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Why Small Businesses are the New Farming Class

The United States actually began as a society of small businesses, we just don’t think of early agriculture that way. During colonial times, nearly 90% of Americans made their living through farming and ranching. While most farms were used to provide for the family and community, regional shipping was common as farms became modernized.

But for the most part, large corporations didn’t exist, and each community was built around farmers, craftsmen, and shopkeepers. Almost everyone had their own small business which played a vital part in the community.

small businesses farmers

creative commons from upyernoz

Ok, great, why does this matter today? Because I’m going to argue that there is a new kind of farmer in America, the local small business owners. Yes, of course small businesses have been around since the founding of America. But in the last 30 years, we are finally coming back around to small businesses making a big impact on the national economy.

The Growth of Small Businesses

Since 1982, small businesses have grown by 49%, and now provide over half of the total American jobs. In fact, since 1990, large corporations have eliminated four million jobs, small business start-ups and hires have added eight million jobs!

Large businesses certainly make products cheaper to build, and consequently cheaper to buy. But we’ve lost something in the process, and sold off a little of our independence in order to save a few bucks. When I see local small business owners, I realize it’s possible to serve a niche in our own community. Instead of looking for the next big corporate job, people are looking for ways to use their unique skills to serve the local community.

Life used to be like this, and you can see the proof in the last names. Baker, Smith, Potter, Weaver, and more. They each had a unique skill which served the community in a special way. They didn’t worry about running out of work, because they served a need. The need for an apprentice has also gone by the wayside, which is a shame. Young people learned valuable lessons from men and women in their community who weren’t their parents, while gaining knowledge at work they may do in the future.

Global Scale for Local Small Businesses

The internet and global economy has now allowed even local small businesses to make sales and reach an audience around the world! We can have the freedom to put the future in our own hands, and not in the hands of the top floor executive.

We’ve seen throughout the decades an emphasis on buying American goods, and recently a focus on buying regional and local goods. Small and mid-size cities who don’t have big business to bring in jobs are even more fanatical about the local movement. Think about the different small businesses in your town that serve a niche. Restaurants, breweries, craftsmen, artists, musicians, designers, retail shops – they’re everywhere!

I’m in the midst of a life, job, and city transition myself, and I just catch myself wondering…

“Do I really want to jump immediately in to the next 50 hour a week job?”

My hesitation is not a result of being lazy, I really enjoy work and contribution. But I do think about what I want my next big block of work to be, and like many small business owners, it want it to be something where I have a big say in how I work.

Another reason is that while a traditional job does offer certain benefits and levels of security, actual job security is not what it used to be! People are laid off with regularity, for various reasons. In some very important ways, running your own small business is actually more secure than your old job!

As a small business owner, you control your destiny in many critical ways. Your success or failures depend a lot on your work ethic and drive. Many people end up asking,

“Can I bet on myself?”

If the answer is yes, then go for it! Remember that America was founded on the strength and numbers of local small businesses and farmers. Here’s hoping we go back to it soon.

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Why Long Lists are Egotistical – and The Five Best Business Books I’ve Ever Read

Let’s say you’re visiting a new city, and you love eating at local restaurants. A friend has been to this city, and also enjoys scoping out local eats. So of course, you ask him what he recommends, and long lists usually follow.

“You’ve got to eat at Sunny Pointe Cafe for breakfast, and then 12 Bones BBQ for a late lunch. If you’re even hungry for dinner, go to White Duck for tacos.”

Me: “Great, thanks dude!”

“You should also go to Doc Chey’s, Wicked Weed, Louise’s, and Thirsty Monk!”

Me: “Umm, ok, may not be able to fit all of those in.”

“Don’t forget Bouchon, Mela, Tupelo Honey, and Early Girl!”

Me: “You know I’m only going for the weekend right?”

“Also stop by Rosetta’s Kitchen, Universal Joint, Over Easy, then Jerusalem Garden! They have belly dancers there!”

Me: “Ok great you can stop now.” 

Long Lists of Things

photo by hey paul

I’ve been on both sides of this conversation, and I’ve realized that dumping a long list of options on the listener is just plain egotistical. Going overboard with long lists is basically a way for me to show off how much I know about a topic, while burdening someone with a wave of options that can’t possibly be fulfilled. I committed this error by flooding poor Pat Flynn with about 20 suggestions of things he should do during his time in Nashville.

Honestly, people function better with restraints than unlimited options.

The conversation should go more like this…

“You’ve got to eat at Sunny Pointe Cafe for breakfast, and then 12 Bones BBQ for a late lunch. If you’re even hungry for dinner, go to White Duck for tacos. This is a beer city, so you can also go by The Thirsty Monk for a beer. Don’t hesitate to call if you need any more spots.”

“Great, thanks dude!”

Done.

What have I done there? I’ve been clear about 3-4 options I know my friend will enjoy. Maybe he won’t make them all, but he has a clear, memorable list in his head. In fact, most people can really only recall about 7 pieces of information at a time, give or take two, says George Miller.

Miller’s landmark cognitive psychology paper on the subject of short-term memory capacity states that we struggle to take in much more than even 5 poly-syllabic words at a time! The 4 suggestions I offered in the concise conversation still involved 10 words and 15 syllables, so really even it’s on the threshold of memory capacity. Joshua Foer, in his book Moonwalking with Einstein, dives in to the research behind they way memory works in our brains, showing how short-term accessible memory functions on a daily basis.

Foer’s book and Miller’s research clearly show we need to keep our advice clear and concise, giving the listener the effective dose they need, not burying them with information.

