Why are you reading this post right now?
What are you hoping to gain?
Why did you hop on your computer today? What are you doing now that is going to have a lasting impact on your life? Do these actions align with your true goals?
I’ve had a lot of thinking to do in recent lengths about my future. Another company of mine has taken off, and it looks like in terms of profit it’s going to end up doing far better than my blog ever has (which is saying a lot, because James McAllister Online sales have been growing drastically as well.)
So why am I still here?
How Things Change…
I have to be honest with you. When I started this blog, it was a purely financial decision. I chose this market because I had already achieved success in another market, and wanted to enter into a new space that did not have any real ceiling to how much money I can make. It was difficult, but I knew I could make it happen.
However, I’ve found that once you reach a certain level of financial success, more and more money does not bring you the fulfillment it once did. I know I do not need a lot of money, and growing up so poor, I’m quite accustomed to spending very little.
When I really think about why I love blogging, it’s not so much the money that brings me the fulfillment and happiness we all crave. If that were my only driving factor today, I would likely close up shop and focus on the other company full time, because it has a much clearer path to scale.
No, most of the benefits I find from this aren’t tangible, and they aren’t available through other types of businesses I will start in my lifetime.
What Everyone Wants
I believe that every human on Earth wants to connect with other humans on a meaningful level.
I believe we are inherently ‘good’ people. We want to help. We want to make a positive difference. It gives us a strong sense of purpose that goes beyond ourselves.
I also think that all humans want to be understood. Appreciated. Respected. Loved.
I have met so many fantastic people through my blogging ventures, which I am so thankful for. I’m not on speaking terms with the majority of my “family” so I deeply treasure the fact that so many of us are able to come together and be part of something huge. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses, our own unique personalities, our own way of going about things.
And as cheesy as it may sound, this blogging community is one of the closest things I have to a family these days, and I cherish it greatly.
For me personally, I know it is these feelings that I find the most valuable from this whole blogging business. The feeling of knowing you’re making a real difference in people’s lives. The feelings of togetherness. Of connection.
I know if I were to give up blogging and focus on the other business 100%, I would lose this. Really – how many CEOs of Fortune 500 companies can you name? I can name maybe 15. People don’t really know them. Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like that sense of connection is lost, which is far more valuable to me than money.
The eCommerce space is absolutely brutal. Cut-throat is an understatement. I get letters weekly from companies threatening to sue me if I don’t give into their demands. Competitors are actively working to get my merchant accounts on various websites shut down by false reports.
They will stab you in the back for a few dollars. This is very different from blogging, where even my “competitors” are some of my greatest friends.
That’s not to say you can’t make a TON of money from blogging-related businesses. A full time living is an understatement. There are bloggers making more than a million dollars per year, and while I’m not even close to that level yet, I know it’s very well possible for anyone.
What’s In Store For The Future?
I suppose the reason I wrote this post is to clarify something very important:
Regardless of what happens, I’m not going to be going anywhere.
Period.
There are likely going to be times within the next year that I’ll be worn down and won’t be as active as I used to be.
I may not comment on as many sites as I used to.
I may not be active on the marketing forums people are used to seeing me on.
There may even be times where I have to take short breaks and completely focus on other areas.
But regardless of how busy I become, and how well off the other company gets, I’m not going to stop being here – for my audience, for my affiliates, my customers, and the world.
Because what I gain from blogging is irreplaceable, and I love it too much to ever consider giving it up.
Define Your Purpose
Everything you do in life needs to align with your goals.
In my success mindset course, I talk a lot about goals, and the actions that lead up to achieving those goals.
The sad reality is that many people focus too much of their energy on things that ultimately do not take them to where they want to be. What they truly desire.
This ends up leading to disappointment, failure, and inevitably, quitting.
But when you really love what you do, and what you’re doing aligns with what you desire, there’s nothing that will ever be able to stop you from pursuing it.
– James McAllister
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