Wealthy Affiliate Side Effects - Part 1
I'm approaching 6 months milestone with Wealthy Affiliate. It's time to check what effects did it have on my life. As with everything else, there are positive and negative impacts that I want to list and check the balance.
I pride myself with the ability to commit, to persevere, to stick to a goal. I'm not a quitter, I know how to run "marathons". However, it doesn't come easy. There is a price and trade-off for everything.
On the one hand, I'm proud that I was able to create a website and fill it with close to 20 posts. Without any previous knowledge of web design, as most of WA members, I used the training and moved step by step. It's a whole new world for me and I'm very curious to explore it.
On the other hand, It takes me many weeks what others can do in a few days. As a competitive person, I feel kind of disappointed to fall behind. I look at other blogs of the same age as mind and see that they already have thousands of followers on Pinterest, when I don't have even an account yet.
My mood is on the roller coaster, from satisfaction about a published post in the evening to frustration that it will take me two weeks to get another post done in the morning.
The Ability To Create TimeBefore WA, I already had enough on my shoulders. Full time job, three kids under 8y old, household, gym membership. I thought I'm busy from 6 am to 10 pm.
After joining WA I had to find time for my blog as well. Looks like the saying "you can't find time, you only can make time" is correct.
It takes a decision to give up that small amount of free time that I had to see a movie with my husband once a week or do my nails. All that time and an hour of my sleep per night now goes to work on my website. My day lasts past 11pm now. I made this time because I want to succeed.
My husband was surprised to discover that I can make this time. He is super supportive and sometimes volunteers to do things like bathing the kids alone, to allow me another 30 min of quiet time alone with my laptop.
Unfortunately, there is a dark side to it as well - he feels alone in the evenings. I'm more tired (not to say exhausted), more irritable, my mood is changing a lot. I carry constant guilt feelings because I have to make the choice every day where to put my time after the kids go to bed. Choosing the blog hurts my relationships. Choosing a movie holds me back from a progress of my new business. I don't have time for both.
After tasting this tiny bit of doing something for myself, without any boss, it becomes much and much harder to go to the office every day. Every conflict arouses the thought "I want out of this place!".
I'm tired to be surrounded with not very brilliant people, with managers who don't really care for the employees. I despise to be called a "resource", instead of a human being.
Given the obligation to pay for the needs of my three kids, I'm not free to drop this job. I have to carry on. As a compromise, I started to look for internal transition, just to start something fresh and maybe learn new things and meet new people.
That's it for Part One.
There are more side effects of my WA journey, so..
To be continued....
Mary
Recent Comments
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Hi Mary,
Two of your comments resonated strongly with me. First. some days I feel very irritated when I realize how much longer it takes me to accomplish an action than some other members. I'm just getting to the social media portion of the training. Secondly, each day it seems to get more difficult to return to my classroom. But, I do know that WA works. The proof is all around us. And, once it begins to come together for us, I expect our current frustrations will hardly matter. Just keep doing what you're doing. Doors open when you least expect it!
I'm learning things, that's for sure. Even about my niche (personal finance) where, I thought, I'm already an expert.
Still, need to narrow the right audience though.
Thank you for sharing my pains.
Wow thanks for sharing this Mary. Yes life is a rollercoaster of juggling and balancing... and the guilt of doing the right thing always hovering in the background... we do have to change our mindset with this business, it's not the 9 to 5 day job most of us are accustomed to... review why you started, where you want to be, and pat yourself on the back, as Your well on your way... don't compare yourself to others, this is Your Journey and it will come together for You in Your way... Well done! Proud of You!!!
Time is a hard commodity. When I was younger it was easier to work more each day and yet those days with children and events took precedent. We can’t get that time back, and I feel the pay back is richer with proper balance in your life. Everyone is different and we should never compare. Learning to do more with less time will bear just as much success without regret’s.
Giving in the right way will reap benefit much. Consistent time not the amount will help you reach the goal.
If it’s a sacrifice of your personal time it’s different then family. I never regret giving of my personal time. In my retirement years now time is precious with grandchildren and yet I still am devoting each day time to my projects online.
Mary you will make it because of your consciousness efforts.
Best wishes.
Hi Mary, your posts definitely resonates with me as well. This journey we are on is one of the most reqrding and frustrating of my life. and yes, very addictive - My wife recons it is more addictive than the x-box...
I hope you don't mind, but I have some advice based on my experience.. don't give up the movie date or the nails as in time you will come to resent thisnew busienss venture you are working towards. There has to be life balance. It is a lot of work yes, and you really want to get out of the rat race absolutely. But if you give up the work/life balance then in time, this little venture will fall away.
I hope you take that in the intention it was meant. This is my second go at this.. the first fell over for those reasons... This might mean that you take a week longer than you might have to do something.. but it is worth it in the end.
