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If you’d told me 5 years ago that my life would be this different (from how it was then), I would have laughed at you.
My whole life is almost 100% different than it was. (Babies aside. I mean, that alone is a pretty crazy change that DID happen in the same time frame, but it’s not the only way my life looks different.)
It’s crazy to think that blogging – a “hobby” you can start for less than $4 month – could translate into this sort of awesome.
I never – ever – would have guessed that blogging could be the thing that gave me a new lease on life.
You see all these people online claiming to be making money blogging, or saying that anyone can blog – and honestly – it sounds a liiiiiiitle bit like a scam. Or at the very least, it sounds too good to be true.
5 years ago I had a good life. I really did. We weren’t broke, I wasn’t going through a major down, I liked my job. I didn’t google “how to start a blog and make money from home” in a desperate attempt to pull myself from the pit of despair or get myself out of 45k in debt.
I wasn’t looking for a drastic + crazy life change.
But crazy + drastic is what happened.
Related: How to Start a Blog to Make Money From Home
8 Ways blogging has changed my life.
I LOVE MY JOB, for the first time ever –
The most drastic change of all, I think, isn’t even the money I’m earning.
Most drastically, I am spending my working hours doing something that I genuinely enjoy.
Anyone who has ever watched the minute hand inch along at a snails pace, or clamped their mouth shut to keep regrettable words from leaping out at (stupid) customers or employers, or dragged themselves into the office with a smile on their face – even though it was the last place on earth they wanted to be – will understand why this is the most note-able difference.
My work hours FLY by now.
Actually, I never have enough work hours.
There is always MORE work that I WANT to do.
It’s the weirdest thing. It (almost) never feels like work.
Not only that, but:
I AM THE BOSS OF MY OWN TIME –
Because I want to work, there is no real danger of me “putting off” what needs to be done.
So there is no real danger in allowing myself to take the day – THE WHOLE DAY – to do whatever I want. (Very often, what I want to do is finish other things quickly so I can get back to work. HA.)
But if I want to go grocery shopping on Tuesday so that I can skip the crazy Costco lines and keep Saturday free to spend with my family, then I do that.
If my husband gets Monday off and we want to get away for the weekend, there is no one to beg permission from. My time is my own.
Once we find my husband some job-freedom, there will be nothing to stop us hopping on a plane to anywhere, any time.
I AM NEVER, EVER BORED –
This is ALSO baby related I suppose, but I always have something to do.
I am never bored, and I don’t image I’ll be bored again in this lifetime.
Even just sitting and thinking is fun, because I am always brainstorming about my business.
NO ONE ELSE WILL BE THE CENTRAL INFLUENCE ON MY CHILDREN –
I guess it’s not totally fair to say that blogging changed this, because technically, no one else ever HAS ever been the central influence on my children (they were born after I started blogging).
But having the blog certainly has solidified the fact that I don’t have to put up with daycare or compromise in any way when it comes to childcare.
This was my main goal – my big why.
And it is amazing.
I HAVE NEW CONFIDENCE –
This was probably the most surprising way blogging changed my life. I have always (or at least through most of adult-hood) been a more or less confidant person.
I know I have worth.
No college education though, no real “career” or “direction” sometimes left me feeling a little bit like…. a waitress. (Not that there is anything wrong with being a waitress. Just that after 10 years in the “industry”, making minimum wage and cleaning ketchup out of the carpet I was feeling like there must be a little more out there for me.)
There’s something about tackling a new thing (and succeeding in a big way at it) that has boosted my confidence to a whole new level.
I have valuable things to add to conversations about business and industry. Conversations that, before, went right over my head.
Completely learning blogging from the bottom up was hard – almost as hard as learning a new language. I am very proud of what I have accomplished. (And grateful that God has allowed me to accomplish it!) I can do hard things, and I am smarter than I thought I was.
MY RESUME IS MORE IMPRESSIVE –
My blog might not last forever, I am well aware. Or maybe when my baby goes to school I’ll want to join the workforce again. (Un-bloody likely, and now that I can make a living from home, I do hope to homeschool. But I’m just saying – what if?)
My resume is leaps and bounds more impressive than it was. And not just my typing skills. All my technical skills and my compute-ability (yes I made that up) has improved.
“Grew multiple successful 6 figure businesses from the ground up, by myself” sounds pretty fancy.
In fact, my resume will say something like, “if you don’t want to give me the job, it’s YOUR BIG FAT LOSS.”
I HAVE MADE AMAZING NEW FRIENDS –
If my blog dies tomorrow, the ladies I have grown to love online will still be a huge part of my life. (AND we will have more time to talk.)
These girls and I are building our dreams together.
I have never been lonely as a blogger.
There is a fantastic community of people here just waiting to welcome you with open arms.
I AM EARNING MORE MONEY THAN I HAVE EVER EARNED IN MY LIFE (or hoped to ever earn) –
That pretty much speaks for itself.
