On Growing the Growing Life
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Clay
Photo by Pete Woodhead
The Growing Life’s biggest milestone didn’t come when I started receiving 50+ new subscribers daily. It didn’t come when yesterday’s article hit Digg’s front page (thanks to John for the sub), or when Leo Babuta accepted my guest post. The biggest milestone wasn’t crossed when Copyblogger hit publish on my stuff, or when I made the Zen Habits TumbleLog (although I was, and still am, very grateful for the link). It didn’t even come when when Alltop added me to their top 15 lifehack websites (that was the second biggest milestone).
No. The biggest milestone occurred after I wrote Quitting Things and Flakiness. It’s a long, rambling article, and I was sure it’d piss people off and die on Stumble Upon. The article did piss a few people off, but it also received more comments than any other post on TGL (StumbleUpon ate it up, by the way). After publishing Quitting Things, my subscriber count increased more than it ever had (at that point) in a single day.
Quitting Things and Flakiness was a milestone because it was the first article written for myself and to myself. It helped me find the beginnings of my voice, and the response to it confirmed that I could write to the beat of my own drummer without losing readership.
Other Milestones
I live in Wisconsin, but I wrote Quitting Things while visiting my parents and grandparents in California. My grandfather’s at the very early stages of Alzheimer’s, and a couple of months ago I decided to drop everything and spend a month with my people. The experience changed my life. It reminded me that my 27-year-old self has been developing long before my birth; it reminded me of just how attached I get to land or a geography; and it demonstrated to me the importance of family and of learning from your elders. (Note: You can learn A LOT from the older generation. In order to do so, however, it helps to remember this: the lessons that elders will teach you are often not the lessons they want to teach you. The important lessons are usually learned by immersion, by just hanging around — they are lessons you have to pick up on your own. It takes time and energy, but it’s well worth it).
Anyway, Quitting Things was written while choosing between an amazing and fully-funded opportunity to live on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast (in this city), and a year in California during a very critical time. California won. I also made some serious decisions about how to proceed with this blog. I’ve decided to engineer a life that’ll permit more time for this terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad, time-sucking vortex of a blog that I love to write for and just can’t put down (i.e. the blog you’re reading right now).
My plan starting this June: spend time with people I love, grow my business (which is not this blog), and write, listen, get back to my roots, and write some more. This is one of the best times of my life and I hope you’ll stick around these parts.
Some Advice
I’m hesitant to give advice because I’m new to this blogging game and am basically small potatoes. But over the past few weeks I’ve received a number of emails from fellow bloggers asking for advice. I really don’t know what to say. I’d like to think that content works in one’s favor, and in my view, Skellie’s the go-to person for that. Dosh Dosh, along with Problogger and CopyBlogger, also provide invaluable marketing advice.
None of these website recommendations will be news to anyone. And if you’re like me, you’ll want . . .
Secrets
I’ve long thought there were secrets to cracking this blogging game, getting on the front page of Digg, etc. Stuff only a-list bloggers knew about, but wouldn’t tell anyone. Anyway, if those secrets do exist, please email me pronto so I can pay you for them :-).
After the insanely long period of 8 weeks, I’ve come to believe that while there probably aren’t secrets (darn!), there are TONS of angles. And if you pile up enough angles, what you’ll have, my friends, is a secret. But here’s the thing about angles: that they have to be specific to you, because angles are the unique and targeted application of the best advice. Here’s another thing about angles: the really good ones require time, energy and asking the right questions. But even if you expend time and energy asking the right questions, it’ll do you little good if no one’s there to answer them. I’ve lucked out in this regard largely because I’ve had the privilege of working with. . .
Naomi Dunford
She’s got short hair, a foul mouth, a great blog, and an adorable kid. And she can probably kick your ass. We talk on the phone for 30 minutes each week. During this time the heavens open and the gods of blogging speak to me through her. I’ve got questions, she’s got answers. And angles. I’m her friend and I’m also a tiny client of her tiny company (IttyBiz), but but the price is fair and the ROI is astronomical. One way or another, Naomi’s has had a hand in nearly everything that’s gone right with this blog. She’s been very generous, and for that I am grateful. If you’re in need of a small business genius, then check her out.
Final Note
Apologies for the off-topic nature of this post. I’m back on track tomorrow morning with the good stuff, and if you’re a new subscriber I hope you’ll stick around until then :-).