My point is not to dumb down our lists or limit the access of knowledge, but I am personally not in favor of blog posts listing “100 Blogs You Need to Read Today.” Mercy, I don’t have time to read 5 blogs most days, much less 100! I’d rather have a trusted friend or writer recommend 4-5 she adores and gets a lot of inspiration or advice from. Honestly, I think many long lists are SEO plays, hoping that someone you’ve recommended will link back to you, increase your Google ranking, and hooray! - everyone is happy.

Where I do believe longer lists are helpful is in the context of skillfully curating the content into smaller categories, for instance here I’m talking about business books. A list of all the books or blogs I recommend would be longer, but in small subsets of 3-5 items each.

I also don’t believe in producing long lists because it’s a form of stalling. Reading great work and having a deep well of inspiration are both helpful. But too often we hoard information, feeling we must consume every scrap of content before we can start producing. Untrue. Start producing today. Click to tweet that.

With that in mind, here are 5 business books I think are incredible. I’ve received both inspiration and practical advice from each book, and have seen the writers succeed across a wide range of fields. These guys have the knowledge and the experience to back up their words. Many of the books I have read multiple times, and recommended them to everyone who asks, and many who don’t! They’re worth spending a little money on, without a doubt.

Re/Work, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

My favorite business book of all time. Re/Work is written like a series of hyper-specific blog posts, usually only cover 3 pages per chapter. I love that you can pick it up, flip to any page, and get something meaningful which can be applied that day. There are sections of the book covering broader topics, but again they are distilled down in to concise chapters that are memorable and applicable.

My favorites? Emulate Drug Dealers, Underdo the Competition, and Fire the Workaholics. Fried and Hansson not only run a first-class company at 37Signals, but write extremely well. Their blog is a great source of similar content, check it out at 37signals.com/svn.

The Lean Startup, by Eric Ries

Wow, this book really changed the way I thought I could start a business. The majority of book covers the steps inherent in starting a lean programming or web-based business, but there is plenty of great content for people looking to start a physical (brick and mortar) business using lean principles. When you read the book, you can’t help but think “This makes total sense! Why haven’t we been doing this all along?”

Following the steps laid out in The Lean Startup will help you build a business, product, or service in less time, because you’re paying close attention to what people actually want and will pay for. Measuring desire for the product allows you to quickly learn what changes you should make, and continue building a company with sustainable growth. Ironically, going through the build-measure-learn feedback loop also allows you to quit (or pivot) sooner, if you realize people aren’t buying what you’re offering.

The $100 Startup, by Chris Guillebeau

My favorite collection of real-life case studies, inspiration, and practical advice. Chris has the personal experience of starting an online consulting and world domination business, and uses that as the groundwork for explaining how you can also start your own small business for less than $100. Ok, so he admits that not every business can be started for $100, but the cost of starting is far lower than it used to be. Some of the strategies Chris uses and recommends also bear resemblance to the lean startup principles, and in Re/Work. Basically, make sure people want to buy what you’re selling, and continue to build from that point.

The book helps you find the convergence of your skills, your passion, and what people are willing to pay for. This convergence is your own personal niche, what you can do that no else can. In today’s world, you can start a business in your convergence niche.

To Sell Is Human, by Daniel Pink

Pink is one of my favorite authors, who seamlessly blends story, research, and action steps in to his books. Pink sets out to prove that being in sales is no longer a profession limited to used-car salesmen and pushy telephone/internet marketers. In fact, we are ALL now in sales, or what Pink terms “non-sales selling.” Are you a teacher that needs to engage students in your lesson plans? You’re in sales. Are you a blogger with a email newsletter? You’re in sales. The premise is that much of what we do is rooted in sales and persuasion, and not in a slimy way, but a way that is focused on the greater good. If you’re not a persuasive teacher or writer, and have a message worth spreading, you better be selling.

Contrary to Alec Baldwin’s character in Glengarry Glen Ross, the ABC’s of selling are no longer Always – Be – Closing. Our information rich society demands we follow the principles of Attunement, Bouyancy, and Clarity. For example, Attunement is “the ability to bring one’s actions and outlook in to harmony with the other people and context you’re in.” Crafting your information and “pitch” to find the common ground between what the individual’s needs are, and what you can offer, creates a better offer for both parties, not just you. In a world where people can find a piece of information or a review with just a few taps on their phone, the onus is on the seller to provide useful, helpful information and products that benefit both parties. Anything less will be skewered on social media within minutes.

There are tons of other great principles and case studies in To Sell is Human, including the continuous walk through San Francisco with the last Fuller Brush salesmen on earth. Pink’s book isn’t worth just reading once, but over and over again.

The Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufman

Josh Kaufman caught a lot of flack for writing this book, because of this bold and audacious statement.

“Going to business school is NOT worth the time, effort, and money.”

Saying this is easy enough, plenty of self-proclaimed experts will blare opinions that go against the grain, but Josh has put in the time, effort, and research to back up his claim. The good news for us… he’s right. The sheer magnitude of debt alone is enough to scare me off, since most MBA programs cost upwards of six figures to complete. Christian Schraga, a Wharton MBA graduate, estimated the 10 year “net present value” of a top MBA program is still negative $53,000!

The vast majority of MBA programs train graduates for jobs in finance, consulting, and upper-management. Those are all fine pursuits, but many of us have no desire to work in those fields. My business desires are to gain a better understanding of the fundamental practices of a business, implement them at my current job, and possibly start a small business of my own one day. None of those require spending 2 years of my life and $100,000 to accomplish.

