Blog Reboot

11/28/2011

Confession time. I haven't been excited to write a post here for a long time. One night last week as I was trying to fall asleep I was pondering why that was, I realized that I have completely gone astray from why I started this blog in the first place.

Somewhere along the way I became consumed with traffic hits, comment volume, and alexa ranking the way many people in debt are obsessed with their credit score.

To keep that Alexa ranking moving in the right direction, I needed to post several times a week. So, I started writing more frequently. When I had trouble coming up with subject matter for multiple posts each week, I started posting about my weight loss journey just to kick out an extra article. The Quest To Make the Wii Fit Stop Calling Me Fat was never supposed to wander outside it's own page on the site.

I found myself always rushing to get the next post ready. Continuously being disappointed when I could never seem to find enough time to create as many posts as I thought I needed to. I wasn't looking forward to writing anymore. Sometimes a finished post would be something I was proud of, much of the time it was not.

Our Journey To Zero was never supposed to be about spending a significant amount of time writing. It was supposed to be a supplement to my posts in the CareOne Community. It was supposed to be my own little corner of the universe where I could have complete freedom to experiment with my writing when I had something additional I wanted to say.

I always said that when writing stopped being fun, I would quit. It hasn't been very fun lately. I even told some people that this post would announce that I would be shutting this site down.

I'm not going to, but I am making significant changes:

I'm withdrawing from the Yakezie Challenge. I have the utmost respect for the Yakezie network. It just isn't inline with my goals for this blog at this time.
I will post here only when I have something additional to say outside my weekly posts in the CareOne Community, and my bi-monthly posts on Enemy Of Debt. I may not post often, but when I do, it will be something I'm proud of.
I will continue to document my weekly weight progress, on the “Quest to Make the Wii Fit Call Me Fat” page. However, the actual text of my fitness journey will be posted with other weight loss stories on Brad Chaffee's Enemy of Fat site.

I don't regret my path with this blog, as it has helped me shape my voice within the blogosphere. This blog isn't about alexa rankings or trying to get the attention of advertisers. It's about the sharing of experiences, and hopefully helping someone else in the smallest way cope with their own struggle with debt.

Having relieved myself of the unnecessary pressure of making this blog something I never intended it to be, I am again excited about writing, and sharing my story with you. So don't unsubscribe, don't stop visiting Our Journey To Zero.

I'll see you real soon.

Comments

Cait link

11/28/2011 08:11

What an honest post...

I have never considered joining the Yakezie Challenge nor would I post for ratings. The best part about the personal finance community is when posts are... ahem... personal! Like this one.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Don't disappear!

Travis link

11/28/2011 09:18

Thanks for your support Cait, I promise I'm not going anywhere. :)

Unrelated to your comment, I do want to emphasize that my point here is that what I was doing just wasn't right for me, my goals, and the time I have to commit to this blog.

I am in no way, shape, or form trying to put to a negative light what anyone else is doing with their blog. Everyone has different goals for what they are trying to accomplish.

Suzanne link

11/28/2011 11:54

Travis,
We at CareOne are so proud of all of your accomplishments and greatful to have you as part of our writing team! You are an amazing writer and it comes through in your posts...stay true to yourself!
Suzanne

Fay link

11/28/2011 12:01

More power to you! You're more than a statistic. Good luck on your blogging journey!

Jenny @ Ex-Consumer link

11/28/2011 12:03

It sounds like we have been thinking along the same lines. :)

I cut back my posts from two-three per week to one. It's so much more manageable for me. Like you, I was starting to dread having to churn out the next post, so I decided to take it down a notch.

Now I'm spending more time cooking, baking, reading and just hanging out with my family. It's been a welcome realignment for me.

I'm glad you're seeking a better balance too!

Travis link

11/28/2011 12:13

Suzanne, you and the team at CareOne have continuously given me the best support that a writer could ever ask for.

I am entering 2012 with a clear vision and voice of what I want to accomplish, and how I want to accomplish it.

In fact, I'm looking forward to sitting down tonight and starting on my next post.

I haven't felt that excitement in a long time. I'm glad to have that feeling back.

Sam link

11/28/2011 12:20

I'm really glad you were honest about yourself and why you blog! That's the most important thing. The Alexa ranking, traffic, earnings is just. SIDE effect that's not the focus.

Look at the post on life lessons on FS and controlling spending on Yakezie.com today. They aren't written to make money or sell anything. They are personal stories from my life. The large majority of my posts are like this.

Once you write for the love of writing, everything else comes and the Yakezie Challenge becomes a walk in the park.

Best,

Sam

Travis link

11/28/2011 12:21

Thanks, Fay, much appreciated! I think you just came up with my new motto:

I'm more than just an Alexa Ranking.

Maybe I'll make t-shirts. :)

Travis link

11/28/2011 12:22

I had noticed that about your blog, Jenny, and meant to ask you about it. Now I really wish I had - it may have helped me arrive at my conclusion sooner!

Travis link

11/28/2011 12:28

I agree with you 100%, Sam. I think the problem is that I may have jumped into the Yakezie challenge too quickly. I think I needed to find my voice, and really mature more as a writer and website owner before jumping into committing to what is necessary to complete the challenge.

You are right, the ranking, and the income and the benefits that come with being a more committed blogger, and part of the Yakezie network are indeed side effects, or products of that effort.

Bloggers who enter the challenge with that being the focus (which I did), without full knowledge of the level of effort needed (which I did not have), will likely fail.

