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Originally Posted by Barefootsies
That right there is a HUGE responsibility, and I also am glad to be out from under it. A few years back I had 5 part timers, 2 full times, a handful of programmers and designers working on all of my projects. Between servers + programming + payroll I was carrying a lot of responsibility and monthly expense. It was very very stressful having these people livelihood in your hands.
In the past 18+ months, I have had a lot of change and people close to me or that I have known through the years pass away. It has given me a lot of perspective considering I will be 43 this year on how I would like to spend the last 1/3rd of my life.
I have cut almost all staff, server expenses by 90%, and scaled back and back and back to the point that through automation I can still attempt to live a decent lifestyle without that huge monthly recurring nut you have to carry on your shoulders. I am honestly very relived.
What I had thought I wanted a couple of years ago, is not really what I want now. I would much rather invest in life experience (weekend trips, vacations, traveling) and free time with a comfortable life and my friends versus working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, trying to be the next (fill in the blank). I am much happier now.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barefootsies
Yep. I simply had gotten so caught up in the chase, I did not realize that I could do most of what I really wanted now while I am healthy enough to do it (i.e. traveling). Why chase down $5 million dollar dreams that could be 5/10/20 years away when you can do them making a $100/200/300k?
It seems almost laughable now that I did not see I already had the keys in my hand to what it was I really wanted, and was simply not using them because I had built this prison of responsibility and took my eyes off the ball. I simply was spending 90% of my time on work, and little time on myself or my own happiness.
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This is a brilliant post because it shows what can happen in this Industry (and I am assuming other online businesses as well). I too did the same thing building my little paysite empire. I started with 2 sites and now I have 88. LOL But I was spending 16 hours a day, 7 days a week doing this shit. I had resisted for years opening an office and hiring in-house employees EXACTLY for the reasons you outlined BF.
So now I take days off, travel, use the freedom online work gives you, etc. I am MUCH happier now. Do I still obsess over my business? Yes, every single day. But I found that balance so it's all good.