Josh has wisely organized the book in to subject matter in to stand-alone sections, so you can begin reading any of them at any time. Want to learn about Finance, including income statements, value capture, and incremental degradation? Go to chapter 5. What about System structure and Gall’s Law? Turn to chapter 9. The Personal MBA has become a go-to manifesto for learning the most important principles in business, and how to merge them with the experience specific to your situation.

Side note: I love Seth Godin’s books, and couldn’t believe I made a list without one of them on it. Seth is described as a marketing and business writer, however as I thought about his books that have made a big impact on me, I realized they made more of an impact on how I lived, taught, and behaved, more than how I simply worked. Linchpin is my favorite Seth book, and will definitely be present in a later list.

In conclusion, I would love to hear what you think about the premise that long lists are egotistical, and what additions or subtractions you would make to the top business books. Engage with me on twitter @mattragland, or leave a comment below. Thanks!

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Why I bought a Chromebook instead of an iPad

is it viable?

Last week, I bought a Samsung Chromebook. My wife and I had reached a point where we needed another device besides the Macbook, which was accelerated by selling off her old HP laptop. Between her new website needs, namely video editing, and learning Excel, for Statistics, it became clear she needed to use the Macbook on a regular basis.

We quickly tossed the idea of getting a new Macbook, simply because the price tag was higher than we wanted to spend right now. A $1000 minimum wasn’t in the cards. Because I’m such an Apple fanboy, I was leaning towards the iPad. But then my Dad bought a Chromebook. Sure, I had heard about them, but hadn’t really considered the possibility. I needed to do more than surf the web, and having a device that limited was what I wanted. Right?

I played around with the system for a night, and came away intrigued. Like many of you, Google knows a lot about me, and the breadth of apps they offer covers a lot of ground in my digital life. GMail, Calendar, Maps, Docs, Wallet, YouTube, Plus, and recently Google Play have all gotten to know me pretty well. Intrigue grew.

But the offline capabilities were the tipping point. After 30 minutes of research, I realized the Chromebook wasn’t useless offline. In fact, you could still use many of the Drive features in offline mode, and they simply sync-up when you connect again. That was good enough for me.

Because I had to ask myself, What did I really need to do?

Well, to be honest, I would be taking the Chromebook when I travel around for Rockmont or personal reasons, and for relatively short periods of time. Large storage drives, file management, and software were not a big deal when I really thought about it. Even listening to music in offline-mode is doable, but I normally just listen on my iPhone any way.

So what did I really need?

  • Connect to the internet
  • Write blog posts and publish them
  • Access email (personal and business)
  • Write drafts of new articles, training materials, etc
  • Access our camper database

I could do all of those things on a Chromebook. In fact, since a lot of typing was involved, the physical keyboard made more sense than the touch screen of the iPad. Certainly, the iPad is MUCH more robust in design, creativity, music, photo/video, and the millions of apps available to customize it to your particular bent.

But, when I’m honest, I don’t necessarily need all that for what the device needs to do for me. As if the internet isn’t distracting enough, the apps would only exacerbate the problem. I need to write, research, and access information. Here are a few other things I liked about the Chromebook.

  • Thin, light design (less than 1″ thick and 2.5 lbs)
  • Under 10 sec boot time
  • 8 hour max battery life (about 6 hours on 70% brightness)
  • Offline apps (would have been a deal-breaker)
  • 16 gb SSD (enough for basic download storage and favorite songs)
  • 100 gb Google Drive space free for 2 years ($5/month after)
  • $250 price tage (base iPad model is $400, $500 w/ retina display)

I’m so conditioned to Apple products that I’m still not 100% sold, but daily I’m becoming more comfortable with the Chromebook. I obviously enjoy typing more on a physical keyboard more than a touch-screen. For as touch crazy as we’ve become in the past 5 years, I wouldn’t say I’m that much better of a touch-screen typist, especially if auto-correct was taken away.

Since we travel a good bit, both for work, personal, and missional reasons, I’m glad to have a portable laptop that gets the job done while not costing a lot. If I’m in Haiti or road-tripping through the West;  then losing, breaking, or having a $250 device stolen is a lot better than a $1,000 Macbook.

Once more about the cost, even though $250 (difference between CB and iPad) is not a big chunk of money, but it’s worth accounting for. $250 can buy me a plane ticket somewhere new, or weekend getaway at the beach. It’s a matter of priorities to say I’d rather travel with that money than buy the latest and the greatest.

I still have about 3 weeks left before my 30 day return window closes, but I’m feeling pretty good about it. Staying committed to simplicity and saving money usually works out in the long run. I would certainly agree with John Saddington when he says that the Chromebook is limited for the full-time, serious blogger. But if you’re starting out, or need something that does the basics really well for an affordable cost, this is a great option.

Does anyone else have a Chromebook? If so, what are your thoughts? If you were thinking about buying one, does this help your decision? Share in the comments.

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The Generosity Model

Quick.

Name a low-cost, effective way to grow your readership, connect with other bloggers, and gain the most valuable asset of all – trust.

What did you come up with? Comment down below! Feeling stumped? I’ll tell you my answer …

Be Generous

Give us this day...

photo credit: krislitman, creative commons

That’s right. Give outrageously valuable content away. Help people out and expect nothing in return. If you are open and generous with your time and talent, people will respond, they will tell their friends, and your blog will grow.

Does this model take longer? It may.

Do you make more money? Not in the short-term.

Can you build a high-traffic, profitable blog through generosity? Absolutely.

Don’t just take my word for it though, check out these 11 examples of people creating excellent, world-class content, and giving it away for free.

