Don’t worry – the headline of this post is not to be taken literally.Β But it’s not just fluff either. After all, when have I ever been in the business of publishing pointlessly sensationalistic headlines?
This post means a lot to me, a lot to this blog, and I hope it will mean something to you too. If you intend to continue reading Leaving Work Behind for any period of time beyond today, I urge you to read this post in its entirety.
The Situation
I have been blogging mindlessly. Leaving Work Behind has been relatively directionless. It has essentially been about my experiences – a quasi-journal if you will – but it has had no real central focus.
My approach to blogging has been very broad – I’ve basically written about anything that has taken my fancy. I don’t have a problemΒ with what I have done – after all, I was brand new to the blogging scene just 11 months ago. I’d barely even read a blog, let alone produced one of my own. It has been a huge learning curve.
But I now realize that this blog has to become something more meaningful in order for it to evolve further.
On Getting Naked
I recently had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Danny Iny’s Naked Marketing Manifesto. Whilst it is eminently quotable, one of the excerpts that really caught my eye was this:
Just as we each have our unique personal tastes in romantic partners, we also each have a specific type of customer that is an especially good fit for our business. It will never be everyone, though, and that’s a good thing.
Getting naked in your marketing isn’t about showing your goods off to the entire world – it’s about finding the ONE person who will appreciate them the most.
Whilst I certainly don’t think of this blog as a business, the logic is precisely the same. I need to find my one person.
What Does This Mean?
It’s simple really – I need to clearly demonstrate to my visitors what they can expect from this blog, then deliver on my promise. I need to let go of the fear that some people won’t like what I have to offer.
Here’s a simple fact – plenty of people will have absolutely zeroΒ interest in what I have to offer – but if I target my “one person” effectively, that won’t matter.
At the center of this is one simple desire – to get an awesome reaction from my ideal reader. As Danny says, “You can’t just get attention by shucking your pants and waggling around, hoping that the right people notice!” If I’m going to be shucking anything, I sure as hell better be doing it in front of the right person.
Who Is My “One Person”?
If you haven’t yet read Danny’s post on finding your one person, I heartily recommend that you do. What I am about to say may not mean a great deal unless you have.
My one person is essentially me. To begin with, this blog was intended to chronicle my journey to quitting my job. That time has come and gone. Now it is about quitting your job and creating a fulfilling and happy life for yourself. It’s about creating a life where you have the power to effectively control your hours worked, your income, and your expenditure. It’s about enjoying the now, whilst also working towards the future. It’s about creating the best possible balance that you can.Β That’s what I want – and I am hoping it is what you want too.
If you do share my values, if you want the same fundamental things from life that I do, then you can look forward to content that is written specifically for you. I want to help you, and no one else. No diluted messages, no broad brushstroke remedies – I want it to seem like we are sitting down together for a few beers on a warm summer’s day, like old friends, ready to build a life worth living.
It may seem self-centered to build a blog around what I want to achieve from life, but what I could be better qualified to do? If you are like me – if you don’t want to work 12 hour days, if you want the flexibility to take the day off from work, if you want to build a life that isn’t centered on money alone – then this blog will become a goldmine of resources for you over time. Ultimately, I have a great passion for building a better life for myself, and for you. If my passion doesn’t seep through the damn monitor and slap you around the face, I’m not doing a good enough job.
Much More To Come
This is the beginning of something very big for this blog – you’ve just struck the tip of the iceberg today. You’ll see a few changes around here, and I am going to be following this up with what I consider to be a great series of posts, all written with you (and only you) in mind. I have no doubt that you will take great value from them, because I have already done so in writing them. And you are just like me.
What Do You Expect?
I do not want to alienate any of my readers – but I absolutely do want to crystallize my “brand” and “message”. I want my one person to know as soon as they hit this blog that it was written specifically with them in mind.
What I want to know at this stage is, what do you expect from this blog? It’ll be interesting to see how well that aligns with my focus over the coming weeks and months. Open fire in the comments section!
Jim @LiveWorkDream says
Right on! Looking forward to sharing your insight, since it falls right in line with the simple mission we have for our home based business blog: “Who can we help and how can we help them?”
Tom Ewer says
That’s the plan π
Justice Wordlaw IV says
I like this a lot man and looking forward to what you’re going to be coming up with!
Tom Ewer says
I’m pretty excited about it Justice – glad to have you along for the ride!
Jason Morgan says
Great post! I’m your person! I have a great job that I like and yet I’m already in process of planning to leave in couple of years.