I had a great big crazy goal of earning $1000/month. It’s hard to believe that there’ve been days in the past few years where I earned $1000 in one day.
You can read my published income reports here.
If you’re considering blogging, what’s holding you back?
I remember thinking:
- It’ll be so embarrassing if I fail
- It’ll be so embarrassing if someone I know reads it
- People will make fun of me
- I don’t have time to learn to do this stuff
- It’s only a small amount of money, but I hate to waste anything on a pipe dream
- I have nothing to write about
- It’s all been DONE before
- There can’t possibly be room for NEW blogs to make money
- I don’t know where to start
- My list of why-not-to’s went on and on and on…
But then I thought:
What if I just do it and see what happens? What if it could work?
Somewhere in Ireland (I think) there is a guy whose random statement (years ago) to his (at the time) girlfriend changed my whole out look on life:
I was living in Sydney at a yucky hostel and went out for drinks with a couple girls in my dorm room.
We talked about the decisions we had made (individually) to move halfway across the world.
One of the girls shared that she was waiting for her boyfriend to join her in a few weeks. She told us about how she had been so nervous to come that she almost backed out at the last minute, until this guy asked her “But really, what’s the WORST thing that could happen?”
And all she could come up with was that the WORST thing that could happen was that they would break up and she would move home. And that didn’t seem like such a WORST thing in the grand scheme of THINGS. The possible benefits outweighed the possible risks for her.
This might not seem that much of a revelation, but it changed my entire outlook on decision making.
When I was thinking about starting a blog, and I had a mile-long list of reasons not to, and I just focused on two things –
A ) What’s the WORST thing that could possibly happen? (For me that boiled down to a bit of time and money lost.)
and
B) What if WORKS? (And has it ever!) The possible benefits FAR outweighed the possible risks.
Best. Decision. Ever.
If you’re thinking of starting a blog and have no idea where to start – I’ve put together a free mini-course on how to properly start a blog to make money.
(FYI the whole money lost thing doesn’t really have to be a BIG WORST either – for me it was, because I bought an $800 blogging course at the same time. You can easily start blogging without investing that kind of money, although I would eventually take a course of some sort. You can get started for less than $4/ month. Even with your domain name and privacy protection, we are talking about an investment of less than 75$.)
I owe so much to blogging – and if you’re starting your own blog I wish you all the best on your blogging journey!
(Blogging isn’t for you but you’d love to work from home? I know lots of people having AWESOME success doing these jobs.)
I launched my blog January of this year. I’ve quitted numerous of times already. But, like you, we just had our first baby (5 months now) and I would like to raise her as my Mum raised us. Going to stick it out. Give it all for at least a year.
Hey Grace!! YES!! Stick it out! It’s hard with a new baby and limited computer hours. (Believe me, I GET THAT!) But just keep working at it… you’ll get there! (“AT least a year” was what I told myself too 😉 )
Thank you so much for this post – it came about in just the right time in my life – when I started doubting my blogging direction. It was very faith-restoring to read. Thanks again! 🙂
Hey Anna! Blogging is a long and uphill battle sometimes… I’m so glad you enjoyed this post and I want to encourage you to just keep at it! There were 100 times I wanted to quit or felt totally lost – just push through that.
I wish I knew more about blogging and content marketing in the past because I’ve been known to create short pages with a couple of sentences or two paragraphs and expecting to receive tons of traffic from it. I also failed in the past of putting up photos that display happy moments. So my guess is because I didn’t do that, I really didn’t generate that much traffic.
Pro-blogger and your blog inspired me quietly to write longer pages because I noticed “and I am a late boomer at this,” longer pages generate more traffic. Darren Rowse of pro-blogger had in inspiring blog post about how he accidentally stumbled into blogging and another blog post explaining “Evergreen blogging.” Blogging with longer pages of “Evergreen content” I learned as a late boomer gets more traffic and better positions in search engine results pages in addition to creating a viral online presence.
Hi there Carly! It’s Allie from Vigor It Out! I’ve nominated you for The Blogger Recognition Award for your awesome blog and wonderful contributions to the influencer community! Check out this post: http://vigoritout.com/blogger-recognition-award/ for more details about how to receive this award. 🙂 Thanks for being awesome. BTW your Pinterest book has been great I’ve got a lot of work to do and so appreciate your help!
Hey Carly! It’s literally 4:15am, I just read your email and it lead me to this post! This it is EXACTLY what I needed to read. I launched my blog a week ago and already I love it so much! I couldn’t fathom making money yet (and I definitely want to) but this post definitely encouraged me to stick with it! Because I mean, what’s the WORST that could happen? Haha
YES!! WHAT IS THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN!? Best of luck on your blogging journey Kermilla!
Carly,
Thanks for this inspiration! Getting traffic has been the biggest challenge – but articles like this motivate me to KEEP going! Making 1,000 a day?!? Only in my dreams!
