Quitting The Day Job, Finally.
I am way behind in my posting for the past 2 months, as I have been preparing for the arrival of my new daughter Hannah June, so I owe you all a July and August Income Report, and I have some exciting news. In my June Income Report someone asked if I was able to commit to doing this full time yet. Well…Yes, now I am. That and Hannah was born August 22nd, 2010 at 11:49am.
I basically quit the day job August 1st, 2010. You could say I was forced to or I did it willingly. I think more willingly than anything. I do, or did, I.T. consulting for my day job, and this economy has taken my company down the tubes, so to say. In the past two years my income from the day job has gone from 65K+ per year in 2008, to 28K+ in 2009 and down to about 9K for 2010. Yes that’s right, only $9,000 from my day job this year.
That coupled with a wife, a child and one on the way, I was in a tight bind to make money to live and support my family on. So I had to do something. My longest standing client of 10 years, has failed to pay their past due amount for the past 10 months. since the first of the year, and that amounts to about $6,700, which I could really use. After numerous attempts to collect and numerous lies as to when the checks were coming I decided to file a small claims against them. They were not happy. Well guess what, neither am I to have to go this route to get the money they owe me.
So they were my biggest, and longest standing client, and a large chunk of income for me, but obviously they haven’t been paying so theoretically I committed to doing online work since the first of the year, but I think now officially since August 1st, 2010. I’ll break it down a little and then my next two posts will be income reports.
I started Yaro Staraks Blog Mastermind program on 08/27/2009, and haven’t looked back since. In starting in that blogging program I’ve met some really awesome people, and some of them have helped me out so much I don’t know where or how to pay them back. Because of the help I have received, I’ve taken one site(my main dating site) that was making almost $100 a month in Adsense revenue, and almost $200 a month in subscription payments, to making almost $400 a month in Adsense revenue and over $1000 a month in recurring subscription payments, and it keeps growing.
In my next post, which will be my two late income reports, I will show you how my income has started taking a sharper upward turn. As Srini says from http://blogcastfm.com it’s doing the hockey stick thing, a sharp upturn increase. It’s also abit sudden and I think finally I am getting some of the clutter cleared off my plate, to focus on the 20% that’s making up 80% of my income online.
I’ve been very bad with this blog, and i had high hopes for it too. I wanted to share my learning and insights to online internet marketing, but I have been terrible at posting. I also have to say I am a bit scared, as I am not an A-List Blogger, and sometimes feel I don’t know what to talk about. I mean these other guys pick little things up and turn then into these awesome blog posts, and I am just afraid that I would be spewing gibberish or regurgitating content said elsewhere.
The fact is, I have been making a decent chuck of change lately and it’s doing nothing but growing. I’ve refined my technique for many of my sites and blogs, and I’ve also refined my technique for my niche sites. I’ve even flipped a website finally. Didn’t make alot of money on it, but I did learn alot and will be using what I learned to sell another one soon. Hopefully for alot more money.
My intention is to be fully location independent by two years from this date, and at least traveling the destinations I want to see here in the USA, if not Europe and Asia by that time. Like one of the success stories from the 4 hour work week, Kids as Reason TO travel. Like I said previously in this post, I have a 2 year old toddler and my second daughter was born three weeks ago today. So I have a little time to learn and grow some more. Hopefully along the lines of the 4 hour work week, and location independence.
I just wanted to give a shout out to some people who have made a huge impact in my life recently, mostly because of the positive notes in their voices, their podcasts and blog posts. They’ve been instrumental in me growing my blogs and niche wesbites to the point of making over $2000 a month in income. I know that’s not much, but it’s WAY more than I was making when the economy took a dump!
http://blogcastfm.com – Srini and Sid
http://www.heroicdestiny.com – David Crandall
http://www.lifestylebusinesspodcast.com – Dan and Ian
http://www.seanogle.com – Location 180 with Sean Ogle
http://www.smartpassiveincome.com – Pat Flynn
http://www.thrillingheroics.com – Cody McKibben
http://entrepreneurs-journey.com – Yaro Starak
http://podcastanswerman.com – Cliff Ravenscraft
http://www.tyroneshum.com – Tyrone Shum
http://www.viperchill.com – Glen Allsop
Thanks folks for tirelessly and freely giving of yourselves and helping me. (There’s many I probably didn’t list, but will as I remember all of them)
I said I wasn’t going to work anymore past 7-8 pm at night, but sometimes I get all mushy and I HAVE to write. I guess that’s part of being transparent in this whole blogosphere. Again, I’ll say I have some fear going forward from here on out because THIS IS my primary source of income now, the Internet.
In case some of you want to see one of my other blogs, my photography one, go here: http://www.darkmansdarkroom.com, it’s my blog where I talk about Old Hollywood Glamour Photography and other things like fetish, artistic nudes and Pinup. Beware there are nice ta-ta’s.
That blog makes a nice chunk of change from amazon affiliate sales and the affiliate sales of photography ebooks.
Ok, off to bed and see you tomorrow.
Larry…
Oh yeah…
My 2nd Daughter and I, August 22nd, 2010
As always I 'd love to hear from you so please leave a comment, and thank for your support!