Someday, when I'm ready, I may indeed re-enter the challenge.

Mike @ ourdebtstory.com link

11/28/2011 22:16

I know all about the doldrums that sometimes come with trying to blog. I finally came to the realization that I'm blogging for ME and not for anyone else, and if I'm not in the mood to write, I don't write.

With my personal blog there were times I tried to do the NaBloPoMo "blog every day in November" challenge and I think I completed it once. I don't even bother any more.

Blogging is a great tool to get stuff off of your chest, and I find that as long as I keep it in that perspective, all is well. Love reading your posts--even the ones about weight loss (you're doing a much better job than I am in that regard for sure!).

Take care.

Mike

Jessica, The Debt Princess link

11/28/2011 22:28

Bravo!

I've started and quit the challenge three times. Recently I've started wondering what's the point? If the only people who care about it are other PF bloggers, what's the point?

I'm trying to get my message out to others who AREN'T PF Bloggers.

I can't force myself to write on my blog. I just don't work that way. I write when something comes to my mind and I think my blog is better that way.

Good for you!!

Kevin @ Thousandaire.com link

11/28/2011 23:04

I completely agree with you.

Sometimes I feel like I don't want to write a post. Half the time I just write one anyway. But I'm getting better, because the other half I'll actually just not write something.

In fact, I'm taking a full week of a blogging vacation next week and will just be reposting old posts. Sometimes, you just need a break.

Travis link

11/29/2011 04:39

That's a great perspective, Mike, and one that I now share with you. I'm glad you enjoy my posts, and hope you'll keep reading!

Travis link

11/29/2011 04:45

I totally understand why you would feel that way about the challenge, Jessica. I think the point is if you expand your network of PF bloggers, you can tap into the readers of the others (that would extend outside the PF blogging community).

On the other hand, to do so requires quite a commitment to support others as they support you - not to mention to post consistently.

If that is inline with a person's goals, then as Sam said, the challenge is a walk in the park. I was actually almost there...my Alexa ranking had dropped as low as 216k. But I just didn't have it in me to sustain it right now.

Like you said, I don't want to force myself to write, I just want to do it when the mood hits me. One day maybe that will be often enough to rejoin the challenge and fly through it.

Travis link

11/29/2011 04:46

Good for you, Kevin - everyone deserves a break. Keep on doing what you're doing - love those videos. :)

Scoblentz link

11/29/2011 08:29

Travis,

I could not be happier to hear that you are going to continue to publish your personal blog. One thing that stuck out in my mind was your CareOne post about how you gained a hobby through chronicling your debt experience. I feel that you truly enjoy writing and that you are a terrific story teller. It would be a complete waste of that talent to dispense with the blog based on the pressures you mention. I am excited to continue to follow along your journey to zero!
Suz

Travis link

11/29/2011 10:37

Thanks, Suzanne, glad to have you along for the ride. I'm excited to share that journey - at my own pace and leisure. :)

Andi link

11/29/2011 22:00

Hey Travis,

I'm glad you're going to keep writing. Numbers and challenges aside, this is a real community of real people who are all looking to better their situations. I love having a network of support and endless resources to turn to. Thanks for deciding to continue writing. I look forward to your posts however often they may be. :)

-Andi

Travis link

11/30/2011 14:27

The sense of community you mention is the awesome thing about blogging, Andi. There are so many people that are going through similar life experiences, and we all help and support one another.

I appreciate your support, and am glad that you'll stick around and see what I come up with next.

Hunter link

12/05/2011 15:59

Kudos for the affirmative changes. I sometimes feel like I need 5 blogs so I can write about what I want to on any given day rather than keeping it to one specific niche, like PF.

Travis link

12/05/2011 22:50

Appreciate the support, Hunter! You've got a busy brain, my friend - keep up the good work at financially consumed!

Andrea link

12/08/2011 10:30

Totally understandable and happy you've taken a step back to look at WHY you're here. Look forward to seeing you around :) keep on keeping on!

Maggie@SquarePenniess link

12/08/2011 18:29

Travis! I'm so glad you are being true to yourself. It's your real voice coming through that makes your posts so special. I'll be reading whatever you post. Enjoy this time of rebalancing and refocusing. It's important!

Maggie

Travis link

12/19/2011 06:56

It makes make happy that everyone seems to understand my state of mind and are being so supportive, Andrea. I will indeed keep on keeping on! :)

Travis link

12/19/2011 06:59

I really appreciate your kind words, Maggie! Although I am definitely still around, blogging for CareOne as well as Enemy of Debt and reading all my favorite blogs (including yours!), I am enjoying my break from consistent posts here. I feel like at times I was trying to "force it," and it was giving me some stress that I just didn't need. Looking forward to putting a bit more effort here after the new years!

Maggie@SquarePennies link

01/01/2012 00:55

Let's make 2012 the year of much less stress! I have a feeling you will get everything in a balance that works well for you. All the best! Maggie

Paula @ Afford Anything link

12/22/2011 02:58

I understand how you feel. I get tired of writing, especially since its my main source of income.

I'm glad you're taking the steps that you need in order to make writing fun again -- invigorating rather than a goal to fulfill so that your Alexa rank can diminish by another thousand points.

When it starts becoming too much about the metrics, its easy to lose heart. I feel it, and based on the comments I'm reading, so do many others.

Blog Reboot

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