would be different. I started out in May and the first 3 months I was doing well writing content consistently. However, for the past month I haven't written any content.
I guess I was hoping to see at least a couple of affiliate sales through Amazon (even if it was just a buck or two). However, nothing happened. Interestingly, I get maybe 2 or 3 organic pieces of traffic on the two product reviews I've had, but no other visits to any of the other 20-something posts I've written.
Now I'm mentally back down at the bottom. I'm questioning myself. Do I pick another niche? Even as far as do I give up? I don't want to. I see the success stories. I just saw the post of "Back to 5 figures" for the month.
I suppose I'm impatient. Those 5 figures didn't happen overnight, it happened over a few years for that WA member.
I'm not doing well financially though. Credit cards are maxed out (it's a lot). Rent on top of groceries, $800 for child care on top of an $800 monthly student loan payment. I'm getting caught up with the need of instant gratification and success.
I know that's not the way to think, but my mind keeps taking me there and it's difficult to try to stop my mind racing. I tried listening to some motivational speeches today and I suppose they helped for a very short amount of time. Now it's 9:30p where I am and for the past few hours have been thinking negatively again. I'm tired and I know I have to get back up to take care of my 5 month old and work my 8-430 job again, and again then the next day, and again, etc.
Sometimes I wish some sort of miracle would happen, but according to the motivational speeches I listened to today, that's not how it works.
So here I am now. Not sure what to do and not sure what I need to help myself.
So here I am exposing my negative mentality for the WA community. Apologies if this has put a damper on your mood. I do wish everyone success in this great community. Hugs to all of you and those that have supported me thus far.
New niche? Keep going with the site I've neglected for the last month? WA isn't for me? Wish me luck to find the right path.
Thanks again.
Recent Comments
16
Hi Jeremy,
I feel your pain! I started WA almost 4 years ago while in the beginning stages of breast cancer. We did not have the money for all the drugs/shots I needed to start chemo. We needed $4,000! We live on Social Security and have been and still are hanging on by a thread. My husband and I both have many health issues and cannot find jobs. Noone will hire us! I still have not made a dime! But we have started and stopped, sometimes for as much as 6 months, before we get back to it again. Between health issues and financial issues, we are also very stressed!
You look young and healthy! I know how hard it is to work a job and have a family. It seems like all you do is work, work and work. You are either working for someone else or working at home. The work never stops.
But think about your wife and your new baby! Dig down deep and visualize what it is that you want to do for them. Also, dig down and find what it really is that you want for yourself. You need to be happy before you can make someone else happy. YOU HAVE TO WANT IT, REALLY WANT IT!!
If you need help, I would be glad to help you. If you will list your website, I would look at it and see if I have any suggestions for you. But no matter what, it is going to take some time. Also, if you are stuck, maybe I can help you get unstuck! I am really good at coming up with ideas for articles for other people!!
Set yourself a goal for when you are going to quit your job. Make it reasonable, realizing that this takes time. Sometimes, when you kind of know you can quit, it helps motivate you. Or at least that has always worked for me.
I understand the funk! I have been in a funk for about a month because I am extremely tired and also in a lot of pain. Some days I don't even want to get out of bed! But no matter what, I get up and I come to WA and work for about 8 hours EVERY SINGLE DAY! I know you probably don't have that much time, but devote what you can. Make a plan. Get a calendar and list how many hours every day you are going to devote to this. Also mark in big letters the day you plan to quit your job! Think about the hardest thing you have ever done, and apply it here. If you look back, you will see you have made it through some difficult times, but you came out on the other side. I had to do that when I had cancer. I did not know if I would survive, but I planned to survive, and I just took it one day at a time. I cried wishing I had already been through it and was on the other side, but I knew the only way I was going to get to the other side was to walk THROUGH the fire!! You, my friend, need to walk through the fire! Unlike me, you are young and you have your whole life ahead of you! Even if it takes you a year or more to walk through the fire, just think how fabulous it will be for you and your family. By the time your baby is walking, you could be a stay at home Dad!! Think about that! If you have any questions, please contact me. If you need more encouragement, contact me. Take care, my friend!
Thank you for relating and the personal details you shared. I know it stinks to be in these situations, but it's nice to know you are not alone. I like that you mentioned making a plan. I've been thinking about that the past day. I think I need to start setting up small goals for myself again, and that will help build myself back up. Thank you!
Hi Jeremy
You haven't been working on your site for a month-- Don't feel like giving up
You have your goals and let them motivate you to keep going and keep building your online future
Times do get tough and this is when the tough get going and you are tougher than you give yourself credit for
You are working towards paying off debt and living expenses and this is a burden for so many people
Believe you can do this and you will I am sure of it
We are all behind you Jeremy
Keep on working :)\
Vicki
Thanks so much Vicki! Words of encouragement are helpful. I'll admit when I'm down I sometimes disregard them mostly, but they still stick in the back of my head, and then someone else says it, and someone else, and so on. Once you hear it enough, I think it finally hits me and says "hey, snap out of it" and that can help lead to action. Thanks again!
You are really welcome and I know you can do this step by step and success will become your friend
Vicki
Hi Jeremy.
I first question to you is. Why did you start your business?
Remember your why.
You mentioned your family.
Wanting to change your lifestyle is going to take time. How much time is up to you.
You mentioned that only two of your articles are getting traffic.
Then go back to the other articles and see what you can do to fix the situation because you could be leaving money on the table with them.
Go back into the training and look at what you could re-do to help you move forward.
I do not know your niche and don't really need to know because some how I think that they key to your success is you.
Do not just listen to your motivational speeches, really hear them.
I hope this helps
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer. The why is definitely important. I think I will be going back to the training like you mentioned, unfortunately I think I have a plan, but it's to just slowly build myself back up. Thanks for your words of wisdom!
Hi, Jeremy, I know what you are going through I was there but I decided If I want to succeed I have to work I too need to make some money but if I just sit and be depress that's is in no way going to help. I believe in music therapy so I play some happy music this may help you. Hoping you will be able to kick the depression this is not good
I just read this last night and it tells you the cold hard truth that you may need to see. 2-3 years is how long you need to be patient before most of your efforts will start to see profit. But you must realize that is based on SEO and not everything that you can learn to do via promoting directly to your targeted audience on forums, social media, paid advertising and so forth. Are You Really Running Your Business Like A BUSINESS?
Thanks, patience is something that has temporarily left my mind, I need to regain that principle. I do need to go deeper into social media, so thanks for that suggestion also!
See more comments
Unfortunately, you are unlikely to get a lot of organic traffic if you are not updating your content.
Content is king as far as blogs are concerned. The more interesting articles you write the more eyes you are going to get.
Have you ever thought of doing a blog about debt, and how easy it is to collect but hard to pay off?
Why did you join WA and what were your intentions? Go back and think of these things. There are many people here willing to help.
Many of us go through these moments of depression wondering where the money is going to come from to pay our debts.
Someone may say to you snap out of it- but that doesn't help you. Try to relax and think of something pleasant.
I wish you success as you move forward.
Derek
Thank you Derek for the wish of success. I think I'll snap out of it. It may just be one of those "downs" as we all go through the "ups and downs"