I love blogging, writing, digital products, I want to do it full time. I have my basement site, that’s my test bed, my starting point. After that I’ve got a list of great ideas. Some I can do part time and still work, others are more full time pursuits.
Focus this blog for me. I like your writing style and I’m ready to be involved.
Jason
Tom Ewer says
Awesome Jason! You have no idea how reassuring it is to know that there is at least one person who is on the same wavelength as me! π
Tom says
Tom,
I wish you well in filling that bank space (at the top of the post) with something you find to be worthwhile. My experience is if you find something you like and are passionate about, everything else kind of falls into place. You are a talented writer and good communicator, so I look forward to an interesting account of your endeavors, and I hope that you keep us updated.
About a year ago I left my job when offered an early retirement package. I’m too young to really retire, but I took the opportunity to reflect on what I want to do (and layoffs were coming soon, too.) Well, I’m still reflecting, but have come to enjoy doing things on my own schedule without the long hours and stress of hurried schedules imposed upon me.
Since your post on SPI about twitter, I’ve employed a super simple strategy of searching for hash tags related to my “niche” and following those people that have tweeted something meaningful on the topic. So far I’m getting about a 30% follow-back rate and building a small audience for my brand new business/experiment in social media marketing. By experiment I mean that this is all new to me and I’m trying different things to see what works. I really appreciate the info you share to help us newbies out.
Regards,
Tom
Tom Ewer says
Hey Tom,
30% follow back rate – that is excellent! Organic following along those lines is excellent (but time consuming).
Cheers,
Tom
Tom says
Hi Tom,
Yeah, while just starting out, it was not so bad; but as the list grows it is getting harder to manage. Will have to look into the automation schemes you suggested.
I’ve just started this project about 3 weeks ago, I just put my first entries into my Facebook page, uploaded my first video blog on YouTube and my kindle book is on the Second Google search page for “Define Smart Goals”. My Goal is to get on the first page for “SMART Goals”. I have a ways to go, but making progress. Just got an email notification that I have my first blog subscriber. Cool!
Keep in touch!
Regards,
Tom
Tom Ewer says
Hey Tom,
Either I’ve missed the point of your comment or you’ve left a comment on entirely the wrong blog post π
Cheers,
Tom
Sheyi @ Ivblogger.com says
I was probably waiting to see those stuffs **** you know what i mean? Lol$
Nice one here.
Finding the ‘one’ person really is not about the number 1 but that 1 brings in the hundres, thousands and eventually millions visitor!
Go get em and give em what they want.
Sheyi
Tom Ewer says
That’s the idea Sheyi – here’s hoping I’ve got it right π
Stewart says
Isn’t the goal of all of this to be able to sustain while being yourself?
It’s so ingrained in me when I started that I hardly realized it. This was a cool “yeah, I totally agree” post. The trick is to balance the multiple layers of you and the one customer. I’m sincerely curious where the focus of that is going to lead you, but I’m sure success will be along the path.
Enjoy the refocus, Tom,
-Stu
Tom Ewer says
Hey Stu,
The thing is that we all have a lot of diverse interests. This blog could be about my multiple passions – music, sports, lifestyle design and food, but no one would be that interested. The key is to drill down into one area or common theme and really go for that one person who will take note.
That’s the plan anyway π
Cheers,
Tom
Charley hq says
Hey Tom,
I must admit I hated the title of your email and this blog post and I still do. As a matter of fact, I deleted the email right away and I’m hurrying up to finish this comment and close this window as soon as possible.
However, I love what you wrote. Find people that appreciate your words/writing (I’m one of them) and continue delivering immense value. What do I expect from this blog? Case studies.
Tom Ewer says
Um…thanks Charley, I think? Case studies is definitely on the list as part of the new direction π
Aleshia Green says
Well I can say I have been struggling to get up and going with my niche blogs that I started simply for a couple reasons: $$$, childcare, time( these all wrap into each other in some sorta of way)..I have been home with my children, but have been unable to accomlish anything simply because they are screaming at me everytime I sit at the computer.
I think if I had the time, childcare and $$ to put them in there, things would be easier.Perhaps starting a small funding link to help people like myself to get up and going would make a great benefit to your website. I am already in the business…but basically ran out of resources with which to fulfill my duties.
Tom Ewer says
Hi Aleshia,
It’s an interesting idea, but one that would get absolutely no traction, due to the small size of my audience. Certainly one to consider for the future though.
