When a new year begins, it’s only natural that we take the time to make new resolutions that we won’t keep and reflect back upon the last year. As I look back on 2015, I realize that it was the year of changes that were forced upon me, followed by major epiphanies that this really was all for the best. It’s amazing how life works that way.
The biggest ones were with my work. I have a tendency to stretch myself too thin and commit to things that don’t make me happy. I love my job at Action Trip, but I’m well aware of the fact that it could disappear at a moment’s notice. Tis the nature of the gaming industry for pretty much everyone involved. After Joystiq dissolved last year, which was one of the biggest gaming websites in existence, everyone had that reality check that no one is safe. As such, I’m always trying to figure out what I will do if this gig is ripped out from underneath me. For the last few years, I have had an SEO business on the side that I never really had time to market properly. As I learned this year, I can either devote my attention to my regularly paying job or the side business; it’s next to impossible to do both with any decent quality. After losing a couple of steady clients and realizing I wasn’t sad about it, I felt this epiphany slap me in the face. I can’t do it, and what’s more, I don’t want to juggle this business with my other job. The steady clients I have now I’m going to keep because they’re amazing and I love working with them. I’ll be happy to take on new clients of course if they are in need for SEO, but will I be actively looking for them? Not really. I constantly hone my skillset because of work regardless, so I’m not worried about losing my touch with SEO at all. I’m just done with marketing for it. My web design partner recently closed up her web business for almost the exact same reason. To be honest, when she closed shop, I knew I wasn’t far behind with a lot of my motivation. I relied on her way too much for giving me projects. Now that it’s all up to me, I know I don’t have the time or strength for it, which does no one any good.
Do I have another backup plan for when this main job blows up in my face? Of course I do! I think I do, anyway. Still investigating possibilities, so I don’t want to jinx myself just yet. But at least there are plans in the making, and I am very excited about my ideas.
I also feel like I’ve lost sight of my writing, like I’m not entirely doing it for me these days. Granted that happens when your passion becomes your job and therefore a bit of a burden when you have pressure and deadlines attached to it. I miss writing about comics and books I read, so I believe I will start there. And then Chris and I have really taken off with a few ideas for boosting my wonderful Strategy Guide Reviews website too. I think I have more than enough on my plate right now to keep me busy and not stretched too thin. A few blogs of mine have been closed, I may return to The Daily Crate to rave about comics, but I’m not going to stress about it.
I gotta keep on doing this stuff for me and what will keep the bills paid and the sanity in check. I think I’m on to something here, and may 2016 give me more epiphanies how to do so without losing my mind.
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