Love your stuff.
Nicole
AW thank you Nicole!! (the 1000/day doesn’t happen very often LOL. And It did feel like a crazy dream.)
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Hey Carly, I just recently found your blog and have really been enjoying it so far. I can relate with loving what you do as a blogger. I just started my blog about 3 mths ago so I have tons more to learn! And I’m still feeling very lost especially with a beautiful 6 mth old baby that limits my “work” time 🙂 but whenever I have a chance to sit down and work I’m enjoying every minute of it (even the confusing tech-y stuff!) Lol…thanks for the motivation all through out ur blog, gives me fuel to keep going 🙂
So glad you’re enjoying the blog!! It’s ok to go slow and feel lost… I still feel lost sometimes LOL
I relate so much to this! I’m a waitress trying To pay off my college debt so I can get back in school. I want to feel like I’m doing something important and meaningful and inspiring in life..not just refilling dr. Pepper.
Hi Carly! I’m probably not your usual visitor to this blog, but while up late and weighing starting a blog myself I stumbled upon this post on how blogging changed your life. I’d like to just say thank you, testimony like yours and other bloggers is really helping motivate me. Having been caught in a depression induced funk had drained my motivation. This helped me get it back.
Hi Carly,
I just read 4 of your posts in a row for the first time and each made me smile and grow with confidence. I started my blog the beginning of last summer and was pretty consistent until the holidays hit, I found out I was pregnant and going to have two under two and started a second part-time job (separate from blogging). It was so over-whelming (because then we were also given a two month notice that we had to move out of our rental, which we’re currently in the middle of) and I haven’t had time to get back in to it. The time I need to put in has been daunting on top of my other two jobs which involve me leading things, and making big decisions, not just simple go to work than leave kind of jobs. My doubts have been resurfacing. This post in particular however is an encouragement to really go for it again, after we move that is, and make the time to make my dream come true. I refuse to work three jobs with two under two and still not make a decent living.
Thanks for being you and writing your story!
Marcie, aww no problem – I am glad you found it helpful! Good luck with the blog!
This is a lovely post Carly! I especially liked the “What’s holding you back?” part and the description of your backpacking experience in Sydney… I spent time in Sydney on my big backpacking trip and stayed in several “yucky” hostels in King’s Cross many years ago too!
Most people I know who have blogged consistently (and I’ve met many over the years) have all experienced a seismic change in their lives as a result of blogging. It’s certainly been life-changing for me for many of the reasons you cite.
Thanks for sharing your obvious enthusiasm and experience!
Thanks Paul! I still hardly believe how much difference it’s truly made in my life… not to mention if I ever do get to go back to Sydney – I can afford to stay in a nice place LOL.
I just started blogging and I can already relate to some of your points. It does not bore me, I can spend all day working on a new post and it doesn’t feel like work at all! That is true that blogging is a big confidence booster. It just feels so good to have your own thing. And yes, I learned a lot! About blogging world, about writing, plug-ins, SEO and other technical aspects. I never thought that I would be blogging in English one day since it’s not my native language. So I guess that was holding me back. But I started and it feels good, so I guess I will stick to it! Great post, good to know how blogging affects other bloggers. Thank you!
I got engaged at 19 this past year and people think it’s bonkers. How can an a 19 year old girl be fully capable of becoming a wife when she’s 20-22. CRAZY! But not really. The thing is, I love telling people about my experiences. I loved to type on a computer, even if the paragraph didn’t make sense. I love shocking people with fascinating things about my life and as a 19 year old girl who’s tried the college experience and it not working out, you end up feeling like you failed in society as a person. By not working in high school to focus on your studies, not getting a drivers license at 16 and going to college, dropping out with no working experience… people tend to think that your a bum or don’t have ambitions in life or society tells us that you should. I got hired on to be a secretary for a real estate company this year but winter is slow, Covid doesn’t help with business and you know, I really like being at home. I like baking, art and kids. I love that vibe.
This blog/article really helped me. I was thinking “If I’m going to be married in the next few years, want a big family with as many kids as God is wiling to bless my hubby and me with, want to be with my kids and homeschool them, then I need to support my family somehow, I don’t want my hubby doing all the work. Lets look up ways to work from home so I can start now rather then later!”
Then I was brought here. I don’t know but blogging seems to be the only thing that is sticking out to me other then being an artist. I am super excited to tell my fiancé this revelation today. I think that working from home or even while I’m not busy at work would be a blessing. Not only do I get to make my own schedule but it seems rewarding to be able to speak truths and help people in a way that you might never do in an everyday job. Blogging has come up a lot in my research and I think this is a sign that this is what I need to do. Carly thank you for your words of wisdom I will put them to good use. I hope that in the blogging world I we become supporters for each other in the near future. I will continue to follow you and your wisdom. God bless!