I love this time of year. It remind me just how fortunate I am. While many people across the country will be looking forward to spending some extra time with their families over Christmas, I get to spend as much time with my family as I want every day of the year.
That was always one of the big motivations for me as an online publisher: I wanted to be free to decide when to work and when to spend time with my family. I never wanted to be in a position in which I couldn’t turn up for my kid’s piano recital or ball game just because the boss needed me in the office.
That doesn’t mean I spend all day ironing children’s clothes and making packed lunches. But it does mean that I get to set my own schedule.
Each Christmas, I get to feel grateful that my work allows me the freedom I want to plan my time. Forget the fat checks from Google. Money is rewarding, but life is about people. And quality time with the family is the most important goal I achieve every year.
As we come to the end of another year, this is a good time to assess what you want out of your AdSense site.
Sure, you want to make lots of money. Everyone wants to make lots of money and if you put in the effort and follow the strategies that I’ve found effective with AdSense units then there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t make a lot of money.
But just as there’s no limit to the amount of income you can generate through AdSense, there’s also no limit to the amount of time you can invest in your sites. I’m certain that if you worked 20 hours a day on your sites and did all the right things, you could become Google’s top-earning publisher.
It wouldn’t be worth it.
I’m not saying that making a good income isn’t a legitimate goal. There’s nothing wrong with a goal like that. I’m just saying that before the new year begins it’s worth thinking about what else you want to get out of being an independent online publisher.
And that you plan your schedule so that this time next year, you’ll be able to say that you achieved everything you wanted.
So how about you? What are your goals for 2007?
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
December 19, 2006 08:24 AM
Dear Mr.Comm
As a member of the "fossil aged" group, I tend to be conservative in my approach to new ventures. Although I haven't purchased any of your publications, I am impressed by your tenacity and email follow up news. It is inevitable that I will join your suggested programs. We are all bombarded daily by infomercials, "be a millonaire in 2 days using your computer"," make thousdands daily on Ebay", "make money as easy as 1-2-3!" and a host of other tempting, scam type offers. I like your approach. I like your approach because apparently you have the experience, knowledge and you shoot straight. I am one of the multitude that barely understands "downloading" from "uploading". I am a computer "dork".
It's a very big step for many of us to dedicate time and money on a dream, solely dependent on stranger. Yes, it is important to keep perspective on the things that are important and this is important to me. Have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, I'll be ordering after the holidays.
Thank you,
Philip N COle
December 19, 2006 12:02 PM
Hi Joel,
Thank you for the gifts, but they don't mean much to me. What do I do or how can I finsh the jigsaw puzzle. Never uploaded or ftp'd. This is just images and text to most new internet marketers.
Anyway....Have a GREAT Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Jim Adam
December 19, 2006 04:58 PM
Hi Joel,
Thanks so much for the gifts and for being so generous. I'm sure that in the right hands they are worth a fortune. Just wish I knew how to put them to work for me.
God bless you and your loved ones this season - and thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us so freely.
Lionel Fitness
December 20, 2006 12:16 AM
We are thousands in debt, and I hate my job. For 2007, my goals are to make lots of money online and quit my job and work at home. I have a website that doesn't get anywhere. Plus I have not finished signing up for another. It's very hard trying to find opportunities that pay a lot to replace my job. It's been vry depressing.
Thanks!
December 21, 2006 04:27 AM
My real goals have nothing to do with earning a fortune or even 'a decent amount of money' whatever that is. My deepest most fundamental goal is to get more pleasure from my life and that revolves, more than anything these days, with spending the time I and my kids want to spend together.
I am a retired 57 year old and am, just now, starting to love my life after over 25 years of 'working for the MAN'.
Life is great and can only get better!
Thanks for all your support in the past and hoping for more in the future.
Regards, Lance.
December 25, 2006 10:32 PM
For 2007:
I want to learn how to set up my blogs using Adsense.
I want to learn how to setup websites for adsense and how to get them online and hosted.
I would like to learn how to do a website.
Scott