In the meantime however, I appreciate that time is at a premium but time can be found (and utilized efficiently) in all but the most extreme of circumstances. That is something I will be focusing on!
Cheers,
Tom
Ruth Zive says
I’m probably not ‘the one’…but I still love reading your blog, and will definitely continue! I suppose I’m more like a fan, by the sidelines, rooting you on and itching for you to succeed in every respect!
Tom Ewer says
Nah you’re not the one, you’re just awesome π
Tito Pandu Brahmanto says
Looking forward for the BIG changes in your blog. BTW, i like your writing style also, can you share some tips on writing?
Tom Ewer says
Certainly a good idea Tito – I’ll put it on the list π
Justin says
Hey Tom!
I’m decidedly not “the one” for your blog, but I have been previously and I try to provide content that will be useful to “the one” as well. I think your new focus will be interesting and exciting to watch…
I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m a huge Derek Sivers fan. If you don’t mind, I thought I’d leave a related link to one of his posts about stating EXACTLY who you are and what you’re about:
http://sivers.org/say-what-you-sound-like
Here’s a good post for you, Tom, on your new journey:
http://sivers.org/what-do-they-really-want
Tom Ewer says
Preaching to the converted Justin! I am also a huge fan of Derek’s – in fact, I’ve been chatting with him recently about the new direction in which I am heading. Loved the links – thank you! π
Chris @ NPI says
Hi Tom, firstly, you must find yourself. I recommend you some books of Stephen Covey and Brian Tracy – they both are great writers and motivators!
BTW – in middle of April I started my new life. I finish my stable work and… If you are interested, you are welcome on my blog π
BR, Chris
Tom Ewer says
Hi Chris!
You’re too kind π
I have actually read “7 Habits” and totally agree with you!
Cheers,
Tom
Robert says
Where is the naked picture? I came here just to see it? Where is it?????
Just kidding π
Finding who you are and what you really want is a hard part. I think we should learn how to figure it out step by step. π I also listen to Budda and have some therapy classes to get the balanced and try to find the real meaning of lives
Tom Ewer says
Well I’m not the spiritual type, but I am all about “finding myself”. I think we all should be!
Kate says
Hello Tom, Agree with Robert. Where’s the naked photo? lol. Stumbled onto your blog and love reading about your progress in creating your freelance career.
I too just took the big leap and quit my job. You can read about it here —
I QUIT! and coincidentally, I had decided on this big decision around the same time you did – May 2011. I’ve also just started my freelance writing career and make my business plan. My concern is finding a mentor who can coach me through the process and help me with my rates. Unfortunately, I don’t know any freelance writers in my area (I’m an expat in China) and will be moving out of the country soon –how were you able to find fellow freelance mentors?
And to answer your question, I would like to continue reading your blog entries chronicling your journey to designing the life you want as it will give me and other aspiring freelancers inspiration to the life we soon want to lead or at the very least see someone whose footsteps we might follow π
Tom Ewer says
Hey Kate,
Good for you! That’s awesome news π
I’ve got the perfect suggestion for you: The Freelance Writer’s Den. It’s $25 per month but well worth it in my opinion – I got a lot of value out of it. Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Tom
Scott says
Sticking to a focus on a blog is something that isn’t easy. I know first hand and it really seems like you’ve got the theme and vision down that will help you to keep zero’d in.
Look forward to it all π
Cheers
Tom Ewer says
Thanks Scott! Down in no small part to you π
Joe says
I’m interested but not quite sold yet.
I have the same goals as you but am sceptical I can achieve “the lots of money coming in and little time spent” holy grail.
Tom Ewer says
Hi Joe,
I’m not trying to “sell” you on anything, nor am I trying to promote a “holy grail”, as you put it π
It’s not necessarily about making a lot of money, just assessing the value of your time against your expenditure, adjusting both to suit, and working on increasing your effective income per hour.
Cheers,
Tom
Joe says
I meant sell as in subscribe to your methodology!
Tom Ewer says
Ah – I’m with you. Well maybe I’ll manage to change your mind π
Heike says
I discovered your blog just a few days ago & I’m really looking forward to following your project “content for THE ONE” π
Tom Ewer says
I hope you like it Heike! π
Adam says
Ah thanks for recommending Danny’s stuff. Was struggling with this for awhile. The “person” I wanted wasn’t the person I was getting. It’s been improving a lot recently after some changes I made, but some new tips couldn’t hurt. Appreciate it!
Tom Ewer says
No problem – Danny knows his stuff!