For an endless supply of alternative productivity articles, subscribe to The Growing Life.
Vered said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 8:16 am
I don’t think you should be apologizing about this post. I think it is honest and wonderful. I applaud your decision to stay with your grandparents for a year. And I happen to agree that Naomi is awesome.
Will you share with us what your small business is about? Or have you already talked about it before I subscribed?
Also… do you think (hope) that maybe someday you’d be able to make a living writing this blog?
Daniel Richard | Winning Everyone said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 8:40 am
Nice milestones achieved!
Jared Goralnick said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 9:13 am
Tim Ferriss might not be a fan of your California-over-Croatia decision, but I don’t think you have any doubt that you’re doing the right thing.
As for your blogging advice, I know you know quite a bit about how this whole blogging world works…but your trump card isn’t that hardly secret knowledge. It’s obvious that your trump card is that you’re a damn good writer.
Anti-hack, productivity, or personal exploration…you’ve got a voice that people will continue to want to hear.
Tom Stine said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 10:49 am
You rock, Clay. You are doing good things with this “little” blog. Keep it going. I love it. And you know, I’ve been paying attention to YOU, reading between the lines, seeing how you are growing The Growing Life, and I’m impressed. And a shade envious? Maybe. ;-)
Adam King said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Clay, this post, by far, has spoken to me the most. My Grandfather, as of 3 weeks ago, is showing the early stages of alzhiemers as well. This is the man who taught me to survive, fish, hunt, …to live. I’m a furniture maker because of him. Now, the strongest man I ever knew is weak before my eyes. As I work to buld my business and my craft, I struggle to balance the time away from all of that to give back to a man who gave me so much growing up. Thank you for your work here Clay. You’re touching people’s lives in ways you may not know about.
Caron said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
i always love this blog because it is authentic & from the heart. this post is no exception. i also love that there aren’t a ton of ads or “co-sponsorships” or whatever they’re called. not that i’d stop reading it if this changed, though.
btw, i found your flakiness post both interesting and challenging. and although perhaps i personally still don’t agree with it 100%, i mulled it over a lot and was even inspired to act on it a bit in my personal life. and the results were far better than anticipated. :) thanks.
Marelisa said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 1:35 pm
This blog has a certain “freshness” to it that’s very appealing. Keep up the good work Clay!
MonkMojo said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Just checking in to see if the Clay Collins life size blow-up doll is still on backorder?
Killer post Clay – Great content in your own voice + doing a lot of little things right = a chance
Multiply by networking skills like Clay’s = a good chance
Clay Collins said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 2:39 pm
@Vered: Thanks a lot for the encouragement. To answer your questions: my small business is really just a bunch of small things put together plus some investments. One aspect of the business may outgrow the rest, in which case I’ll focus on that. Honestly, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to make a living with this blog. That, of course, would be a dream come true, but if I were to go that route I’d need to monetize a little more, and I’m really not into that right now. Thanks for the questions and for stopping by as often as you do.
Clay Collins said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
@Monk: I love how you consistently bring humor to the far-too-serious productivity and life hacks blogosphere. And that blow-up doll is on the way.
I’m glad that someone things I’m a good networker, because I really think I suck in that regard. But oh well. Anyone want to be my friend? Send an email.
Naomi Dunford said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
Oh, thank God. I have a Google Alert for “Clay Collins life size blow-up doll” and FINALLY my prayers have been answered. I am finally at peace.
Clay Collins said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
@Marelisa: Thank you.
@Caron: Yeah, I really don’t want to monetize, but I suppose I’ll have to at some point. I really don’t know the first thing about it, but it would be nice to cover my server costs at least. Maybe I’ll put up a donation button in the future. I don’t know.
By the way, thanks for giving the quitting things post a chance. I’m glad that at least part of it affected you.
@Adam: Can I be you? Seriously, your life sounds just about perfect. I miss the outdoors so much right now and am envious of your trade. When you do stuff, things actually get done. As opposed to this computer nonsense.
@Tom: These are kind words coming from a blogger like yourself. Looks like things are on the up and up for you as well. Congrats on that.
Clay Collins said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
@Daniel: Thank you!
@Jared: Yeah, I probably fail the WWTFD test every day. I’m glad that you like my writing; I spend some decent time trying to make it look effortless and natural, only to not read through for grammar mistakes :-).
