1/ My #openstartup and life update...
December 2018:
💵 Revenue: $3,595
📈 Uniques: 34,537
✉️ Mailing List: 3,488
Lots of fun stuff happened this month.
A thread 👇
December 2018:
💵 Revenue: $3,595
📈 Uniques: 34,537
✉️ Mailing List: 3,488
Lots of fun stuff happened this month.
A thread 👇
2/ This month started out in Thailand! I flew out to Bangkok and traveled with my mom and sister for two weeks.
Although I enjoyed traveling, it is hard to not work for that long... towards the end I started getting antsy - squeezing in a few hours of work every couple days...
Although I enjoyed traveling, it is hard to not work for that long... towards the end I started getting antsy - squeezing in a few hours of work every couple days...
3/ I got to Chiang Mai mid month (where I am now) and still struggled a bit to adjust. Wasn't sure what to expect... What's the life of a digital nomad like?
Turns out they just work a lot 😂
Was also lucky to find a few @wip'ers in CM - so that's been nice to have some friends
Turns out they just work a lot 😂
Was also lucky to find a few @wip'ers in CM - so that's been nice to have some friends
4/ But it also feels like another world for me. It's weird. My routine is all over the place. I've lost track of the day of the week. Sometimes I work until 2AM and doesn't feel like I'm doing something wrong...
But the freedom is also reallyyyy nice.
But the freedom is also reallyyyy nice.
5/ Ok back to the business stuff -- traffic was down this month.
Was getting a bit worried but I think it's attributed to it just being the holidays. I think maybe people are less interested in starting a business at this time. In the new year I'm seeing it spike really nice.
Was getting a bit worried but I think it's attributed to it just being the holidays. I think maybe people are less interested in starting a business at this time. In the new year I'm seeing it spike really nice.
6/ And google traffic is continuing to spike! In the past few days, I've been seeing 700+ uniques/day from google search - that's an all time high!
7/ Since "business" was a bit dead this month, I spent a ton of time on features and clean up - which has been really nice.
First feature: Starter Story Books!
This was a fun project - got to scrape my articles for books and have some fun with data!
First feature: Starter Story Books!
This was a fun project - got to scrape my articles for books and have some fun with data!
8/ I also made a crucial design change to stories pages!
In 2019 I want to become a much better and faster designer. The book @refactoringui really inspired me!
In 2019 I want to become a much better and faster designer. The book @refactoringui really inspired me!
9/ I also shipped an Explore page - which is basically a filterable interface that creates SEO friendly links.
10/ Another big feature....
I quietly shipped a Starter Story Premium Membership!
This will be my first attempt at true MRR, and it is very much a work in progress - I'm excited to add more features over 2019 and really understand how to create an MRR business.
I quietly shipped a Starter Story Premium Membership!
This will be my first attempt at true MRR, and it is very much a work in progress - I'm excited to add more features over 2019 and really understand how to create an MRR business.
11/ And this month was big for backend stuff.
As I'm scaling up everything - I need to be utilizing all of the code I can to grow the website while staying a 1 man team. Some stuff I'm working on...
As I'm scaling up everything - I need to be utilizing all of the code I can to grow the website while staying a 1 man team. Some stuff I'm working on...
12/ Most notably, I'm working on a "true" CRM.
I want to eventually be able to manage hundreds of in-progress interviews and content - and not do it through email.
What I'm building will save me 10 hrs/week + I think it could productized for other multi author blogs!
I want to eventually be able to manage hundreds of in-progress interviews and content - and not do it through email.
What I'm building will save me 10 hrs/week + I think it could productized for other multi author blogs!
13/ Another big thing - my end of the year blog post!
I almost didn't write it... got nervous it would come off too corny.
Very glad I did tho - had so many ppl msg saying it inspired them / it was a nice to give people (not on Twitter) an update!
I almost didn't write it... got nervous it would come off too corny.
Very glad I did tho - had so many ppl msg saying it inspired them / it was a nice to give people (not on Twitter) an update!
14/ I also got back into running and I signed up for a half marathon in Bali.
Feels really nice to get back into it and it's helping me focus and I'm feeling a bit healthier.
Feels really nice to get back into it and it's helping me focus and I'm feeling a bit healthier.
15/ Lastly, I spent a lot of December thinking about my goals for 2019 - I don't think I ever spent that much time on goals before - constantly revising them and thinking about them often.
Here they are...
Here they are...
16/ I'm so amped up for 2019, and over the past couple weeks I've been feeling really focused and happy.
As always, thanks for reading!!!
🖤
As always, thanks for reading!!!
🖤
