Wow. When I first thought of that title for my post, I just thought of it as a title. But after I actually typed it, it really seemed to have an emotional hook to it!
The fact is I have not made ANY progress since my last blog post. Not one tiny bit. I don’t, however, see this as a negative thing. Do I need to make progress? Yes – I do. But the fact that I haven’t is not evidence of a lack of motivation.
First of all, I took yesterday off from blogging altogether. I didn’t post on my personal blog and I didn’t post on this IM blog. The reason I didn’t was really because of sheer exhaustion. When I jumped into this thing, I jumped in with both feet and just went at it full speed! Besides that, yesterday was a really rough day at work, and by the time I got home I had such a headache that all I wanted to do was lay down and rest. So – that’s what I did.
At first I felt incredibly guilty for doing that. I was thinking to myself that I was letting all my new found IM friends down by not putting the effort into growing yesterday. I felt like I was letting my wife down because she, too, wants to see me fulfill my dreams of being able to do the things I want to do and not be a “slave” to employment. Most of all, I felt like I was letting myself down. I felt like I was taking the night off and that it was all too possible that would be my stopping point. I was able to talk myself into not really believing all of that, but only because I had such a bad headache that I just couldn’t make myself do it.
That turned out to be a good thing! I came home today (I am writing all of my posts at night and publishing them in the morning…) and had more resolve than ever to get in front of my blog and type something…ANYTHING…as long as it could be meaningful. As I thought about what would mean something I decided that sharing my thoughts about my lack of progress could be insightful if someone came across this blog one day who was feeling like they just weren’t moving forward.
If I, as a complete newbie to the IM world, were to offer advice to other newbies getting started, I think I would say two things:
1)When you’re starting out…pace yourself. Don’t burn yourself out so that you begin to hate what you’re doing. So far I’ve had a lot of fun. If I had forced myself to read or blog last night, I think I probably would have just been grumpy and irritated. Sometimes rest can be just as important as progress!
2)Find yourself some good IM friends. Anna, Holly, Joe and Davin barely know me, but they have been INCREDIBLY uplifting and have offered some GREAT encouragement. It’s like Joe said in a comment in one of my posts…with friends like these, I have no choice but to succeed!
My lack of progress yesterday was just me hitting the pause button. I didn’t take any steps backward and I feel refreshed and ready to start moving forward again. I’m looking forward to this weekend because I’ll have some more time to sit down and finish reading Holly’s book and I’ll be able to start formulating my goals and business plans. The good news is I want this so bad I can taste it. I am excited and motivated and can’t wait to start learning and implementing more and more!
I truly hope others enjoy reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it…but you know what? Even as I was writing this post I realized more and more just how dedicated I have become to this. So if nothing else, this post was great for me!
Tags: dedication, motivation, progress, rest, Updates
Tags: dedication, motivation, progress, rest, Updates
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
I love it man! I know the feeling. That’s why I gradually started taking off on the weekends. I shoot for 4 posts per week, anything else is extra you know? It’s good not to get burned out, and it’s good to stay motivated. Also, even if I don’t have 4 posts a week, it’s all good!
I’m not going to force anything, and don’t want to give my readers any junk. I’ve found, and actually started working on a “schedule” of sorts. I won’t post it, but there is a theme I am working on for my posts. What type of posts get done on specific days and such.
I am still formulating this, and don’t want it to be too rigid, but I like having a loose idea of the topics I’m going to cover or the style of posts during the week. I may try to finalize this a little bit this weekend.
Keep up the good work man, those other three are the best…me, I’m just a guy who likes sammiches and Holly had pity on me, so she talk to me from time to time. Davin saw what a poor helpless guy I was, so he decided to be my friend as well. Anna, well….she just knows I need help! So, she’s been very helpful…though she threatens me with stealing my mayo!
Normal Joe´s last blog post..Some Blogs Showing Love To IMwithJoe.com
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
What you wrote of must be part of the growth stage newbies experience…I say that because I’m sitting here feelig exhausted…too many night’s working online until 2-3am. The great thing about what you said, Dustin, is that you took the time off to rest, but felt excited to get back to work today (online, not necessaily IRL!). I like what Joe said, also, having a goal to shoot for, but still knowing when to “take off” work.
If I can do “something” productive each day online, I feel encouraged. It might be a post to my blog, adding a link for advertising, participating in one of my forums (where my signatures will be shown), or even just studying my statistics for my sites. What I must, must, must do is to crack down on also including my reading daily, for once I finish Honest Riches, I have other things that I must really study.
As long as the excitement, committment to quality, and fun exist, taking time off when needed is a good thing! For out of doing that, you were to create this post!
Until next time…Annie
Annie T. Baxter´s last blog post..How Seeking Honesty Led Me To Honest Riches
October 4th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Yesterday I went out for a walk with my husband. That might not sound like a big deal but I have just been glued to the computer for weeks. We didn’t have anywhere to go – we just went to “look for shops,” found nothing interesting, and wandered back (this is a really boring and unattractive city).
It was great! I felt like I was on vacation! So I know how you feel. But don’t feel you HAVE to post every day. I’ve read that one or two posts a week is fine. I don’t even post that much on my IM blog because I can’t – I have other niches and upcoming projects and no matter how much I work, something seems to wind up getting neglected.
Anyway, if you have a headache and you need to lie down, then do! And if you don’t feel like working online one day, the world won’t fall in on its center. IM is supposed to be free and flexible, remember? You can get up at 3:30 am and work on it, or you can skip it for a day. You can take it with you to the beach or you can leave it at home. Just as long as you keep going you are generally fine.
Anna´s last blog post..Internet Marketers – Who SAYS its time for Bed?
October 4th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Joe – I liked what you said about shooting for 4 posts a week. An starting to take weekends off too! I don’t think I’m ready to take that much time off just yet…I need to gain a little momentum first. And don’t worry about Anna – I always got some mayo for you!
Annie – You’re probably right! Growth stages of a newbie! And I suppose you’re right about there being other productive things to do to! I can’t be so wrapped up in making a blog post that I don’t do the OTHER things I need to do (like finish Holly’s book!!!)
Anna – Sometimes a walk with your spouse is just what’s needed! I love going for walks with my wife when I can. And I think my obsession with posting every day came from the fact that this is the only thing I am doing so far in the IM world and a part of me was afraid that if I didn’t do it EVERY DAY that I’d stop. I don’t see that happening. I have a different kind of motivation than I’ve had in the past. Besides that, I’ve found some really good friends to help keep me motivated!
I didn’t post last night either. I got home and sat down to do it and my wife snagged me and said “I need help painting” and so I was helping her paint for a while. But you know what…”IM is supposed to be free and flexible” I’m not on a deadline with this…not yet anyway. I haven’t set my goals yet and so I just need to take it all in stride and prepare to meet my goals when I write them down!