Hello, Yakezie! Jeffrey here. I’m happy to be writing this post after receiving the exciting news that I and my blog, Money Spruce, have been welcomed as a member of this awesome network! It’s been a lot of fun getting to know everyone!
How Did I Get Here?
Not to insult anyone or his/her blog, but I really started Money Spruce because I was bored and wanted an exciting, new project. After going to college for six straight years and finishing off a thesis with almost constant work, I found myself at a 9-5 job with nights and weekends entirely to myself. A week or two into tossing on a Netflix movie every night, I decided I needed to get back to working on something that excited me. And along came Money Spruce.
Money Spruce Is Like My Life
The easiest way to tell you a bit about myself is to say is that Money Spruce isn’t just about my life, it’s structured like my life.
Personal/Honest: While some blog anonymously out of necessity, I love the fact that I can share my identity with my readers. I would reveal more about my financial life, but I typically don’t out of concern for friends, family, and coworkers. I will admit that my writing makes me feel a bit egotistical since I don’t talk about myself nearly as much in real world versus on Money Spruce. But I often feel I have the most to share and help others when I speak from experience.
Changing Focus: Money Spruce doesn’t have a laser-focused theme like other blogs out there, and if I had to do it again, I’d probably change that. But I’ve definitely enjoyed sharing my life story a bit, and I hope others have enjoyed reading it.
Although I’m proud of my mathy engineering background, I don’t have any certified expertise in finance or business. Much like JD at Get Rich Slowly, I don’t claim to be an expert nor do I think you need to be one to help others. As far as careers go, I’ve been a bit of journeyman so far. My future is extremely uncertain, but I enjoy that more so than I’m worried about it.
Challenging the Status Quo: I rarely accept things at face value without at least wondering why they are the way they are. Why do we own so many cars in America? Why are so many people willing to commute an hour every day to a job they can’t stand? Is there a way I can change that in my life? These are things I’ve yet to come to understand, and I have a hard time figuring out why others don’t think the same as I do. I try to let that show through in Money Spruce, even though the suburbanites with kids I’m sure of sick of hearing about my life without a car. But stirring up a little controversy always leads to some great discussions.
The Future: Quitting My Job
My big theme for 2012: I’m leaving my job. While a lot of this is due to a city change and not that I despise my job or think that my entrepreneurial prospects are huge at the moment, working for myself is something that I know I need to experience at some point in my lifetime. I’m a little nervous, but I don’t feel I have a lot to lose. There’s no doubt this is the right time in my life to make this leap. I have no kids, no wife, I own few things, I have no debt.
Just how am I going to earn a living? Blogging is actually not my self-employed business plan, and I don’t consider myself a true blogger at heart. While I hope to enjoy increased blog income, I plan to derive the majority of my income as a freelance SEO consultant and writer while I develop more awesome web-based projects. I’d be lying (see above: I don’t do that) if I said I have it all figured out. But I think that’s part of the fun of the whole experience. There’s no shame in giving it your all and failing.
I hope you’ll join me in my journey, and perhaps cheer me on along the way!
I’m cheering you along the way Jeffrey. Chalk one up for the entrepreneurs… one less soldier marching in the corporate grind. I love what you’re doing and will be eagerly watching your progress.
I also love that your blog isn’t “laser-focused,” on a specific topic or issue. Mine is the same, as I find it much more fun and interesting to jump around from topic to topic.
Good luck in 2012!
Thanks for your support, Matt!
Good to get to know you more, Jeff. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and the interesting and different perspectives you have. Best of luck on ditching the J.O.B. later this year!
Thanks, JT! Likewise with your blog as well!
I’m new to the challenge and still getting to know everybody. Glad I took the time to read through your post! I’ve bookmarked your site and look forward to cheering you along in your journey.
I’m a big believer in people following their passions and I’m with you 100% on challenging the status quo. I look forward to reading more of your work!
Good luck with self-employment! Great opportunities ahead!
Thanks, Jason! Glad you’re on board as well!
Congrats Jeff on becoming a Yakezie member. Hope quitting your day job plan goes smoothly :)
I hope so, too, Tushar! Thanks!
That’s a huge step in leaving your job. I look forward to seeing more about it. Welcome aboard!
I’m hoping to have some insights on it very soon, and I hope I can help others make the same leap. Thanks!
Jeff, best of luck to you in 2012!
I’m excited to see what sort of things you come up with – especially when it comes to “more awesome web-based projects”, haha. Anything I can do to help, you know where to find me…
Thanks for the support, PK! If I have any stats or analysis questions, you’d certainly be first on my list.
GOOD LUCK! It’s inspiring to see folks striking out on their own.
I started blogging because I became a stay at home dad and therapy was too expensive. Good luck…
Congrats! I can’t wait to see how self-employment treats you. Good luck with your SEO services.
Thank you, Corey!
Congrats, Jeffrey! As you know, I’m a big fan of Money Spruce and enjoy the fact that your blog isn’t “structured.” I’m always curious what’s going to be waiting for me when your page loads….and it always seems to be something thoughtful and thought provoking.
