DISQUS

Vered · 1 year ago

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 Every · 1 year ago

Nice milestones achieved!

Jared Goralnick · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

This blog has a certain "freshness" to it that's very appealing. Keep up the good work Clay!

MonkMojo · 1 year ago

Just checking in to see if the Clay Collins life size blow-up doll is still on backorder?

Killer post Clay

Clay Collins · 1 year ago

@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 · 1 year ago

@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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

@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 · 1 year ago

@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 · 1 year ago

@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 · 1 year ago

Christ, Clay. We've talked about this. I'm your PR department! You have to tell me this shit!

Adam King · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

I have no idea why that posted twice!! Sorry!

JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, Yo · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

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 · 1 year ago

@Naomi: O.M.G. it

Clay Collins · 1 year ago

@Monk: OMG that's the funniest thing I've ever seen! This is showing up in my next post.

Paul Montwill | SwitchStories. · 1 year ago

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!