This is a bit of a hard post to write. If you’ve been following the I Quit My Job series, you’ll know that I quit my full-time job back in November 2011 and have been working a part-time job and running my websites ever since. With any journey that entails so much change, things are always changing. Several weeks ago, I made the decision that it was about time to start looking for a new full time job.
Why, you ask? Do you want the simple answer, or the complicated one? The simplest answer is that I’m running out of money, and need to earn more. Obviously, there’s more to it than that, but that reason is the largest of the bunch. In truth, it’s less of a reason as it is a symptom for a few other reasons. One of the biggest of those reasons is a lack of preparedness. When I quit my job, it wasn’t after months of planning and saving. It was a decision that I came to after a week and was based far more on an unhappiness with the position I was in. I don’t regret having made that decision, and I truly feel like I’m in a better situation now than I was there. The fit of the position and I had fallen out of sync, and it was time for me to go. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the soundest decision financially.
When I quit, I decided to give the new situation of blogging and a part-time job 6 months to see where it went. While the part-time job remained fairly stable, the blogging income has been anything but. My income on that front has fluctuated by several hundred dollars from month to month, and hasn’t grown at the rate that I had hoped it would. Because of that, and the fact that I was operating on limited funds to cover any differences between my income and what we needed to pay bills, I’ve got to make the right move here and get a job.
In a way, I feel like I’ve failed. But, sometimes, you have to fail in order to move ahead. I’ve failed in that I wasn’t able to grow the income from this and other sites at a rate that would allow me to continue doing what I’ve been doing for the last 7 months. I’ve failed in that I wasn’t able to see that lack of growth in time to find better (other) ways to increase my income.
I’ll be in a better place. The new job is at a company that I feel is much more in-line with what I want in an employer. They’ve got a very progressive business model that I feel is very unique in North Dakota, and was key in my making the decision to accept their offer. While looks can be deceiving sometimes, I don’t think that they’re that far off. Many of the issues that I had with my previous employer don’t exist at my new employer from what I can tell. Time will tell, but I truly believe that I’ll like and enjoy my new job.
I’ve struggled a bit over the last few weeks, after I accepted the position, as to what it meant for the direction of this site as well as my other sites. What I’ve decided is that Beating Broke isn’t going anywhere. I really, really enjoy the interactions with you, and the writing that I do here. I may have to scale a few of my other sites back a lot, and will likely get rid of a few of them as well. I may even scale back how often I write here, but at the moment, I plan on continuing the 3 a week schedule that I’ve been keeping.
That decision is two-fold. I enjoy Beating Broke as a creative outlet. I also am not giving up on my dream to do this on a more full-time basis. I want to continue to grow the site as best I can so that I might, someday, be able to come back to what I’ve been doing the last 7 months. But, hopefully, next time, I’ll do it right and do a lot more planning and saving in order to do that.
What would you have done in my position? What other thoughts do you have? How about questions?
I started this blog to share what I know and what I was learning about personal finance. Along the way I’ve met and found many blogging friends. Please feel free to connect with me on the Beating Broke accounts: Twitter and Facebook.
You can also connect with me personally at Novelnaut, Thatedeguy, Shane Ede, and my personal Twitter.
My experience has been very much the same. I don’t regret leaving my job for a minute, but I’m also looking for work (at least on a part-time basis) because I need some steady income. After applying for more than 300 jobs without a single call, though, I’m starting to think it’s not happening right now.
Don’t be hard on yourself – none of us could have predicted all the changes that would come in the blogosphere, and it’s amazing that you were able to land a job with what sounds like a great company so quickly! I doubt you would have ever applied or interviewed if you’d still been working for your old company, so it’s all just part of the (sometimes complicated) road to happiness. I wish you the best of luck and I can’t wait to hear about the new job!
Going back to work is not failing, it is a good choice. I would have done the same thing and did for different reasons. I like to work and enjoy the interaction of colleagues.
I think it’s a great decision to go back to work, but it was also a great decision to make the leap into self-employment at the time. You never know what the future holds until you try it! Good luck in your new job, and I’m glad you’re keeping Beating Broke!
I just have to say that I am very proud of you and what you have been able to accomplish in the last 6 months. I feel that you should hold your head up high…. none of us have any regrets. I love you.
You haven’t failed because you tried something most people will never have the courage to do. Respect for that!
