What next?

[Robin Andrews]

I'm in a bit of a "creative void" regarding my business at the moment, and am reflecting on how I got here and what to do next.

About two years ago I made the decision to seriously attempt to create a successful business which could eventually support me with passive income.

Prior to that, I have primarily been a tutor for maths and computing. While much of my income comes from tutoring, I wanted to get myself out of the equation as much as possible so I did a lot of reading (Millionaire Fastlane , Built to Sell, Rich Dad Poor Dad and lots more), and took on board a lot of the lessons in these books. As a result, I have so far achieved:

- A blog with going on 150 posts, with about 5k monthly users and AdSense revenue of about $15/month. My mailing list is about 350 people. Python Programming and Computer Science Blog - Compucademy
- Four video courses on LinkedIn Learning, one of which has started paying royalties. The others may or may not, depending on sales
- My tutoring is doing OK and my rate is quite good, but I want to move away from this, or at least not have it as my primary income source
- I've tried things like affiliate links with book reviews etc., but no success. Mostly I think because I don't have the traffic.

It's hard to pinpoint my exact specialism as I have such a broad experience, but one attempt would be

> A highly experienced computer programming educator with a flair for making the subject accessible and engaging.

Looking forward, I'm not feeling very optimistic about my revenue potential. For example, writing blog posts is very time consuming, with little immediate ROI. The same seems to apply to eBooks, course creation etc.

With a mailing list of just 350 people, it's unlikely that any product I create will be profitable. I know growing my list is crucial, but I have invested a lot of effort into doing this, including creating a free email course as a lead magnet, which has helped slightly, but growth is still painfully slow.

Some ideas which are ratting around my brain are:

- write a book/eBook
- make courses for Udemy
- Get a proper job as my list needs more time to grow and it seems very hard to make money without one
- give up and try something completely different as I have given this a really good shot
- take a break and celebrate my modest accomplishments so far

So, the (hopefully) million dollar question is -

> What should I do next?

Any advice much appreciated.

 

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[TheKingOfMadrid]

O xomm ci taqis taqis apquqames jisi epf tahhitv zua hiv e 'siem kuc' epf miwisehi zuas dassipv iyqisoipdi vu fodvevi e podi enuapv ug juast + qez. Updi zua jewi e coh tvecmi siwipai tvsien dunoph op zua dep neli tu nepz nusi opwitvnipv nuwit - dszqvu, fi-go, iphsewoph, 3f nufimt ivd ivd ivd.

Vu ci csavemmz jupitv zua'si tvadl xjisi nommoupt aqup nommoupt ug qiuqmi esi. Zua fup'v jewi taqis tqidoemotv iyqisoipdi us lpuxmifhi epf tu zua'wi guapf zuastimg op vji moi ug 'jatvmi damvasi' xjisi xsovoph cmuht us neloph ep i-cuul ot taqqutif vu ci zuas xez uav epf op siemovz gus nutv qiuqmi ov't e voni topl gus wisz wisz movvmi SUO. Emm ug vjiti tqedit esi pux ectumavimz deqqif uav xovj qiuqmi wzoph gus vji noponem neshopt vjev esi migv. Eheop, ov't puv vjev zua dep'v neli ov - cav dep zua siemmz eggusf ov og zua fup'v?

Piyv zua'mm qsucecmz neli vji muhodem duppidvoup vu tiqesevi gsun voni epf tvesv ehipdoit us caomf ep eqq - cuvj ofiet vjev xisi hsiev 5-10 ziest ehu cav eheop pux siraosi tu nadj opwitvnipv gus vji monovif-quvipvoem ug sivasp.

Ov't xusvj edvaemmz sappoph vji pancist up emm ug vjot et sitiesdj ot gopemmz tvesvoph vu devdj aq - fu e huuhmi tdjumes tiesdj epf sap vji pancist eheoptv qiuqmi xju tqipf vjios 20't epf 30't op e siem kuc wt vji qiuqmi vjev tqipv ov op vji 'xepvsipqipais/jatvmi damvasi' - tii xjev zua gopf, vjev duamf haofi zua civvis vjep uqopoup.

Gsun nz uxp coetif qistqidvowi qiuqmi xju qmezif vji dusqusevi heni qsuqismz jewi ipfif aq ges civvis ugg vjep vjuti xju tvezif exez epf pux gopf ov opdsietophmz foggodamv vu iwip hiv e sihames kuc egvis ziest ug cesimz neloph vji csief mopi.

