I’m Throwing In The Towel
Have you ever had one of those projects where you just beat your head against the wall over and over again? The kind of project where you struggle at every turn, and there seems to be no hope for improvement?
Until you finally throw in the towel? Yeah, that’s how I feel right about now.
This blog has been a huge struggle to keep going since day-one. I’ve devoted tons of my personal time into it with little-to-no financial reward.
Rather than waste my precious years on hopeless projects, I’ve finally decided to make some major life changes.
Game Over Man, Game Over
Over the life of this blog, I’ve published 132 posts, served 51 thousand unique users a total of 335 thousand pages. I’ve been featured on sites like RetireBy40, and interviewed by the likes of Financially Alert and Mr. 1500 (twice!) I’ve even been on Rockstar Finance 3 times!
Pathetic isn’t it? Yeah, I’m unsatisfied with these results. I’ve spent about a year and a half on this project and the blog has served up a few hundred thousand pages. Meanwhile, other bloggers have millions of pageviews. LAME! I hate failure!
It really is humbling how much of a popularity contest the internet turns out to be. 🙁
Well, I’m NOT about popularity contests or pandering to the public — staying vague or ‘neutral’ to win popularity just isn’t my thing. I want to have a REAL friggen opinion if I’m going to blog. Unfortunately, that’s not what’s needed to be a real blogger.
Which brings me to the first major change I’m announcing today — I’m calling it quits on my blogging venture!
My Skin Just Wasn’t Thick Enough
Despite all my talk about having a thick skin, I guess I didn’t develop a thick-enough skin. Sorry folks, I’m just too sensitive to standup to all those mean internet trolls.
That’s the price of having a real opinion and sharing it in public — harsh criticism and personal attacks from internet trolls.
Standing up to a constant barrage of criticism isn’t easy…you begin to question if your opinions and (in my case) your way of life.
Instead of sleeping the blissful quiet sleep of and early-retiree, I cried myself to sleep far too many times.
It’s no longer fun to put myself out-there when every word that dances from my fingers gets criticized. 🙁
Not having to deal with that will make my life much better…which is why I need to end this whole ‘blog & early retirement’ venture.
Done! End! Caput! Finito! Oshimai! I’m calling it quits!
Giving It All Back
The days of living on my own terms, and sticking it to “the man” need to end too. I was terribly unproductive over the past year and a half.
Frankly, I REALLY DO need a boss to tell me what to do everyday. Otherwise I’m just a lazy slug. I know that now. In order to be productive, I need a job. I need all that structure. I need to head to work every day and have that hour long commute.
Having millions in the bank does nothing for my motivation either. As long as I don’t need to work, I’m not going to be groveling at the foot of my boss….which is a problem if I really want to be successful in my career.
So, back to making changes — If I really want to sign up for this “work for life” business, I’m going to have to give my entire fortune away — that way I’m in constant need of a paycheck. I’ll need to do whatever it takes to survive paycheck to paycheck!
This brings me to my second big announcement — I’m going to give my entire multi-million dollar fortune away! Partly as a way to motivate myself, and partly to give up my Financial Independence.
Anybody want it?
April Fools!
Ha ha! April Fools! Did I get anybody?
I love a good April Fools day joke, and my regular posting schedule just happened to land on April 1st this year. I couldn’t resist a little tomfoolery. 🙂
Obviously I’m NOT going to be giving away my money, financial independence, OR going back to work. The thought of doing any of that just seems completely ridiculous!
Life is SOOO much better now that I’m done with jobs, commuting, and trying to curry favor with bosses. Financial Independence is awesome!
Now, I wake-up truly excited for every new day I’m gifted to have. Life is now a wonderful adventure, instead of that 9am to 6pm slog to the next weekend.
Oh, and all that stuff about being overwhelmed by the haters and quitting? Complete bunk. I actually really enjoy having a blog. The wonderful FIRE community totally makes it worth it! Thank you guys!