I have been thinking loads about making living from blogging – but my experience (on a much smaller scale probably) is that income is very unpredictable and exposed. Every time Google decided to change something, or enlarge their empire, many small sites lose out. I suspect there is a level of income where this is not so crucial – if you make $15,000 monthly and go to $11,000 it will hurt but more your pride than your livelihood. If you make $4,000 and this goies down to $2,500 – now this is serious.
Sorry, think I digressed there. All the best in your job and your sites.
You sounded miserable at your old job, and they weren’t treating you well by the sounds of it. At the time, it sounds like you made the right decision. Who knows? Maybe you can work at this job for a few years and give yourself time to prepare to be self-employed and make the leap again a few years from now.
I don’t think you failed either. It was a great learning experience and it will serve you well in the future. It would be great if your new job is better, but if it wasn’t you can prepare for a better exit next time.
Keep living this save lifestyle, save as much as you can, and invest in passive income generating assets. good luck!!!
As you said, you needed to leave your old job. No way have you failed, you are adapting and making the best decision for yourself and your family at this point. Who knows what the future holds!?!
In my experience, entrepreneurs don’t fail, they just “learn”…..A LOT!
And trust me, I’ve had many experiences I’ve learned from. If anything, this now gives you the chance to regroup and figure what areas online you need to focus that align with what your passionate about with what also brings in income.
I think you made a wise choice BB. The thing about online income is that unless you’ve been doing it for quite a while, revenues are very difficult to predict and when you’ve got bills and want to do other things (such as turn on the lights and eat) you’ve got to have an income higher than those bills that’s steady. Dont feel like you’ve failed at all – it was something new and you gave it a try and I’m sure learned a lot for next time if the opportunity presents itself.
I definitely don’t consider it to be a failure that you are going back to full-time work. You are doing what you have to for your family. Plus, you took a chance to do something that most people are scared to do. Not only that, but you put yourself into a position where you were able to take that chance.
I remember how stressed you were the last few weeks at your old job. It was a miserable situation!
Thank God that you were able to find something so soon! I’m sure you’ll be back into full-time blogging soon enough.
Like Jeff said, entrepreneurs learn to profit from changing opportunities. This is just a different path for a while. Glad to hear you are committed to the site!
Its a lesson learned. You’re braver than most and I’m sure the next time around will have a slightly better outcome.
I was a Realtor for nearly eight years, but when the market tanked I also had to go back to a traditional job. I was lucky to find something I absolutely love. When people ask if I miss real estate, I always say I miss the flexibility but love the regular paycheck and insurance! Congratulations for your willingness to make the hard choice!
This whole online revenue is very unpredictable. Last year was fabulous, but 2012 doesn’t look all that great so far. But I’m sure you had and are still having fun writing and making the extra dough. So keep at it. Scaling back is a good idea, but I was afraid you were giving up on blogging.
Keep up the good work and good luck with your new job.
Bravo for taking the plunge and the risk to do what you wanted to do. It’s extremely difficult to do that, and now you will never have regrets or “what ifs.”
It’s awesome how you found a new job that seems to align with your goals and wants. Very important! Everything happens for a reason!
You took a shot, it didn’t work out as well as you had planned, and now you will make adjustments. I wouldn’t consider that a failure as much as it is an indictment of how “easy” it is to make money online without selling your soul. The same thing happened in both the tech and housing bubbles. It seemed like people could make lifestyle changes based on what was happening but then things changed. Hopefully, you can take your time and wait until you find a job that you feel happy and comfortable taking.
You did something I would love to try, but I’m too scared to do. At least now you know how it goes, and won’t always have to wonder “what if”
Thank you all for your wonderful comments! A community like I have here at Beating Broke is a huge part of the reason that I can’t walk away from the site. Thanks again for all of your support!
Thanks for sharing. I agree with everyone else. Failure would have been not giving it a shot at all. You gave it a shot and learned from it. I am sure there will be another shot at it and I wish you luck.
BB – Thanks for sharing your story and congrats for finding a new job! I don’t think you will regret the move you made. You gave it your best shot and I’m sure you learned a lot.
Love the attitude for the blog.
Best, Sam
Good luck in your new job! And I’m glad to hear this blog isn’t going anywhere!
Keep your head up! This isn’t failure but merely a lesson on your way to the goal of being able to blog full time! This is only failure if you take this lying down, give it all up and never try again.
Best of luck!
I completely understand. Although lots of folks tout earning a living online, I believe it is quite a difficult endeavor.
The job market is absolutely ridiculous these days. The government claims unemployment is going down. Sure, that is simply because they aren’t counting the people that no longer are looking for work. Glad to hear you found a job.