Leaving Work Behind

WordPress Security: Everything You Need To Know

By Tom Ewer on May 2, 2013

As many of you who are subscribed to my Facebook and Twitter accounts will know, Leaving Work Behind was hacked a couple of weeks ago.

For two days the site was either complete offline or in a rather mangled state. For two days my hosting provider and I worked our asses off to get LWB back online. It was an experience that I would rather not go through again, and one that I hope you will never have to go through.

With that in mind, in this post I want to outline the comprehensive steps I have taken to make my site more secure. I have spoken to some of the most influential and respected web security guys out there over the past couple of weeks and have been able to distill their wisdom into this post. It is my hope that you will take action on these steps to make your WordPress website(s) far more secure.

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I’m Starting P90X and I’m Bringing You Along for the Ride!

By Tom Ewer on April 25, 2013

We all know that eating healthily and exercising regularly can have a hugely beneficial impact on your overall quality of life.

Back when I was running 30-40 miles per week, I practically jumped out of bed in the morning and had tonnes of energy. I ran early each morning and felt fantastic for the rest of the day. While my hardcore running days are behind me (for the time being at least), I still appreciate the effect that a regular exercise regime can have on every aspect of my life.

One of the biggest things I struggle with on a daily basis are my energy levels and motivation. I know that the problem is in part down to the fact that I eat terrible food and don’t get enough regular exercise. I’m certainly not unhealthy, but I could definitely be far more healthy.

And that leads me to today’s announcement: on Monday 29th April, I am starting P90X. And I am going to log every single step of my journey in detail for you to see.

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How to Become a Freelance Writer: 15 Principles for Success

By Tom Ewer on April 22, 2013

It’s easy to say that freelance writing is easy, but it’s also easy to say that it’s hard.

In reality there is a middle ground in which one can succeed and prosper in the world of freelance blogging. The process of learning how to become a freelance writer hasn’t been easy for me, nor has it been especially hard. I believe that if you understand the basic principles of successful freelance writing and put them into action on a consistent basis, you will find success.

With that in mind, in this post I have collected what I consider the most important principles for successful freelance writers into fifteen actionable nuggets. If you absorb and apply the following principles then you will be giving yourself the best possible chance of succeeding as a freelance writer.

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How to Emulate the Growth of My Blogging Business

By Tom Ewer on April 15, 2013

A graph of my income growth over the past six months.

Are you ever concerned that the action you are taking at any given time is perhaps not best for your business or side endeavor in terms of its ongoing development?

If you do then congratulations: that awareness is an extremely valuable asset. If you don’t then you’re either nailing it and have nothing to worry about, or there is room for improvement that you are completely ignorant of. I have a feeling that most people fall into the second category. After all, there is always room for improvement.

In this post I want to explore that principle and explain the simple system I have used to drive consistent growth in my business over the past eighteen months so that you can do the same.

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The Best and Most Affordable Web Hosting Service (My Verdict)

By Tom Ewer on April 11, 2013

I think a lot of people new to blogging underestimate the importance of web hosting. I know I did. I purchased my first hosting package without giving it a great deal of thought beyond “what’s the cheapest service?”

However, I soon found out that the relationship you have with your hosting provider is an extremely important one. They are largely responsible for your website’s load speed and uptime, and if your website is either too slow in loading or not even available, you’re screwed. As such, it pays to spend a little time carefully considering your web hosting provider before taking the leap. It can make all the difference — believe me.

In this post I am going to explain why the web hosting provider you choose is so important and name the provider I recommend (and use) above all others. Whether you are yet to purchase a hosting package or are looking to move from your existing provider, I’ve got the answers here.

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