Blogging for Dollars with Kids, Wife, and Full Time Job
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My friend Ginger M at Growing Happiness asked me in response to a post I wrote on backlink tactics basically “How do you find time to post 2-3 posts a day?” Well, I responded but I thought I’d write a longer response as a post since the way I schedule my life to include blogging has been a process and sort of an art form in itself if I really think about it (in the same way say juggling is an art form lol). Here’s the gist of it:
First, let me tell you about my off-line life so you get an idea of what I juggle to make money on this blog. I’m a dad of 3 and married to a wonderful lady. I teach 4th grade 185 days a year and my hours vary. Usually I get home around 5 but sometimes later and occasionally earlier. I start my day about 7:50 but don’t have kids until 8:50. When I get my prep stuff done there is usually time to read email and sometimes post something (incidentally I am doing that now).
That’s me in a nutshell. Since I started blogging in December of 2006 under the “Riley Central” banner I have been reinventing my brand and my focus over and over again … just ask people like Jessica the Rock Chick, some blog friends have seen a lot of changes and growth in me and in my blog in a couple years. So, you ask the question: How do I blog so regularly? There’s a couple of strategies … or “habits of blogging” I have developed and gotten into the groove with, the first one is: 1) Think about blog ideas all the time and have a way to write them down. This also applies to pictures. I have a carrying case with my digital camera on my hip all the time. Whew! That combined with the bald head must make me look pretty darned nerdy … oh well. One of my new kids told me I look exactly like David Cross yesterday and when I looked him up … I sadly had to agree (no offense David but you bic, I buzz). Anyway, get as many ideas written down as you can throughout the day and when you finally get 30 minutes to an hour to sit at a comp, you don’t have to wonder about a topic. This is probably my single-most lucrative trade secret. It’s like that old joke: “Q: What’s the fastest animal in the world? A: The Ethiopian chicken.” I’ve learned to do these fast.
2) Tend to the real life concerns as much as possible. I am trying more and more to make time for dates with my wife and time on the couch with her watching shows and snuggling. Also, playing on the floor with my kids and reading with them (they are 10, 3, and 11 months). I need to jump in and do the dishes, fold the laundry on the futon … you get the idea insert your stuff HERE. I do spend too much time on my comp BUT it is not nearly as much as it seems. I also make use of the future post feature of Wordpress.
So there you have it. Two ways I have learned, but am daily working to make solid habits, to post 1-3 posts a day (my personal goal is to always do at least 1). I hope more people visit because that means more clicks on my advertisers and more money to take my family to Hawaii and Ireland one day (a dream my wife and I have). Hey … Seth Godin is balder than me … it could happen ;)
Thanks to all who visit and read here. I hope my stuff inspires you to make your own money and make your life great.
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Tags: blog goals, Blogging, blogging-tips, Family
I'm Damien Riley, author and teacher. Here you'll find "think outside the box" posts on psychology and inspiration. 
Yes! I agree! There’s not only been tons of growth and writing changes with you since you started blogging, there’s been more templates on this site than I could count! LOL
Blogging (good blogging) in my opinion, becomes a habit. I enjoy blogging so much that sometimes things happen and I think “a blog entry!” and I enjoy dreaming about future blog entries. I make lists of things I want to talk about, jot down songs that I hear on the radio that make me think of something and write. It’s really no different than any other hobby or doing something you enjoy.
I usually have 2 or 3 ideas in the mind bank and started on paper besides the one I’m posting. I think I write and rewrite mine too many times, though :)
Today’s my 2nd blogaversary and 16th wedding anniversary, by the way!
Jessica The Rock Chicks last blog post..Happy Anniversary
Jessica, well said! Per the blogiversary and anniv … that is great to hear! An accomplishment on both fronts ;) You and your blog have been a staple read for me since I started. Wait a sec, did I just call her a staple? LOL. More than most you are familiar with my many faux opas and you come back anyway.
You rock! Congratulations to you and your husband. Go eat some Italian cuisine and drink wine!
Awesome post Damien! It’s a good idea to haul a camera and notebook around with you, I haven’t thought of that, but it’s a good suggestion.
My hubby is always telling me I spend too much time on the computer. I’ve been working on taking it bit easier, but it’s a hard thing to do when you’re trying to build your blogging-foundation.
I’m like Jessica, something will happen and immediately I’m thinking “ooo! This’ll be a good blog post!”.
Katelyns last blog post..I’ve Moved!
Start making money and hubby will understand ;) Or, define your purpose and what you want out of it. And, of course, schedule your time so you’re not on too much.
Thank you for this post, Damien! It’s great to know how you come up with your posts.
I work in the design so I carry sketchbooks with me all the time and sketch whenever I have the time because I’m always thinking about design and drawing. That is probably why I find it easier to draw than to write something.
What you’re doing is exactly the same thing, but with writing. Although some of my posts started as ideas on pieces of paper, I don’t keep a notebook of writing ideas. Guess I have to start this habit soon!
I think the basis of why keeping a sketchbook or notebook works is that if you keep doing something regularly you will eventually get better and more natural at it, plus you have a library of ideas to turn to in times when your creative juices are drying up.
PS: Come to think of it — Seth Godin, Darren Rowse, Jeremy Schoemaker, these successful guys all seem too have one thing in common — a less than hairy pate! ;)
Ginger Ms last blog post..Have I Gone Doodle Mad?
Hey Ginger. You are too funny about the bald stuff! Yeah, sometimes I blog more than others but I have learned all kinds of little tricks so it’s a more “of the moment” kind of thing. Thanks for your comment.
Great post, Damien-
One of the greatest challenges that bloggers , internet marketers and entrepreneurs have is finding the balance between work and home, and work tasks and the time that is needed for us to “recharge our batteries”, so that our efforts can continue to be effective.
In regard to your comments about always being open to information and experiences for potential blog material, I posted information that coincides with that in a post I did back a few months in regard to article writing. If anyone’s interested, you can see it here:
makemoneyonlinetalk.com/2008/01/jump-starting-your...
One of the things that I enjoy most aobut visiting your blog, is that I never know quite what I’ll find.
Keep up the good work, and we’ll keep reading.
Take care,
Kimberly
Thanks for stopping by Kimberly, I really appreciate your kind words of encouragement!
Nice post. I’m starting to like this place.
I like your strategy for scheduling and creating “blog lists.” I tend to do the same myself but its hard to find a nice routine. Between work, work, hobby-work, school, and just being a normal 24 year old, its difficult at times to make a nice blogging routine out of it. Evenso, I keep on going.
My original goal was the make money through my blog. That’s hard. While that it still my goal, I now work on making money because of my blog. Its amazing what type of side projects you can get ahold of by sending the right people your blog.
Btw, I like the fact that you have a goal for your blogging earnings. I clicked on a few links for you. Hopefully that helps make that family vacation a reality for you sooner than later.
TOPolks last blog post..Technologic: A Cheap Feel
@TOpolk: Thanks a lot. Let me know if I can help you out.
I always keep a lab notebook with me (got it back in 1991 when I worked at Bell Labs) and use it to keep track of all the new ideas that percolate around my mind when I’m away from the computer. It’s proven to be very useful indeed.
Data points, Barbara
Barbara Lings last blog post..Today’s Words of Wisdom - Pondering Innovation