Tim Ferriss

I recently bought my first Tim Ferriss book, the 4 Hour Chef (if you’re going to buy it, get the hardcover edition, digital doesn’t do it justice). I wasn’t a fan of Tim’s at the beginning, thinking him too narcisstic, self-promotive, and even lazy. C’mon man, 4 hour work weeks? But, the guy does such a good job of being persistent, dealing with haters, and experimenting, that he’s won me over. He gives away awesome content and lessons on his blog, many of which end up making it in to his books. The language lesson below was originally written in 2009, and didn’t make print until this fall in the 4 Hour Chef. Are his tactics and lessons for everyone? No, but he doesn’t care about everyone, which is actually just fine. But I do believe you can find something that will help you on his site, if you take the time to read.

My favorite 4hWW posts

Pat Flynn

Pat runs SmartPassiveIncome.com, is one of the leaders in the Generosity movement, and practices what he preaches. One of the practices that sets Pat apart is he publishes his income reports down to the cent. You may think this is a bit narcissistic, but Pat includes in his blog the methods he uses to make money online! He writes well about different strategies for growing your blog, his how-to videos are incredibly helpful, and the SPI podcast regularly showcases great ideas to help you build and grow your blog or business.

Pat’s top hits

Check out my free workbook, Choose What You Love. A challenging and provoking look at what really matters to you.

Jeff Goins

Jeff runs GoinsWriter.com, a community passionate about writing, creativity, and ideas. Jeff is big proponent of being generous, and has given away almost every great work he’s shipped. Jeff strongly believes that free is your best marketing, and the most effective way to spread your story. He even gave away his book You Are A Writer for free on Amazon, and gained thousands of new readers.

Jeff’s top hits

  • The Writer’s Manifesto e-book (free resource via subscribing to his email list)
  • Intentional Blogging (12 week e-course)

Seth Godin

Seth is arguably the top blogger and business writer in the world, selling books by the millions, and speaking to top-dollar, sold out crowds wherever he goes. He’s a rock star. He also gives away great stuff for free, every day. Seth has posted on his blog every day for years, regularly testing content and ideas that make it in to his books. He’s launched a publishing service that is changing the way books are distributed (including sponsoring a few freebies), and is giving away an audio recording of his Startup School (which was $950 live).

John Saddington

John is more commonly known as the TentBlogger, a clever and biblical nod to the Apostle Paul’s chosen craft of tent making. He is open, honest, and regularly shares great tips and courses on how to make money online, build your audience, streamline your workflow, and more. If you’re in the market for a new blogging theme, John also crafted the popular Standard theme, which is all about simplicity and speed. If I wasn’t already tied to the StudioPress themes (which I still love), I would definitely look hard at Standard.

Michael Hyatt

Michael blogs at MichaelHyatt.com, a blog focused on Intentional Leadership. But he doesn’t stop there, doling out advice on publishing, writing, productivity, speaking, and more. Michael spent his professional career in the book publishing business, including a stint as the CEO of Thomas Nelson, so you know you’re hearing from one of the best. His podcast episode Advice to First-Time Authors (and part 2), is as valuable as sitting across from the CEO of a major publishing firm, which little ol’ me (or you) has no chance of doing right now. Michael bridges that gap and educates the masses, and is available for you on his blog.

Danielle LaPorte

Danielle first made waves with White Hot Truth and The Firestarter Sessions, and has followed up with fresh, engaging, and inspired writing for her community. In her about page (Here I Am), Danielle shares her highs, lows and many winding roads to arrive as one of the premier bloggers and speakers in North America. As with everyone on this list, Danielle shares content and resources on her blog that would normally cost hundreds of dollars to see her live. She’s building up one of the intimate and honest communities a writer could ask for by being generous with her time and spirit.

Check out Danielle’s collection of free interviews, worksheets, and images.

AppSumo

The Head Sumos serve up great deals on web apps, services, and courses to help your blog, business, or cause. I really like what they do and how they deliver it. The language is salty, the humor irreverent, and certainly have a flair for self-promotion. Plus, they do their video shoots in Sumo suits (at times). AppSumo isn’t for everyone, but they provide killer products at great prices, and have fun doing it. They also give away some incredible content, including interviews, courses, checklists, apps, and bundle deals. They have mastered the art of grabbing attention and keeping you tuned in.

You’ll have to dig through the list, but you can find lots of valuable freebies from AppSumo.

Ashley Ambridge

Ashley’s site, TheMiddleFingerProject.org, is fun from the moment you type the address in to your browser. She has a funny, refreshing, and honest style that goes against the grain. A marketer and copywriter by trade, her blog is full of helpful advice for small businesses and freelancers, including this great post on how photographers should introduce their pricing.

Find Ashley’s free ebook just below the fold on the front page.

Buffer App

Joel and Leo have built one of the most useful web apps in social media. Buffer allows users to space out their tweets or Facebook updates at specific times during the day, freeing you from tweet bombing people when you happen to be available. It’s an awesome service, integrates with almost any reader client you have, and is absolutely brilliant. So of course, they give it away. Yep, you can use Buffer to schedule 10 tweets or updates at a time, which easily lets you get through 1-2 days without refilling. They also share incredibly useful tips and hacks on their blog.

Morgan Ragland

Ok, a tip of the hat to my courageous wife, who is launching a fitness blog, something she has always been passionate about, and is ready to take the first step and start shipping on January 1st. TheSimpleGym.com is a community dedicated to simple but challenging workouts you can do at home or a nearby park. She was tired of gyms being crowded, inconvenient, and without enough space to move in an active workout. It certainly helps that Morgan is a certified personal trainer, but she will be posting 4 workouts a week, along with lifestyle and nutrition articles. Check out the launch page, and get an early start on your workouts by getting on the email list. Early training begins December 26.