Thank you for all the optimism, hope, and encouragement I receive! You guys make it all worth it!
All the hateful stuff just gets deleted. It doesn’t bother me in the least! I really have developed a thicker skin since I became FI.
Well, that’s it for today! Smile everybody, because life is awesome! 🙂
The blogging bit had me wondering since so many blogs due end out of frustration. I had in her back of my mind the day. Your second section though about giving it all away sealed to me that it’s date related.
Fulltimefinance recently posted…Help, I’m no longer able to Keep Up with the Jones
Congrats on the blog success, it may not be millions, but still a heck of a lot of views!
Glad you’re still slogging it out 😉
You should have left the last paragraph off. Nice job on the page views, that is mighty impressive for 18 months.
-Mike
If you ever change your mind and decide to follow through on this article, let me know. I’m sure I could find some use for some of that money.
Thanks for the smile this morning!
Thanks Matt, if I ever change my mind, I’ll let you know! 😉
Well, you sure had me going at first, and the knot in my stomach tightened as the realization dawned that you weren’t going to be in my inbox anymore. It really hurt. I guess that means this blog is really important to me. Thanks for reminding me of that, Mr. Tako.
🙂 Don’t worry Bob, I’m not going anywhere!
Ha ha…would’ve totally fooled me if i hadn’t remembered it was April 1. Glad you’re going to keep writing. We need to build these FIRE communities so we can stick it to the haters 🙂 Keep up the good work!
Thanks FIRECracker!
Goddammit, Mr. Tako.
lol
Like you said, Mr. Tako, now that you’ve been featured on FinanciallyAlert.com, there’s really nowhere left to go. May as well close the door with a cherry on top! 😉
You kind of scared me there until I got to the part “335 thousand pageviews”. That is nothing close to failure lol. Most blogs would be happy to just get 3k visitors a month!
Well, you fooled me there, as I read it on the 2nd April ;-)) while on business travel in Chihuahua, Mexico
But I couldn’t believe so…
Glad there was a last paragraph ;-)) Keep up the great stuff. Enjoy your weekend
Patrick
Too funny! I would hate to return to horrible commutes in order to get to a job that I don’t even love! My commute these days is some much better!
http://www.mylittlebluekayak.com/best-commute-ever/#more-602
Please don’t throw in the towel… I enjoy your posts!
I’ve been loving the (very obvious) FIRE April Fools
Although if your millions are up for grabs I’m happy to help you with the burden. It’s the least I can do for someone who writes such a dull, unpopular blog 😉
LadyFIRE recently posted…What’s your earliest money memory?
Until it came to giving away your money, I was suckered in. I felt sad as yours is one of my favorite blogs. Wah.
You suck!
😀
I’m loving all these Aprils Fools posts!
Although if you need someone to unburden you from all those horrible millions, I’m happy to help! It’s the least I can do in repayment for your dull, unpopular blog :p
LadyFIRE recently posted…What’s your earliest money memory?
Initially you got me with the whole quitting the blog talk then when you got to the commute and bosses I clued in. I am one of your readers who sits in the shadows and I do not have a blog. I like yours though! And am happy for you and what you have accomplished.
Thanks Danielle! Stick around, there’s lots more to come! 🙂
The title had me excited for a baking recipe. Throwing the towel on whatever dough as it rose, gorgeous pictures of rising bread…end result pizza or toast perfectly spread with jam. 🙂
I got April fooled at a winey. They talked up this owner made, special berry reserve etc. It gets poured and …. electric blue! My first thought was what chemicals did they add to white wine to make it that color!! And is it safe to drink?!? I dutifully sniffed as I had with previous glasses and the game was up, I know that smell! Blue Gatorade! They played it up very well.
Very glad you are sticking around. You are one of my top 5 favorite cephalopods!
Definitely had me going there! I am happy to see that you did not let the trolls get to you! Had me nervous there for a second. My thought was that you were one heck of an actor over the years for someone who was so bothered by the trolls!
Thanks for the funny read.
Bert