Be sure to check out my Podcast!
Dear Larry –
AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. How beautiful she is. (You too)
Looks like you are making all the right decisions.
I took Blogmastermind before I started blogging. Most important lesson for me was to do what you do – which is writing for me – and give the tech stuff out to people who do that.
I’ve certainly learned some basics – but please don’t tell me about a new plug -in. (Whattsat?)
Blessing you and your young family.
.-= Corinne Edwards´s last blog ..A WOMAN WITHOUT A MAN – Video interview by Linda Mills =-.
Hi Corinne, thanks for stopping by again. Yeah doing what you do is great, except I do so many things, hahahaha. I was talking to David Crandall last night, and have myself spread so thin sometimes it’s hard to be productive. So I’ve made a commitment to start outsourcing and delegating some of my repetitive tasks to a VA. Thanks for the Kind Words!!!
.-= Larry Clark´s last blog ..Quitting The Day Job- Finally =-.
Hello Larry
Congratulations on your new daughter. I too am a Blog Mastermind community member. I started a few weeks ago. I am thrilled at your success and the ability for you to be with your family now. This is one of the greatest changes we can have as entrepreneurs. Having kids really motivates me to succeed. She is pretty, sweet and has one of the things most kids don’t get…time with her dads…Now that success! It is great that you are willing to share how you did it with others. Stumbled
thanx
Vickie
.-= Vickie Success Systems When You Need it Most…Now´s last blog ..Goodbye Career-Hello Unknown-Managing and Preparing for Your Unemployment in the New Economy Pt 1 =-.
Thanks Vickie, Although 2K+ a month is great, it’s still not quite enough to make ends meet so I still do occasional side tech jobs, which I can’t wait to be done with. But you are right, I get the time with my family everyday, something that not many people have the luxury of doing.
It bums me out to see parents get up, ready the children for day care, drop them off, go to work till 5 or 6, pick up the kids, go home, make dinner and ready the kids for bed. and that’s it. not much time for seeing your kids grow up or having someone else raising your kids.
Welcome to Blog Mastermind, It’s a really great program, and Yaro really knows how to teach it. It’s changed my life for sure. From the program to Yaro’s podcasts that he does on his Blog: http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com.
His podcasts are very valuable. See you in the forums…
.-= Larry Clark´s last blog ..Quitting The Day Job- Finally =-.
BIG congrats Larry! Super happy if I’ve been able to contribute in any way to some inspiration for this big leap. Wish you and your family all the best. I’ve enjoyed this site *and* your Darkman’s Darkroom before!
.-= Cody McKibben´s last blog ..The Harsh Reality of Working for Yourself =-.
Cody, you have totally inspired me in so many ways on so many levels. I intend on visiting you as I said before someday soon. I really enjoy your blog, videos and interviews.
.-= Larry C.´s last blog ..July Income Report and a Day in my “Glamorous” Life =-.
I to took that class and through it I have met many more wonderful people that have helped me. Hey, Corinne I know what you mean about those plug-in. Great job Larry and enjoy that wonderful family.
Debbie
Thanks Debbie, I appreciate it, I’ve met people in BMM who were instrumental in making my income grow in several ways, so make sure you listen and take good notes. 🙂
I much prefer to hear from people who are not on the A-list. I find their insights rawer and much more useful and less pre-digested into improbably (or at least unreliable) rules and recipes. Getting the experience is incredibly valuable to me.
Very much looking forward to reading about what you do and learning from it.
Congratulations on where you have got to so far.
Evan, thank you SO MUCH for this comment. This makes me so happy to hear, because it makes me know that I do have something to offer. Your words hit the nail on the head and I think you are totally right, the A-list guys do have a lot to offer, but as you say pre-digested and sometimes unreliable, or somewhat cryptic. I too prefer to have someone tell me straight out of the gate how they did something than rather, eluding to it. Know what I mean?
Thanks so much for the kind words…
.-= Larry Clark´s last blog ..Quitting The Day Job- Finally =-.
Congratulations! Welcome to the “Father of Two” club…though I’ll be moving to the next level in February. 🙂
I’m so blessed to have been someone to encourage you! I love hearing that and it totally makes my day.
Looking forward to talking to you on Skype!
David, our talk last night on Skype was very inspiring and thanks for the insight you saw that I was Too Close Too, to see. I’ve taken a lot of what you said last night to heart and am going to make another leap of faith here shortly. I’ve got some great ideas thanks to you, and your insights and feel like I am starting to find my voice, hit a stride and find my own crowd.
David thanks again and enjoy NYC. Don’t forget to write. 🙂
.-= Larry C.´s last blog ..July Income Report and a Day in my “Glamorous” Life =-.
Wow – that is a drastic cut in wages from the day job and I can understand why you have left it.
I have a very similar background – 30 years in IT Corporate world. Left that behind me 18 months ago and now a full-time blogger thingy.
It’s hard work but the freedom and flexibility…I love it and so will you especially now you have beautiful Hannah June.
Good luck, Larry and we’ll all be watching you progress!
Andrew
.-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..24 Blog Optimizing Tips to Attract Search Engines and Readers =-.