Generosity also applies to physical businesses and goods

When Moe’s Southwest Burritos opens a new restaurant, they will often have a free burrito/taco day, or hand out an absurd amount of free food coupons to local groups, leagues, and even to people passing by the store. Moe’s understands that once you get people in the door, you now have the opportunity to win their loyalty through good food, kind service, and a welcoming environment.

You can do the same with your blog, giving people valuable content will get the “in the door”, and then you have the opportunity to wow them through showing the readers how they can improve their life, business, or relationships. If you can do this, then eventually you can sell something, and they will trust and appreciate that your product is something worth paying for. You’ve gained trust and permission, the 2 greatest assets in marketing and business today.

Don’t drown in a sea of noise. Give something away, and watch it spread

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Filed Under: Business & Design, Community Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Win Michael Hyatt’s New Book, Platform

Last week, I finished reading Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, and was impressed by the range of topics Michael covers in a compelling fashion. If you’ve ever read Michael’s blog, you know he has mastered the art of communicating with brevity and effectiveness. Platform is an easy read because of his writing style, but there is no shortage of great ideas to take action on.

Platform speaks to anyone who wants to start a movement, whether through a blog, business, non-profit, music, etc. The kick is that it’s no longer good enough to simply have a good, even great, idea! Social media and technology have given us the opportunity to engage others through our art, creating a tribe of raving fans who will clamor for your offerings.

You could be dismayed by this, thinking “my great idea should be enough!”. But this explosion of online communities and sharing is great news!  You no longer have to wait to be picked, to pray your idea will be allowed by the gatekeepers of publishing, distributors, and investors. You can create the demand yourself.

You Need a Platform

I bought the book during launch week, when Michael was offering a bundle pack to promote sales. The value Michael presented was simply incredible, and I hope it becomes the standard for publishers (that’s a different post though). When I bought the book, I also received the digital edition, audio recording, and several video files which covered platform building. I read the kindle version before the hardcover even arrived!

In honor of Michael’s generosity, and the spirit of helping people create their dreams, I’m giving away my hardcover copy of Platform. To be eligible to win the book, simply answer this question in the comments.

What is the dream (blog, music, business, art, non-profit) you are sharing with others, and how will a solid Platform help you achieve it?

Thanks to Michael for writing this great book, and to everyone who participates. I look forward to reading your stories!

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Business & Design Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Taking the 3rd Step Towards Your Dreams

Today, I took the 3rd step.

It was a big, scary, exhilarating step, and it was also a step back.

Let me explain…

I knew eventually I would have to start practicing what I preached. Follow your passions, live with less, take the big risk, all of these pieces of advice I had been spewing for the past 4 months, I had a big step left to take.

Today I sat down with my bosses and told them about my passion for writing, missions, and travel. I told them about the road trip I wanted to take with my wife, of building an online presence, and making the jump to self-employed writer, coach, and speaker. I was re-aligning my priorities, and placing my writing and personal brand right below faith and family.

I told them everything, put my true self on the line, and waited for the hammer to fall.

They were receptive, and we talked about how I could take a pay cut in exchange for a more flexible schedule. This was what I mean by a step back. I’m still employed, but with less money and fewer day-by-day hours. I’m ok with less money, because I’m taking the next year to bet on me and the work I can produce. Maybe I’ll fail, but I am going to take the plunge. I also want to travel, connect with others, attend conferences, and serve people through missions. I’ll swap those opportunities for a few thousand dollars.

Yes, I’m young, with no kids and a one very understanding wife. But this wasn’t an easy decision, and will certainly be leading to some tough times. My job provided a comfortable living, included housing, utilities, use of a car, 3 weeks vacation, and a fulfilling mission. A large part of me screams “Are you nuts?!”

The craziest part is that I really feel called to the work I am doing at Rockmont, and I should clarify I didn’t quit. I want to continue to be a part of their mission of Male Development, I believe it’s one of the most important callings in my life. But, there is another calling towards writing, missions, and service which I needed to follow. I could have continued on with Rockmont for a long time in the same position (or greater), and not scratched this itch I have. But I would not have been true to my self, and in the end that would have also been damaging to my work at Rockmont!

But this is about more than comfort, it’s about following a dream.

Last week I posted this image of a venn diagram, and finding the convergence between passion, talent, and pay. I’ve been thinking about it constantly, and honestly it’s just time for to find out. I need to begin building my tower, and see how quickly it’s going to fall apart. Maybe it will happen in 1 year, maybe 20, but I need to find out.

So here we go, a great load has been lifted from my shoulders, and I know I have 1 year to give this everything I have, and see what the results are. Regardless of whether or not I can make a living through blogging and speaking is still to be seen, and I may not have a full answer by September 2013. But I want to have a fuller picture of the possibilities than I do now, and that requires more of my time than I was currently devoting to the practice of writing.

I also wanted to communicate clearly with my employers, making the distinction between the work I’m going to do for me, and the work I’m going to do for Rockmont. Honestly, I may have been able to get away with both, but I wanted to be upfront about the change. If you are considering the jump to concentrating on your own business or brand, I suggest you do the same.

Already, I can feel a sense of focus settling in. Now, I’ve declared my intention, it’s public, and the responsibility is on me to produce. When you’ve stripped away the comforts and the support system which makes you comfortable, it’s easier to see what matters to you. This is what matters to me, and I’m going to take on the challenge.

Ah yes, you may be wondering why I said I took the 3rd step today, because it sounds a lot like the 1st step. I disagree, and here’s why.

The 1st Step is to Start Writing

This step is made up of hundreds of choices to put your words down and help others through them. I took this step in late December 2011, and have been choosing to honor the practice ever since.