I’m glad that you enjoy that aspect of it! I hope that I at least keep it entertaining!
Awesome to meet another jeffrey! As for your challenging the status quo about where to live/work, I totally know what you mean there. That was something I figured out and thought about a lot in college after watching my dad spend 1 hour or so commuting to and from work (1 way) and wondered why he did that. For a while, I was doing it too and I get it a bit – you’ve got bills to pay, you need to eat, you need a job, etc. I was finally able to change that and now I walk to work, and when I tell people that they look at me like i’ve got 3 heads. I work in an area surrounded by nice, turn of the 1900’s built houses (with associated problems), so I understand why people may not want to live in them, but still cant completely grasp why they are unwilling to even look. It’s all about what people want out of life
They may not want to spend a ton of time driving and money on gas, but they want that less than they want 10 acres and a house to call their own space.
Happy to hear that you’ve managed that, Jeff! I get that a lot, too, when I tell people I bike to work every day!
Congrats on becoming a member! It’s easy to let your nights and weekends go to waste. I find blogging keeps me plenty busy, too, and focused.
Definitely! I might be a little too obsessive about it now, but I still think that’s better than wasting so much time.
Congrats Jeff, welcome to Yakezie! All the best on leaving job and going full time.
Thank you, SB!
I will cheer you along the way! Congratulations on becoming a member. Working for yourself is a very exciting prospect. I wish you all the best with it.
Thanks, Aloysa! I’m excited for both!
Congratulations! I love the honesty and I cheer you on! Looking forward to your updates for 2012 :)
Congrats, Jeff, on being able to leave your job (and on the membership)! And you know if you need an SEO reference, I’d be more than happy to provide one :)
Thanks, Jana! I appreciate that!
Congratulation! Another engineers on Yakezie. :)
Keep us updated on your job status.
Sure thing, Joe. Thanks!
Welcome Jeffery! Good luck with going full time with online income! I’m sure you will do fine.
Thanks, LaTisha!
Welcome to the network! I love your story and wish you the best of luck going solo!
Thank you, Robert! Happy to be a part of Yakezie!
Jeff – great to learn more about you. Congrats on joining the network. I’m assuming you’re just as excited as I am (to join). I’ll be watching closely as you venture out on your own. I think that’s a dream most of us have. Very few though take that leap.
Congratulations Jeff, welcome to Yakezie. Looking forward to following your travels in the next year or two. Beer snob.
Hah thanks, Hunter! I’m glad to have shared this journey with you for over a year now!
Great story. Thanks for sharing Jeff. Best wishes on your future endeavors! Now sounds like a great time in your life to take the leap. :)
Congrats on the becoming a member! I’m cheering for you along the way!
Congrats on becoming a member! Best of luck with your upcoming adventures, sounds really exciting!
Congratulations on membership and I’ll be following your self employment story (and offering support where and when needed). Good luck!
There’s no need to figure it all out before striking out on your own. Even if you did think you had it all figured out life would be sure to throw you some curve balls. I’m glad to see you following your heart and wish you all the luck in the world to be a successful entrepreneur.
Congratulations Jeff! You were one of the first people to welcome me to the network and I’ll be forever grateful. Like you, I’m able to be more outgoing and open on my blog than in real life. I think 2012 is going to be a good year for you.
Thanks, John! It’s been fun to read your writing, too.
Congratulations Jeff. Blogging is different for everybody and I think it evolves over time.
Great job Jeff! Best of luck being your own boss. You’ll figure it all out along the way. That’s half the fun anyway :)
Congrats! I like your boldness to call your own shots. Good luck.
Congratrats Jeff! Big stuff ahead of you, but you seem to have the passion and drive to be a success! Best of luck..love your blog!
Congratulations Jeff! 2012 sounds like a big year for you. All the best with your new career!
Thanks, everyone, for the comments and kind words! I hope to share more good news (and not too much bad) with all of you in the coming months!
Welcome Jeff! Hope you will thrive in your SEO self-employment dreams! I spoke to Sean Ogle earlier in the week, and maybe we can do some collaboration!
Hey Jeff,
I’d love to see where you go in the next few months. I loved the intro, and wish you the best in your adventures.
I’m excited to see where you go in 2012. Your blog keeps the readers entertained and your SEO work has definite potential!
Hey Jeffrey!
Congratulations, and welcome. Very exciting (and somewhat scary) you will be going alone sometime this year. I am excited to hear and follow your progress, and I think you will learn so much from the experience. Good luck to you!
“There’s no shame in giving your all and failing.” Love it! I admire your sense of adventure and positive attitude. Congrats, Welcome, and Good Luck, but you won’t need it because you will succeed!
Congrats Jeffrey. It’s great that you decided to just get up and blog! Different perspectives and reasons for doing so always make it more interesting than simply reading the same retread stuff over and over. Looking forward to following the posts as you travel the path toward self-employment
Welcome and good luck with self employment!