A frustrating first quarter
The last progress update I posted was back in December. That in itself is dishearterning.
Since then I've barely written any blog posts or done any work on my affiliate websites at all.
Excuses are like armpits
I could elaborate on my personal circumstances to excuse my lack of progress but that would just be self-undulgent and pointless.
The simple fact is that if I'm not producing, I'm not progressing.
Another simple fact - and this applies to all of us here - sometimes it's simply not possible to work on our side-hustle without neglecting other important aspects of our lives. In my case, that's parenting and my day job and they have to take precedence.
This has been my struggle for the last couple of years.
Embrace the wins
I'm not totally down about my lack of progress however.
Win #1
In my previous updates I talked about my ebook experiments and they continue to bear fruit. Small fruit, granted, at around $20/month but it's still a consistent income even though I've not done much on that in the last quarter, either.
Win #2
Another win is that I'm still coming here (although I didn't for the first couple of months of 2019). I paid for an annual subscription and for that I'm grateful. It's not only saved me a lot of money, it's removed the worry of paying for the monthly subscription and it's encouraged to me to keep popping back to read your updates and keep my affiliate sites in my mind, even if I'm struggling for the time to write anything.
Win #3
Although I've not had the time to write anything, I have had the time to write down ideas for blog posts that I will write when I have a moment. I struggle to come up with the ideas for a blog post in the first place so this is actually a huge win for me.
Change what we can, accept what we
The first quarter of 2019 has been a bit sucky. I've not progressed and that will hit me long term (as you all know, what we write now affects our success 6 to 12 months down the line) but I'm staying determined to progress in quarter number two
I'm going to do what I can, when I can.
I have a list of blog posts to write and I'm going to write them a paragraph at a time rather than do absolutely nothing.
Sure, I could have written part of a blog post instead of writing this, but writing this is important to help me remember why I'm a premium member of WA!
Have an awesome day, folks. :)
Recent Comments
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Hi Phil.
Good to see you are still around.
Like you I am still not devoting a lot of time to WA but I have got a list of posts to do. I've put the titles into site content and am at the moment looking for keywords for each article. Then I will start doing subtitles and a paragraph at a time.
I find always having something ongoing means that I can do the odd 30 minutes or so here and there and it does add up.
Best of success!
Hazel
Hi Hazel - that sounds like a great plan, one I think I will follow.
A paragraph a day is better than nothing created at all!
Hey, Phil, sometimes life gets in the way. But you are still here, which is great, and your ebook project seems to be producing, even if it's a modest amount. And you have some ideas for future posts. As you said, do what you an when you can.
Colette and Philip
Thanks guys - I appreciate your comment. As you say... I'm still here. That's one of the great things about an annual subscription - I've found I've had a much more long-term attitude since I bought it. :)
Kettei, You're not alone!
Sometimes, that extra push, is just not there. Life throws in the unexpected, and we have to adjust. My last year, has been doing just that!
I started a 21 day writing challenge, yesterday, to get back "My Groove" !
I posted, Day 1, last night, and this morning?, ... I found myself, waking up and eager to "get-to-it" !
The commitment, is fueling my passion, and my GOYA... Get Off Your Arse!
What's great about WA?, ... we all go through ups and downs, but we can get any encouragement, from this grand WA Community !
That sounds awesome - I'd love to do a 21-day writing challenge but I'll need more than 5 hours sleep a night for that, I think!
I'm really looking forward to my eldest starting school in August - that will make a huge difference!
Try, just a half-hour before retiring, or perhaps, before work. Writing in a notebook counts, too!
Try, 7 days, you may just find that time. Wink!
Barb
I think I'm more use, first thing in the morning. By the time I go to bed, I can barely think any more. :D
Usually, my evenings are preceded by a power nap, to restart, and clear my mind. Tonight was just that.
Friday's are busier, and I like to attend the Live trainings, too, so my blog for today, was written just an hour ago, after the training.
I'm working on staying in balance and finding my "wasted time", to write.
If, it's not enjoyable, I won't do-it!
We must find what works for us, individually.
You'll do it, Kettei!
