Archive for October 8th, 2007
My blog has been up for almost a year now and so far it has generated . . . drum roll please . . . exactly NO money. I know that there is money to be made out there. I’ve read the post at www.stevepavlina.com several times and it’s always an inspiration for working at my blog. He is blunt about the fact that not every one will grow rich from their blogs. In answer to the question “can most people do it?” the response is humorous but true:
“No, they can’t. I hope it doesn’t shock you to see a personal development web site use the dreaded C-word. But I happen to agree with those who say that 99% of people who try to generate serious income from their blogs will fail. The tagline for this site is “Personal Development for Smart People.” And unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your outlook), smart people are a minority on this planet. So while most people can’t make a living this way, I would say that most smart people can. How do you know whether or not you qualify as smart? Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you have to ask the question, you aren’t.”
Apparently, I’m just not there yet. In my mind it is because I’m missing something and NOT because I’m “unqualified.” 
Granted, I haven’t exploited all the possibilities out there. I have heard how Adsense is king of the monetization game, but I haven’t tried to implement it on my site. Instead, I have been focused on driving traffic to the site in the hope that the advertisers would come knocking at my door.
It seems to me that there are sites that are making money (or claiming to make money) as if by magic. I’ve written for a couple of them. They don’t have a great amount of traffic. They don’t have loads of backlinks. The only thing these sites have in common is that they are “specific.”
My site is about many different things. In the last couple of months, I have tried to hone in on just three or four, but that’s still more than the “experts” say is reasonable. To compensate, I’ve been trying to post to each subject on every day (at least it means there are a large number of posts at my site).
In the mean time, I have started a subject specific site (one on politics - because I couldn’t think of anything that would be much more “controversial”) and so far I can’t even get all the browsers to come by for a visit.
My passion is for writing and if for no other reason than that, I will continue my blogs. I just hope that I can find the key sooner than later.
October 8th, 2007
Don’t waste your prayers. So often we just throw up our prayers at God while our head hits the pillow at night or when we are in the heat of the moment. We don’t pay attention to our own prayers, and can’t be expected to see when God answers what we don’t even remember asking.
It’s no wonder that prayers “aren’t answered.”
It is high time we got serious about prayer. Instead of just tossing words around, make prayer a primary moment in your day. Write it out. Keep a record. And most importantly, look for the response.
Here are some questions to help you get started:
1. What is the situation you are praying about?
2. How could God possible use my problem (when solved)?
3. Rewrite the situation in the form of a request for God.
4. Have I brought my problem to God FIRST?
5. What am I doing to spend time with God regarding this particular situation?
6. How am I allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and to lead me to scripture?
7. What are the scriptures that I have received? (which ones have been brought up in bible study, sermons, or your own person readings)
8. How do these scriptures affect my daily life?
9. What actions will I take, based on these scriptures? What am I willing to change in my life to follow God?
10. What else do I need to do?
Prayer is a two way conversation. Find the time to hear from God if you are going to take the time to request from Him.
October 8th, 2007
Groceries are getting outrageous! I figure the only way I can stay on budget it to: 1. Stop eating, 2. Get rid of the children, or 3. Find some creative solutions. Since there is not way I’m about to stop eating and my husband says I can’t get rid of the kids unless I can get back all the money we have invested in them so far (and I don’t see that happening).
The only thing left for me to do is to get creative.
1. We are going to plant a garden. It’s already fall, and most people are putting their garden tools away, but we are going to buck the tradition and plant a fall garden. It will also be done in a new way – using a square foot system instead of rows. This means it will be easier for us to extend our growing season even FARTHER and maybe even into a year round program.
2. There will be lots of pasta in our future. Meat is getting more expensive, and unless I stumble on some that is on sale, the odds are that we will be eating meatless much of the week. We may even try making some of our own, fresh pasta to get the kids more involved in the process.
3. Drink more water. It’s amazing how much money we spend on convenience drinks – even the ones that we buy at the grocery store instead of buying at a gas station. I’ll promote drinking from a sports cup each day and trying to fill it up four times with water. If it’s a competition then the kids are much more likely to get excited about it.
4. Waste not, want not. Not only are we going to eat the leftovers, but I’m going to plan meals that will incorporate the leftovers (call them “planned-overs”) so that it won’t be the same meal all week long.
It’s not a lot, but it should help me squeeze a little more distance out of my grocery budget. What are your tips for surviving these amazing prices?
October 8th, 2007