The 2nd Step is to Build Your Platform

This means a legitimate site, with no software handles like wordpress, blogger, or typepad. It means cultivating a community, through both social media and in-person relationships. Building your platform includes a lot more, but it’s not the focus of this post.

The 3rd Step is to Declare Your Intentions to the World

This is the step I took today. It will be clarified and tweaked in the coming weeks, but I can’t tell you how relieved and energized I feel! I’m going to give this work and mission all I can for the next year, and see what God makes of it. Maybe it will work, and maybe it won’t, but I wasn’t going to continue to sit by and think about what could be.

It’s time to find out.

 

Filed Under: Business & Design, Creativity & Work, Personal Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

7 Lessons from My Adventure in Self-Hosted Blogging

When I first started blogging intentionally in December 2011, I did what many people do and signed up for a free account at wordpress.com. It was safe, risk-free, and a good way to see if I was really committed to this blogging and writing thing. Turns out I am. In the 4.5 months since, I’ve cranked out 92 posts, and know this is something I want to keep doing for a long time.

So, I made the next logical step, which was to switch to a self-hosted wordpress site. I read early on this transfer would be pretty seamless, but if you had a lot of content it would still be a pain to get everything “just right”. That’s where I fall in, and man, they were right.

I officially made the launch to self-hosted on May 7. I was very excited, and ready to get to work on the bevy of customized options you can activate when you own the site. In the 16 days since, I have been swallowed up by all the options, themes, plugins, and haven’t done much actual writing. Bummer, right?

I want to help you avoid this pitfall, so here are 7 big lessons I’ve learned very quickly:

1.  If you have been through 60 days of blogging, or 30 posts, SWITCH

I don’t regret starting with a free wordpress account. I do regret not switching earlier. Because right now I’m trying to organize 140 posts, a decent daily traffic hit which may not follow me to the new site, and more importantly, 50 blog subscribers. I’ve spent nearly 5 months building up a site which is now going to be a placeholder. The email subscribers are the most worrisome part, because there’s no easy way to make sure they re-sign up for the new feed. If you’re on a roll, then just do it.

Of course, it’s great if you simply start your blog from scratch as a self-hosted site. The investment is fairly low, and you’ll be able to have more control and grow faster with your own site.

2.  Pick a web host with auto-installation of WordPress

This is a big part, and I’m so glad I used a host which allowed for auto-install, what a time-saver! I went with Host Gator for a few reasons:

  • Responsive customer service
  • Affordable hosting prices
  • Easy auto-install of wordpress, & web storage of the files
Many other great blog sites rely on Host Gator for their needs, for example, Corbett Barr uses them for all of his sites. There are so many hosting options, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The points I mentioned above are deal-makers for me, and I can’t emphasize enough how important the installation process was. HostGator also makes it easy to transfer an existing wordpress.com blog to your self-hosted site (which is what I did).
If you want to have someone do everything for you, I recommend you try OutstandingSetup.com.  In fact, I was very close to going with OS, but at the time I launched they were not accepting new clients. But they are now, so great for you! If the thought of domain registration, web hosting, coded framework, theme selection, and backup is overwhelming, or issues you simply don’t want to worry yourself with, this is the service to use. OutstandingSetup will take care of every aspect of your website, including all those time-consuming tasks I just mentioned. They also provide world-class support. OS is more expensive than other providers, but they provide so much more. Single-site clients pay $19/month (with no contracts) to leave it up to the pros and just focus on your writing. Check out OS here.

3.  Pick a theme you trust, and is well-supported

I spent a lot of time going through many different themes & frameworks. I also looked at what was being used on the sites I read and trusted. Time and time again, I kept seeing the Genesis Framework by Studiopress mentioned as one of the best, if not the best, back-end framework for a WordPress site. Now, you do not have to purchase a framework and premium theme to get started with a self-hosted site, but I strongly believe it is worth the initial investment. Here’s why…

  • SEO Optimization: Do you understand SEO? Me neither. This fact alone is reason enough for me to use a framework. StudioPress programmers write killer code in to Genesis which allows it to be fully ready for SEO without doing a thing.
  • Great Looking Design: Set yourself apart with one of Genesis’ turn-key ready themes. They are ready t0 plug ‘n play, without doing any designing or coding. They’re also ready for any of the widgets the WordPress community can throw at it. Personally, I chose the Eleven40 theme, and have gotten a lot of compliments on the look.
  • Unlimited Everything: This was huge for me as well. After you purchase Genesis (and included theme), you are in for life. No up-charging for future updates, redesigns, or support questions. Once you’re in, you’re in. For example, I tried to use a free-mium theme at first, but there were bugs being worked out, and it was tough to get in touch with the designer about how I could fix it. No such issues with StudioPress. Anything I need, I can find an answer in the forums, or a quick message to support, plus all the updates to Genesis and my theme are included forever.

Now, if you don’t want to make the jump to a premium themes and framework, I highly recommend simply using the included WordPress Twenty Eleven theme. This is because it is a WordPress designed theme, so finding support and answers will be much easier than tracking down freelance designers.

4.  Install Essential plugins

I was quickly sucked in to the black hole which is wordpress plugins. So many, so interesting, so few you actually need to get started. I use all of these and consider them essential. They’re also free, or exist on donations. The easiest way to find and install them is to search from the plugin menu of your WordPress dashboard. Here are the 7 I use, and actually needed for getting started.

