100 Blog Posts Later – Some Internal Thoughts Put To Paper
Well my 100th blog post, it’s finally here. I can remember almost a year and a half ago when I was writing my first couple posts thinking how awesome it would be to have my own website and I was right. I want to use my 100th post for something that isn’t about trying to rank at the top of search engines but rather get thoughts I’ve been having out of my head.
I’ll often get asked: Are you a blogger? Why do you do it?
I don’t really know if I’m truly a “blogger” even a year and a half into this and I don’t think I ever will. I never have really enjoyed writing or reading for that matter. What drives all this is seeing people make better financial decisions and knowing that they made a positive change because of something I wrote.
It’s addicting, to say the least. It’s personally rewarding for me to help people navigate their finances. So seriously, send me your questions and comments. It’s always easier together.
Just Get Started
When I started this whole experiment I told myself I was going to do this for at least 3 years. I internally asked myself “Can you do that? If not, then forget it”. I debated this for a couple of weeks then obviously chose to take the leap.
“What could it hurt?” kept popping into my head and I’m glad it did. I made the right decision and I’m pumped for what the next year and a half holds.
My first blog post was trash. Honestly, trash is a compliment because it was a flaming pile of crap and I’m not ashamed to say that. It was 306 words that I thought would instantly rank on Google. Boy was I wrong. In fact, of my first 25 posts, none of them have ever ranked and they never will.
The point is that everything will improve over time. The saying practice makes perfect is somewhat true here. I’ll never be perfect, and I don’t aim to be, I just want to be a little bit better every single day.
Because of Young, Dumb, and NOT Broke, I’m a better writer, reader, communicator, organizer, planner, content creator, and the list goes on and on.
None of this would have been possible without starting a “stupid blog” (that’s what I was told when I started).
What I Think The Future Holds
Will I stop creating content in a year and a half? Probably not. Actually, no there’s no way. For me, this is a long-term project that I think is going to have a positive impact throughout my life and benefit others as well.
Today I read this quote (super fitting that I read it today):
“Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity.” – Seneca
If you listened to my interview on the Wichita Life Podcast then you will know I’m not a huge believer in luck. Yes, I’m lucky in terms of where I was born, who my parents are and how they raised me, but other than that, I think luck has little to do with it.
I’m not a better writer because I was lucky. I’m a better writer because I’ve wrote 99 posts and over 175,000 words.
I don’t have a better on-camera presence because I was born with it. No, my first 10 videos were embarrassing but that’s the point.
I truly believe no matter what you are trying to do in life, if you prepare in the right way then “luck” will find you.
I think this luck will find me in the future with a profitable website that helps thousands of people a month because I’m going to keep preparing like I have and controlling what I can. Everything else doesn’t deserve my attention.
How Can You Support?
This is usually the part where someone would sell you a product. Well, I don’t have a product to sell and I don’t think I would want to anyway. The easiest way to support is sign up for my email list or subscribe to the YouTube channel (this is a huge focus for 2020).
Luckily, both of these options take under 2 minutes and you won’t even notice you did it. If you are willing to bear with me for 3-4 emails a month, then click the image below and take my Money Personality Quiz. Yes, this captures your email but it also allows you to do some internal reflection on how you think about money. Which I think is extremely important (obviously).
If you would like to support by subscribing to the YD&NB YouTube channel, then click here.
Where Do We Go From Here?
You probably already know the answer here but I’m going to put my head down and keep working. One of my favorite phrases is “there’s nothing to it but to do it” and that’s how we’re going to keep on.
I should have mentioned this earlier but the one thing I’m most thankful for over this last year and a half is having zero expectations.
I have and will continue to have no expectations for any of this. Of course I have goals, but no expectations has given me the freedom to explore.
Fortunately, or unfortunately (depends on how you look at it) this mentality has bled over into other areas of my life. I don’t have any expectations for a lot of things and it has led to everything having an unlimited upside. Weird to think about and harder to explain but it has led to me being happier.
Any page view, email, or text from a friend asking question brings a smile to my face. I never expected huge growth or rolling in thousands a month and I’m glad I did that. It has allowed me to enjoy the little things.
With that, I’m going to put my head down and get to work. If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you for putting up with some terrible content. If you’re new then welcome! I’m glad to have you be a part of YD&NB.
Here’s to the next 100 blog posts!
– Shelby