Barb
I sypmathise and empathise, I've been in the same boat since the new year, very frustrating. Just a case of pushing through.
As of next week, the start of May I have 3 months with much more free time and need to make sure I make good use of it
Onwards and upwards
Kevin
Thanks Kevin - as you say, it's a case of keep pushing forwards.
May isn't far away! You must be excited.
I'm pretty sure other stuff will crop up, but basically I should have a lot more free time. My aim is to start bootcamp and focus on that whilst still publishing at least 1 post per week to my niche site so fingers crossed!
Yes don't give up whatever you do, even if it is just a drip feed keep moving forward. In the long run I'm sure you'll be really glad you did.
Out of interest how did you produce your ebook. I have written a free giveaway for my niche site. It is currently about 30 pages in a Word document (about 7.5k words and a few tables). I want to beautify it and offer it as a freebie if people sign up. I was going to try to do it in Word and save it as a PDF but my level is so basic that I gave up! How did you produce yours?
Kevin
All my e-books are produced in either Word or Affinity Publisher. I make mine look pretty in Word by editing the header and placing a full-page background image at the Page Top, Page Left (behind text).
When I'm done, I just print it as a PDF to be uploaded to Amazon KDP.
I'm starting to lean more towards Affinity Publisher now though (I think it's still free because it's in beta) as it enables me to more easily place images etc.
Thanks Phil, I'll have to have a play a bit more with Word, just never really used it other than to type letters! I'll check Affinity out as well
That would be brilliant, but honestly if your short on time dont worry. More important to focus on your work.
If you have the time, dont mind doing it and can share it as training then that would be brilliant.
Kevin
I need to get back into video production so this might be a good way to do it.
I have an course I need to create the videos for and I lost my video-making mojo sometime during the last year. :)
Well in that case...... go for it! videos are a way off for me yet.
I've just uploaded a premium theme to what will be my new site so any spare time over the next few days will be playing with that. Then hopefully from the middle of next week I'll be able to start generating content.
If doing a little Word tutorial helps you get your mojo back then it will have helped us both.
Enjoy your weekend
Kevin
Hi Phil,
I hear you. I really do. My progress here has completely sucked for the last 2 months because my job has been crazy. And that's been the reality.
Celebrate whatever wins you can. Because they do add up and when you're so busy they're a lovely reminder that there is more to look forward to. I was so exhausted yesterday and feeling crap about my lack of progress and I got a message about a new referral, It made my day and made me remember that this shall pass, and to focus on the bigger picture.
Cheers
Melissa
Congratulations about your referral! News like that can make all the difference. I had a similar message myself a few days ago.
I hope you job calms down enough for you to work on your site soon.
We have all had times like this..we just have to take a deep breathe...remember our why ..and than dive deeper.
Keep swimming it will be smooth sailing before you know it
Doggy-paddling, even as we speak. ;-)
Nothing lasts forever and I'm blessed to be able to spend so much time with my preschoolers right now.
As Mahatma Gandhi would say ‘you must be the change you wish to see in this world’.
You’ve got this, you just have to move through the sucky bits and get back on track.
You made the first step today 👍🏻
Fran
I love that quote!
Like you say, I'm just trying to get through the sucky bits then things will improve.
Thanks Fran!
See more comments
We all get frustrated but we don't give up and we have to continue to do what we do best and that is write. You have a goal now achieve it. Write your articles one paragraph at a time and before you know it you will have an article that you can publish.
Same with the blogs that we post on the platform and you will have succeeded. Just take your time and work at your pace no rush. Take it from me I have been working off and on since last Sept. due to health reasons. I am still plugging away.
You got to remember that life happens and we have to work around it sometimes but we can't let our dreams die either so we keep working because we don't know what is around the corner.
Mary
Thanks Mary. As you say, we need to keep our dreams alive and keep moving forwards. Whether we're moving at a run or a snails pace, as long as we're moving in the right direction, that's what matters.
You are so very welcome it was my pleasure and you got it just keep on moving and don't worry you work at your pace it is not a race to see you can get to the top first. We are all going to get to the top in our own time. As long as we are going in the right direction.
Mary