Back on Track
A lot has happened since the last time I posted here, and I’ll discuss it all in depth in this post:
- I left Penn State
- I had back to back best months of my career
- I saw Jerry Seinfeld perform
Strangely, the third item on the list is what got me the most excited.
Leaving School
Anyone who has talked to me over the last two years knows that I really wasn’t happy at school. Whenever I was in class my head was always elsewhere, and I saw learning as an obligation instead of something that was exciting and interesting. I think this was due to a few things: me not really having an interest in my major (Economics), and me not wanting to follow the typical “go to school, get an internship, get a job” approach. Although I only needed to stay for three more semesters to finish my Economics degree, I decided to leave and figure out what I really want to do before considering going back.
I’m not opposed to going back eventually, but right now I want to enjoy myself in the affiliate market and take my business as far as it can go.
Anyways, since I dropped out I’ve gotten a ton of work done and feel reinvigorated. Affiliate marketing is my sole income, so I have a new “back to the wall” mentality that is helping me to achieve more instead of being satisfied with my current income. Plus I get to sleep in every day 
Personal Bests
As I mentioned before, I hit personal bests in August and then again in September. I’m feeling confident about my business right now, because all the work I’ve been doing lately really seems to be paying off in a tangible way. I plan on continuing to pound the casino stuff, while also testing PokerSite.org to really optimize it for conversions and income. I have a huge number in mind for how much I want to make per month in 2010, and I fully expect to reach my goal.
I think the next barrier I’m going to have to overcome is the issue of scalability. I have always been a bit obsessed with making my sites exactly how I want them, which makes outsourcing extremely hard as I’m often going back to change things that other people did. My sites always end up exactly how I want them, but it also limits how many sites I can produce/market per year. I have a few ideas for how I can turn my business into a true “business” where I don’t have to oversee every task, and thus can accomplish much more. That’s for another post though…
Jerry Seinfeld…
was amazing. I always loved the show, and seeing him in person was even better. If you ever get the chance to see him, do it by all means. Also, for everyone HBO, don’t miss the Seinfeld reunion tomorrow on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The season finale of Entourage is right afterwards, it’s the best two hours of TV ever haha.
Now that I have a lot more free time I’ll try to post weekly, but I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Until next time…
Don’t stress out about scalability. One of the top earning poker webmasters I know does almost everything on his sites, and he doesn’t use a CMS. I’ve never used a CMS either, except for the occasional use of WordPress, and I prefer to stick with WordPress for blogs. There’s an enormous amount of value in keeping your operation small and cost-effective. Volume just for the sake of volume is not the way to go. Keep insisting that everything be just the way you want it.
Randy Ray
October 4th, 2009
Hey man I am 100% behind you in your move away from school.
I was doing a similar degree(s) and made the same move 6 months ago – for pretty much the exact same reasons.
Despite what the majority of people will tell you, I think you have made a clever move.
Hazo
October 4th, 2009
Randy, I’ll definitely continue down the small, cost-effective path for as long as I can. Thanks for the advice.
Nick, thanks for the support, I hope everything is going well for you.
admin
October 4th, 2009
Congratulations on leaving school, I know you’ve been thinking about that one for a while. Feels better than expected and you have a lot less second thoughts than you imagined right?
One of the main factors behind me leaving was the fact that Uni/College is not a “now or never” thing. There’s no reason why you can’t go back in 2 or 20 years from now.
Btw, you’re not alone in wanting sites “exactly how you want them”. I won’t have it any other way ha ha. I’m seriously confident that this is a virtue, not a problem or restriction.
Greg
October 5th, 2009
Greg, yeah I really feel amazing, thanks for your advice on the situation a while back.
Lol and yeah I think you may be even more of a perfectionist than me, your sites are always flawless.
admin
October 5th, 2009
Conrats man! I wouldn’t have been back at school this year if I was ballin as hard as you haha
Kevin
October 5th, 2009
You are officially a man of leisure. Congrats. Time to grind.
JohnH
October 8th, 2009
Thanks guys, appreciate it.
admin
October 8th, 2009
I left Cornell, not by my own choosing. Went back, got degree. If you wait 20 years you will never do it. Problem is PSU is a party school; transfer to Cornell in Engr…much more rewarding. What ever you decide tho, good luck
Frank
October 12th, 2009