  • Pretty Link: URL customizer & tracking.
  • Askimet: Comment spam blocker.
  • All-in-One SEO Pack: Allows you to customize your site’s SEO terms, which are fed to search engines.
  • Disqus: The best commenting system out there. Allows you to track your comments across multiple sites.
  • Feedburner: RSS feed generator and management system
  • Social Maven and/or Social Media Widget: Allows you to place good ‘ol social media buttons in your posts
  • Editorial Calendar: Keeps you on track with your post schedule
You can add plugins to fit your needs as you figure out what those needs are, but keep it down at the beginning, so you can focus on the essential. *Note: These plugins only work on self-hosted blogs

5.  Test test test (especially links & files)

After I had everything installed and set up, it was rewarding to be able to look at my new blog and see the finished product. Kind of. For another reason why you should switch to self-hosted sooner rather than later, I had to spend an entire work chunk going through all of my old posts to double-check links, pictures, and files. It was a gigantic pain. Some didn’t exist anymore, had their url moved, or were hosted on my old site. Ugh.

But, it is worth the time to be sure all of your links, pictures, and files work like they’re supposed to. I know when I go to a site and there is a broken link or blank placeholder, my opinion of the site plummets. So test, test, and test again. Friends & family can also help with this when you…

6.  Hold a Soft Open

The term soft open comes from the retail and restaurant industries. It’s where a business will open up without fanfare for just a couple of nights, to trusted customers and professionals. They get to hear their feedback, see what needs to be improved, and how the equipment works before the grand opening. I wanted to do the same.

I contacted my 3 F’s (family, friends, and fans), and let them know I was launching my new site in a week, and would like for them to test it out! I asked them to read posts, click on links, subscribe to the feed, comment, share on social media, everything. They saw issues I did not, because I was looking at so much. Plus, I had been cursed with too much knowledge about my site, and I didn’t see it with the beginner’s mind. It was so helpful to hear their opinions about what worked and didn’t work, and the grammatical errors which had popped up during my 6:00 am writing sessions.

7.  Get back to writing

Saying this may seem extraneous, simple, and common-sense. But I really had to be disciplined about getting back to actual writing! I underestimated the real time is was going to take for setting up, and then was distracted by good, but time-consuming tasks which go along with a new blog. I already talked about the plugins, but I also researched affiliate programs, education programs, monetization strategies, and so much more. All of those things were a moot point if I didn’t have great content, and I was neglecting my writing.

I needed to be disciplined with my time, because time was scarce. When I got back to the craft, I set aside 20-30 minutes a day to write. Nothing else. No marketing, social media, email, or networking. Just writing. I recommend you do the same.

Well, I know many other lessons will come up in my blogging adventure, and I’ll be sure to let you in on my experience. In fact, last night I was talking to my cousin, who is much brighter with computers than I, and he was asking about this exact topic! WordPress is such a powerful system, and it’s changing the way the internet, web design, programming, and content management works. Yes, I spent several hours over the course of several days to make sure the site was what I wanted. But, knowing the process now I believe I could get everything up and running in a day. I hope a little tutorial like this could help you make the jump to self-hosting if you ‘re considering it. If you do have any questions, please let me know in the comments, or email me directly.

Have a great day!

Filed Under: Business & Design, Links Worth Clicking, Writing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Power to the People: 9 Extra Tools to Help You Organize the Internet

I want to thank everyone that has been checking out the guest post I wrote at Buffer, it has done really well! One of the cool side effects from writing a limited list is that I left products and applications out by necessity, and it started a conversation about tools I didn’t even know about yet!

So here is a list of 9 tools that readers brought to my attention in the comments and on twitter. Thanks for helping us all be more productive and organized on the web!

HootSuite - A social media dashboard that includes basic analytics, search options, and organization. Tip o’ the hat to Dorian Patterson.

Bit.ly - The standard in link-shortening software. I’ve been using it for a couple years, offers custom urls and analytics. Tip o’ the hat to ME.

RockMelt – Another browser on the market? Sure there are plenty, but Rockmelt offers complete social media integration! Tip o’ the hat to Valon Canhasi.

Symbaloo – great custom news and update site. Tip o’ the hat to Daniela Bolzmann.

Dropbox - Great cloud storage solution for keeping your stuff together online, especially large files. 2gb free storage to start. Use this code to sign up (Disclaimer: This code is a referral that just gives me some extra storage, no money). Tip o’ the hat to Shawn.

CamelCamelCamel – Web store price trackers and alerts, great for using with Amazon. Tip o’ the hat to BJMT.

Wunderlist – Powerful web based list making and to-do app. Tip o’ the hat to Robert Clay.

SpringPad- Cool web organization app that looks like a fusion between Evernote and Pinterest. I haven’t used it yet but it looks beautifully designed. Tip o’ the hat to James Schwabacher.

Clipix- Another cool looking web clipping app, not as fully featured as Evernote, but simplicity could be its best feature. I look forward to trying it out! Tip o’ the hat to Dmoser34 on the Buffer comment thread.

So there you go, 9 more great apps and services to try out! Do you use any of these? Anything else we can share with each other? I would love to hear your comments.

Have a great day!

FYI, this post was written on my iPhone, sitting in the Charlotte airport. Fun huh?

Filed Under: Business & Design, Links Worth Clicking Tagged With: , , , ,

Free Wallpaper Quote on Signs, Work, God, and Mountains

Inspired by the photo I posted on Friday, here is a 1280×800 desktop wallpaper for download. Hope you enjoy it!

Click to view full size, then right-click to “save as”.

Filed Under: Business & Design, Creativity & Work Tagged With: , , , ,

What to Look for this Week, and a Reading List

Good morning everyone, I’ve been in Chicago the past few days, enjoying deep dish pizza, dueling piano bars, and the Field Museum. Pictures to come! Ok, 1 picture now.