****Announcement: Jared’s going to blow up anytime now. Try and friend him now before he becomes too popular for you :-).
Clay Collins said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 4:19 pm
@Naomi: Yeah, the blow up doll is basically my monitization strategy. Err… sorry this is the first you’ve heard of it. Should have ran that by you.
Naomi Dunford said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
Christ, Clay. We’ve talked about this. I’m your PR department! You have to tell me this shit!
Adam King said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
Those a re kind words Clay, but here’s a little secret: I do not get things done all the time. In fact my organization skills leave much to be desired. Especially since I’m working on my own web endeavors!! I never make it to the outdoors as much as I would like, and I’m always behind on things. There you have it. The truth revealed!
Blow up doll, huh? Uh….good luck with that one.
Adam King said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
Those are kind words Clay, but here’s a little secret: I do not get things done all the time. In fact my organization skills leave much to be desired. Especially since I’m working on my own web endeavors!! I never make it to the outdoors as much as I would like, and I’m always behind on things. There you have it. The truth revealed!
Blow up doll, huh? Uh….good luck with that one.
Adam King said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
I have no idea why that posted twice!! Sorry!
JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
Clay
I am so excited for you - the content you are writing is great and true to your voice
and psh - no apologies nec.
I’m sure many of us (heh heh, like me) are taking notes
so you are more than welcome to dish the dirt!
Thanks for sharing what you know! :)
Evelyn Lim said,
Wrote on April 17, 2008 @ 8:45 pm
Hey Clay, Congrats on your successes! You certainly deserve it!! You’ve been putting up great content ==> therein lies the secret!
With much love,
Evelyn
Kelly@SHE-POWER said,
Wrote on April 18, 2008 @ 12:38 am
You’ve got a PR Department? F*ck, you are the big cheese!
Seriously, good on you for taking stock of how far you’ve come. It’s very easy in life to focus on where you want to go rather than congratulating yourself on what you’ve already achieved. I might even take a leaf out of your book and do a similar post on SHE-POWER.
You have indeed achieved some big things and seem to be amazingly motivated. I’m still jealous about copyblogger - really should get off my arse and pitch to them myself. But it really sounds like you know where you’re going and are the man with the plan, so to speak. I have no doubt you’ll achieve whatever you want with this blog and any other endeavors you put your focus on.
Congrats
:) Kelly
Mark Krusen said,
Wrote on April 18, 2008 @ 12:45 am
Clay, You just keep doing what your doing. I think it’s great. Blow up doll? Not so much. I tried that route. Way to many people have sharp objects in their pockets. :)
Guy at mildife said,
Wrote on April 18, 2008 @ 4:21 am
Hi clay, interesting read because a similar thing happened to me just recently. I went back home to visit my parents just after my aunt had died. My Uncle, was still alive but suffering from altzimers and so I went to visit him because even though he had no idea anyone was there, I just needed to get to see him. During the few days I was there I wrote a lot about a lot of stuff but one thing that had finally changed for me was that I was writing for me, as me, not as a psychotherapist or whatever other hat I would choose to put on. Im enjoying bloggin’ more now and feel there is more authenticity in my writing (although I was always honest and would often be to the point in my writings).
Take Care and thanks for the great article.
The Financial Philosopher said,
Wrote on April 18, 2008 @ 7:05 am
Once you obtain self-awareness, everything seems to become more clear and life’s challenges, lighter…
“There is more happiness in doing one’s own path without excellence than in doing another’s path well.” ~ The Bhagavad Gita
MonkMojo said,
Wrote on April 18, 2008 @ 9:40 am
@Naomi: O.M.G. it’s here!
http://mojo1000.com/1000cuts/the-clay-collins-blow-up-doll-version-20.html
Clay Collins said,
Wrote on April 18, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
@Monk: OMG that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen! This is showing up in my next post.
Paul Montwill | SwitchStories.com said,
Wrote on April 22, 2008 @ 9:08 am
Clay, this blog is my favourite one, next to Seth Godin’s. I am glad you found your style and learnt that there are no secrets, just hard work and keeping real.
Thank you for your kind words in previous emails/comments and I would like to use this opportunity to share this URL - http://switchstories.com. I have just added the first switch story and my project is getting better everyday!