Good luck and best wishes
Paul
I understand your struggle. With the full plate you are carrying, I can see why your progress in WA has been slower than you like. However, do remember that this is not a race. You don't have to reach your destination before anyone else. Slow and sure will do it. If you do a little something to move forward every day, eventually you will succeed. Build a nice, strong foundation first. Best of luck to you. You have my sympathy and support.
Mary I'm so with you, I wrote a post about my feelings towards my current job and how WA has made me think about my job lately.
I would say, keep it going and try to keep loving your current job because life can become "uncomfortable" and that may lead to more problems.
WA success takes time and I get your competitive mind, I'm just like that. It's all about sacrifice and your plans.
Stay positive my friend!
I remember your post!
My job is probably less rewarding than yours (I don't mean moneywise), so it's tough to be there.
Well, I know when I have no choice..
Hi, Mary.
I have felt the same way. It is a constant juggling at between professional responsibilities, family responsibilities and having time for myself.
I try to do as much as I can before I knuckle down for a couple of hours. I explore new ways of doing two tasks at once. This morning I tried ironing with my laptop open and reading and replying to posts and comments. It is impossible to do any effective ironing and write articles or blogs. But social media and networking, with ironing, I can do!
Also, if I do my share of the domestic chores first, I don't feel so guilty when I sneak away to my desktop or laptop in the evening. Also, I don't watch TV anymore!
Though my wife shows some scepticism regarding me being successful doing what I'm doing, I have been honest with her, and she does support me. I am sure that she is hoping against hope that I will be successful as ultimately if I'm successful, then her life will get better. We all win!
So, however slowly I move forward, I keep moving forward. There is no going back. I will not allow the situation to arise in a few years time, having regrets that I didn't continue. Perseverance is the key. Those successful affiliate marketers only succeeded because they didn't quit. My two cents worth.
Paul
Be Happy!
I wouldn't mix ironing with anything else. Burns really hurt! LOL.
Humor aside, I also try to do two things at the same time. Reading or listening to training while eating lunch. Thinking about my next post while walking to the office or doing aerobics at the gym.
Thank you for sharing your experience
All the best
Mary
I know the feeling (not on the side of having kids and a relationship) I live two hours from my J.O.B (Just Over Broke). I am up by 3 fine by 330 home at 6 (since the time is changing).
When I get home I play with my dog from the time I get home until about 730-8. Do the things I need to do to get ready for the next day.
At one point I was procrastinating not really putting time into my sites when I should’ve. Then something just kicked me out of the daze.
Now when I see other succeeding I am happy for them and i know everything happens for a reason. We may be on a path similar to others but to succeed to our dreams we will meet at the finish line at different times.
So now anytime I have free time at work I am working on my sites (despite it being a little harder on a phone) on my ride to work work on my site and the ride home work on my site. I didn’t always do this because I would sleep on those rides to work and home since I am averaging between 3-5 hours a sleep a night.
So my advice to you is here and there take a break spend time with your family. I wouldn’t do this all the time but I have learned we all need a break here and there. It is kind of like the weekend at a J.O.B we may only get two days sometimes less but those are the days we get to unwind.
It is always good to take time
For yourself even if it feels like you shouldn’t. I hope this helps I do hope the best for you.
Matt
Wow, I wouldn't survive on 3-5 hours sleep.
Need to learn to split my free time and be at peace with it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Usually it is five hours of sleep that I get but not all the time, I have been doing this for a little over three years and I don't hate what I do I just don't love what I do.
I may not have a social life anymore I did pick this route because me getting out of this J.O.B is more important to me than being out and about.
I do agree when it comes to prioritizing our time we have to figure out what is most important and accepting the consequences to our actions. It is crazy how time flys by so fast and sometimes so slow it would be nice to have more hours in the day than we do
Loved your input on this! You seem to be doing a great job jugling all the things and should be proud of the work and time you have put in on your own business. It´s funny how much time we really have when we decide what to do with it.
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Mary most of us can certainly sympathize with your situation. Most of us I think are striving for a more meaningful and independent income. Maybe we aren't keeping as many plates spinning in the air at the same time as you are.... but believe me we have been where you are now. Your determination is the only thing that will get you thru. I have experienced the exact same feeling when I think I've succeeded in building something good on my website only to realize in the morning that something's very wrong and I need to start all over. Up and Down emotionally, but
I shake my head and much like the 18th mile in the marathon I bite my lip an decide to let the pain carry me on to the end. We (and I mean) all of us will succeed.....we just need your kind of fortitude. I'm with you girl !!.....keep going...I can see the finish line from here. Cheers Bill :))
Really, I feel better because of your support.
Thank you, Bill.