Cloud Gate aka "The Bean"

Here are the books, sites, and articles that have been speaking to me this week, hope you find something here that speaks to you as well. I’ll be back to regular posting on Wednesday, working on the topic of Jesus and simple living.

For today, here is what I’m reading:

The Thank You Economy: I’ve just started, but am really diving in. How we communicate with our clients and treat them as people is the most important aspect in business today. Even in a down economy, people will pay more for the same product/service if the customer care is better. I know I do. Will keep you updated.

7 Remarkably Simple Ways to Become a Stronger Runner (and maybe even enjoy it)!: I’ve been reading a lot of Matt’s work lately, during my own foray in to vegetarian and quasi-vegan eating habits. I always thought as an athlete, I need large amounts of meat to perform my best. Now, being 90% meat free for a month now, I don’t really miss it. When I do eat meat, I feel pretty bad (though it is delicious). This post isn’t about nutrition, but a good primer in kick-starting your running.

What You Need to Know Before Starting a WordPress Blog: I came across this post because I’ve been researching the transition to a self-hosted WordPress blog. This post is one of the best for quickly covering the basics of your launch.

50 Centuries of Work = 5 Important Lessons: This is really a short book review, but Dan offers us enough meat to tell 1 important fact - “Choose a career for intrinisic rewards, not the financial rewards”. This looks like a book I may be reading in the future.

Is Liberal and Conservative In Our Hard-Wiring?: Richard Rohr is always thought-provoking, and in an election year he serves up this basic question of political nature vs. nurture. A good read that takes a couple minutes.

Failure is an Option: Great advice from Vern, who speaks about failure in the context of athletics, but is applicable across many disciplines. A great quote in the article is “failure sucks but instructs.” If you are an athlete I highly recommend adding Vern to your permanent reading list.

Dating Advice from 1944 – How to Pick Your Right Girl:

Good ol’ Art of Manliness, digging through the archives and coming up with this gem. If you are a guy navigating the world of dating, give this a read, and give a lot of thought to what truly matters to you in the long run.

I’ve already found my right girl, and she’s under Marilyn Monroe’s dress…

Well that’s a good list for the week, what have you guys and gals been reading? I hope that your week is full of blessings and challenges. We need them both to stay sharp!

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Business & Design, Daily Photo Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

TED Talk of the Week: Jason Fried of 37signals

Jason Fried is the head of 37Signals, a company that makes web-based collaboration apps for small businesses. At Rockmont, we use Backpack, and it has really helped us become more organized and share information better. He also curates their popular Signal vs. Noise blog, and wrote a book called ReWork.

 

Besides his efforts in design and programming, Jason’s other passion is the way people work (hence the title and subject of the book).

I also enjoy hearing how and where people work, and techniques for being more productive.

  • Do you enjoy working early, late, or the usual 9-5?
  • When do you feel most productive?
  • Do you work better alone or in a group?
  • Do you feel you must be at an office, or do you accomplish more at home or the coffee shop?

In this TED talk, Jason lays out the main problems (he calls them the M&Ms) and offers three suggestions to make work work.  I would enjoy hearing your suggestions and comments!

Filed Under: Business & Design, Creativity & Work, Links Worth Clicking, Videos Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

What Should Kids Learn These Days? My Reading for the Week

I hope everyone had a good weekend, Western North Carolina was blessed with an incredible weekend of blue skies and mild temps! On to this week’s readings…

Creative Commons via Moriza (flickr)

9 Essential Skills Kids Should Learn

I work with kids, and so I’m constantly looking around for good reading on child development and education. For all the “experts” in the field, Leo (of Zen Habits) has identified 9 skills that kids need to be able to draw from throughout their lives. The notion that we educate kids in the same way we did 50 years ago is losing traction, we are training them for the past. We can’t predict the future, and it changes rapidly. So what should be the essence of what they learn? Click to read Leo’s recommendations.

How to Speed Read like Teddy Roosevelt & Scientific Speed Reading (separate articles)

I’m always reading, but can become discouraged with how my list increases by the week. The picture of the 15 books of Christmas? I haven’t finished a single one. I used to be very snobby about speed reading, thinking I wouldn’t get anything out of the book if I sped through. I going to try and change that. Many of the books I have I don’t necessarily need to read analytically, especially some of the business books. Now there is information that is helpful in them, but there they are, resting on my shelf. I’m going to give it a shot. Do any of you speed read? What are your thoughts?

A Coaching Philosophy

Vern Gambetta is one of my favorite sport trainers and coaches working today. He really knows how to breakdown a movement in to small steps that can be improved upon, gradually improving the athlete as a whole. Also, despite being a “guru” and speaking at events around the world, he also takes time to be the strength coach for a girl’s volleyball team in Venice, FL (they’re pretty good). His posts on working with athletes and coaching styles are very thought-provoking, which you can see after the jump.

Seth Godin’s 1st Reading List of 2012

It’s Seth, ’nuff said

Speed Freak

Swiss climber Ueli Steck has ascended some of the classic alpine routes in the world in record time. It’s a fascinating read on his training, drive, and trappings of new fame he has found himself in.

Using Great Storytelling to Grow Your Business

A short read that covers 2 ways to craft your story in to a memorable one. Techniques used: LOTS and the Story Spine.

Visual Panoramic of the Sistine Chapel

Indescribably beautiful

Thanks for checking in this morning, I have a post in the hopper that will be up tomorrow. In the meantime, I would love to hear what you’ve been reading, and how it’s inspired you!

Filed Under: Business & Design, Creativity & Work, Links Worth Clicking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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