I'm glad I broke it. I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't broken it.
No, I'm not talking about a vase I won in a church raffle. And I certainly don't mean the world 100 meter sprint record.
I didn't break a nail, though I could probably use a good manicure. And I didn't break a vow of silence. I'd have to be silent for more than ten minutes for that to take place.
But I broke it just the same.
I'm talking about my routine.
In general, routine is a good thing. When you're building an online publishing business, you want to get in the habit of posting every day, writing and answering emails, doing research, and checking your ad stats and traffic flows. All of that should be a regular thing, like your morning coffee or an evening in front of the TV.
Treat your website as something you only visit when you feel like it though and you shouldn't be surprised when you find your users treat it the same way. Treat it as a job that you have to turn up to every day -- or risk losing -- and you should find that it keeps growing.
But it doesn't take much for a routine to turn into a rut, and that's where you have to watch out.
I could very easily have stayed where I was when my sites started making money. They were bringing in good income and I was very happy with the way things were going. But I wanted to know what else online publishing could do for me, so I left time in my day to experiment with other advertising systems, to build new sites, and look for joint ventures. And to write a book, of course.
You should do the same thing.
If all you want to do is write a blog, and earn a few bucks for it, that's fine. But if you want to make a lot of bucks with a network of sites and a rock-solid online publishing business, you will need to leave room in your day for expansion. Even if it means breaking your routine.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
January 31, 2008 07:09 AM
Hi,
Thats something i wouldnt mind a break from, the normal day job for a start.
And the work i am trying to do on the net. seems like i have 2 jobs.
steve
January 31, 2008 07:17 AM
Thanks for the good advice, Joel. I've gotten to the point where I not only need to break my current routine, but also form a new one which would include more blogging and promoting my website more and maybe add a new domain to my network, but since it'll start out primarily as a blog, I should probably get in the habbit of blogging every day (or at least put blogging on a set schedual so I can stream regular visitors who keep coming.
January 31, 2008 07:26 AM
Thanks Joel, My problem is that I don't have a routine to break! I have a website, 14 blogs and an article site. I race around randomly from one to the other, posting, checking stats and Adsense, and posting to Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc. It's making me crazy and I'm not making that much money! Help!!! Alice
January 31, 2008 07:53 AM
My whole life is a break. I have to ditto. Alice...
Hey Alice let's start a support group for random website, blogger, article site owners who don't have a routine to break.
January 31, 2008 08:08 AM
Hi Joel!
I love the way you send just a snippet email to hook your reader.
I am starting a new routine today. Next time you see me, you won't recognize me. My online profits might dip with my morning focus going to the local fitness center.
Both of the fitness books I just edited and designed told me to tell the world of my goal. What better place than to announce it on the best blog?
Join me at Havasupai Falls.
Joy,
Jeanette
January 31, 2008 08:55 AM
Hi Joel,
thanks for the advise. Many of us including myself do tend to become compalcecent as long as a bit of money rolls in . I am making a few quid on my adsense at the moment, but unfortunately I have not been more innovative or experimental as I should have been. Its an area that I need to implement in order to see a greater stream of revenue.
Thanks once again Joel.
( I aim to be richer than you one day or should I say very soon):-)
January 31, 2008 11:12 AM
Getting into a routine is critical, but not easy. For those of you suffering from NRS (NoRoutineSyndrome)... have you bought The Secret Classroom? Simpleology with Mark Joyner - Session 1 is your answer!
Cheers!
Karen
January 31, 2008 02:16 PM
The only thing routine about my life is that I dread getting up in the mornings to go to my 8 to 5 job.
Well, with your help and advice (bought the book, got the DVD) I hope to break out of that 'routine' this year.
January 31, 2008 07:42 PM
Thats true, you have to keep striving for more. A good, productive routine is great but schedule in learning new skills too.
February 1, 2008 01:33 AM
Hey Joel
Good advice... It is very important to maintain that regular blogging, article writing etc. just like a brick and mortar business needs to be constantly marketing. No marketing and sales reduce!
Brick and mortar businesses also try new product lines to test for better profitability and throw out the non profitable lines... just like we should be doing online.
Cheers
Ian McConnell
February 2, 2008 10:45 AM
Thanks Joel, Great advice as always.
www.prosperitybeyondreason.com
February 23, 2008 03:14 AM
Yeah! that's the truth! Luck can only favor your good articles when you are born lucky. Otherwise, without proper distribution your write-ups never see the light of the day. And distribution is real hard work -