Andrew, thanks for sharing this, I would like to pick your brain sometime, I’m assuming you do this full time or for a full time income right? I’d like to hear what you do for your income doing this…
Larry
.-= Larry Clark´s last blog ..Quitting The Day Job- Finally =-.
Larry
No probs – just make contact via my email and we can talk.
Andrew
.-= Andrew @ Blogging Guide´s last blog ..Little-known Ways To Enhance Your Link Building Strategy =-.
Larry: it’s good to hear from someone who has completed the Blog Mastermind program and raving about it. I’ve checked it out and it looks great. I’d love to do it at some point when I can clear some time on my plate.
I like this site so I encourage you to post your successes and failures – I think it would be a great way of giving back and building your own community, just like Yaro or Pat Flynn.
John, you really should make the time to do Yaros course, it’s well worth the money. Guaranteed. Thanks for the encouragement about Successes and failures, my next few posts I think will rock the blogosphere.
.-= Larry Clark´s last blog ..July Income Report and a Day in my “Glamorous” Life =-.
Larry, Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful new daughter! My baby is now 15 years old and it seems like yesterday that he was born. They grow up so fast, it’s great that you’ll get to spend a lot more time with her than most parents these days. I was working in the corporate world of specialty chemicals and missed my son’s first steps and first word, and some other things parents should be there to see. Now I’m home more and we are spending a great deal of his teen years together. It’s made a world of difference in his maturity and thinking.
I’m a long-time graduate of Blog Mastermind and it was terrific. I make anywhere from $100-$300 per month on my sites, but I’m working hard to improve that to $1,500. When I do, I’ll be able to stop delivering pizzas part-time. I’m also a high school math and science tutor, which is my first job. I love it. I get paid to do high school from the perspective of a science professional. We think so differently than the way teachers think. I also love spending so much time at the library. I’ve read so much more in the past 5 years than I have in many years. I also listen to audio books while I’m driving. The library has so much to offer. I had forgotten what a wonderful use of our tax dollars libraries are. I’ve also saved a ton of money not buying books.
I’m looking forward to your posts in the future about how you got here. Are you writing one about the site you flipped and what you learned? I have a site or two I’m thinking of flipping.
I wish you continued success!
Sherri
.-= Sherri–Being the Change I Wish to See´s last blog ..Human Toll of Iraq War =-.
HI Sherri, I have a post here about my blog I flipped:
https://www.thenichethinktank.com/sold-how-i-flipped-my-first-website/
I devour audio books by the dozen each month. I’m an avid listener, as I have not enough time to read.
I don’t think I will ever go back and work a regular job as long as this keeps moving forward and the way I am going it will. I do so love being home with my family and being able to walk to the park in the middle of the day and playing with my daughter. Soon I hope to be traveling so we can all see the world together.
Being a tutor is a great thing! I watch the tutors at the park everyday, tutoring kids at the picnic table. I occasionally will tell the people at the coffee shop to “deliver” a couple hot chocolates to the people at the park tables to either warm them up or a whatnot when it’s chilly outside. I do this anonymously for them, the coffee shop people know who I am but the kids don’t.
I also talk about how I make my money with specialty niche site on here, search for streetfighting for bloggers.
Time for fish tacos. 🙂
Thanks for the Comment.
.-= Larry C.´s last blog ..Kettlebell Training- Micro Niche site =-.
Hi Larry,
Congratulations on your daughter! She is gorgeous and you look so happy in the photo. I’m a newbie of blog mastermind course and I’m expecting my long-waited first baby in February next year. I’m doing very slowly with the course because of my pregnancy (I need lots of rest), but it’s inspiring to see someone who did the same course is doing well. You gave me a clearer picture of where I want to grow to. Thanks for the post. My husband works in IT full time but we are working towards 4 hour work week lifestyle together so that we can spend more time with our child.
Looking forward to seeing your progress, good luck!
.-= Lifestyle Lift Journey´s last blog ..Secrets To Success =-.
HI Tomo!
Congrats on your first, my first was awesome the second is also awesome and I am having a blast with my children. My wife also was sorta shadowing me in the blog mastermind course, but she also had to have rest and with our first child had to tend to her while I worked or blogged or made niche sites. So her own blog, http://www.imthriving.com is sorely lacking, unfortunately. However someday it may take off again and she might do something with it. If you do one thing toward your success each day, you will eventually succeed.
There were days I couldn’t do anything at all, except maybe one small thing for my online business, and it eventually has taken hold and starting to skyrocket as of late.
Many people get into these courses, and don’t do much of anything, seeing it actually takes a bit of work to get something going, and then either give up or drop out when they realize they aren’t going to make it over night.
I’m sitting down right now to write a post about it being one year later. I am happy I didn’t quit like I wanted to so many times. My wife is the one who always told me, you’re setting the foundation, it takes time. She was right of course.
It does take time and patience, but in the end good things are starting to happen.
Thanks for the comment.
🙂
Larry
and good luck with that baby!!!!
.-= Larry C.´s last blog ..Kettlebell Training- Micro Niche site =-.
Congrats Larry. Having personally done the same thing I know just how good (and scary) it feels!