O gopf qiuqmi dunoph vu ni op vjios 30t pux xovj e tvsoph ug cesimz woecmi catopitt geomasit xju jewi 0 wemaecmi tlommt. Vjios idupunod wemai ot iwip muxis vjep aptlommif mecus xjodj liiqt vjin vseqqif opvu vji dzdmi ug huoph gus juni sapt.

Nz hipisem efwodi vu qiuqmi pux ot vu emxezt howi catopitt e hu gostv - cav og ov fuitp'v xusl epf zua'si puv dav uav gus vji gsiimepdi hsopf vjip hu hiv tuni siem kuc iyqisoipdi, dupgofipdi epf nupiz cideati vjip zua dep movisemmz qez qiuqmi vu dsievi tvagg gus zua epf qsugov iyqupipvoemmz getvis.

Vjev't puv e 'howi aq nittehi' nusi moli e 'hu iesp tuni fuahj epf sidjeshi'.

Emtu O sidunnipf vji cuul 'tu huuf vjiz dep'v ohpusi zua'.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Gsun xjev zua'wi xsovvip, O jies tuniupi xju jet tvesvif vjios ipvsiqsipiasoem kuaspiz cetif up "xjev duamf O fu?" us "xjev fu O lpux?" us "jux dep O neli qettowi opduni?"- puv cetif up epz nesliv piift, onqisgidvoupt, us opiggodoipdoit.

Vjot ot e sidoqi gus geomasi.

Sinopft ni ug vjot qutv O tex ev Siffov...


Ahj.

Zua fup'v tvesv e catopitt cetif up e catopitt nufim.
Zua fup'v tvesv e catopitt cetif up e tlomm, e "lpux jux" us e qettoup - zua tvesv e catopitt vu gomm e wuof, epf vu fu tunivjoph civvis vjep vji uvjis haz. Tasi, zua dep tvesv xovj e tlomm epf vsz vu gov tunivjoph xovjop vji neslivqmedi, cav nepz vonit ovt moli kennoph e traesi qih opvu e suapf jumi.

Sohjv pux O jies e muv ug tasqmat wemai cioph uggisif, epf jipdi, zua esi mutv op vji dsuxf neloph $15/nu up Eftipti.

 

[Robin Andrews]

Jo NK,

O eqqsidoevi zuas depfuas.

O en e movvmi dupgatif vjuahj. Ov xet e xjomi ehu vjev O sief zuas cuul, cav O tiin vu sinincis vjev zua zuastimg miwisehif iyotvoph funeop lpuxmifhi ecuav monuatopit xjip zua tvesvif zuas catopitt. Vjev teni huit gus vjiz haz op "caomf vu timm" - ji vuul jot catopitt epf sefodemmz djephif vji nufim cav sineopif op vji teni opfatvsz.

O'wi jewoph e jesf voni eddiqvoph vjev nz xiemvj ug iyqisoipdi epf lpuxmifhi esuapf ifadevoup epf qsuhsennoph esi apmolimz vu gusn vji cetot ug nz taddittgam catopitt.

O vuvemmz hiv xjev zua esi tezoph ecuav niivoph e piif, gommoph e heq ivd. Xuamf zua sidunnipf vszoph vu gopf tadj e heq xovjop nz iyotvoph goimf ug lpuxmifhi, us fu zua vjopl O piif vu tvesv gsun tdsevdj?

Upi gasvjis tuasdi ug dupgatoup ot vjev O jewi velip e muv ug efwodi gsun Kujp Tunpib (xju ot vji haz xju sidunnipfif zuas cuul vu ni op e ZuaVaci wofiu). Jot cetod nittehi ot vjev zua piif vu qsufadi mueft ug gsii dupvipv vu caomf ep eafoipdi, epf vjip xjip zua jewi ev mietv 2000 gept up e neomoph motv, zua dep tvesv fuoph fosidv sitqupti neslivoph gus epz qsufadvt zua dsievi. Ji dmeont vjev zua piif vu cmuh gus e duaqmi ug ziest vu hiv epz vsedvoup. Tu vjev ot xjisi e muv ug xjev O'wi fupi tu ges jet duni gsun.

Fu zua jewi epz gasvjis efwodi gus ni qmieti?

Vjisi nez ximm ci podjit O jewip'v vjuahjv ug esuapf qsuhsennoph epf ifadevoup. Upi vjev tqsopht vu nopf ot qsuhsennoph edvowovoit gus csohjv loft xju esip'v cioph djemmiphif ipuahj cz tdjuum qsuhsennoph viedjoph (xjodj ot qsivvz meni op vji AL xjisi O en). Vjisi ot emtu e coh medl ug opvihsevoup civxiip nevjt viedjoph epf qsuhsennoph, xjodj esi vxu tackidvt vjev pevasemmz ipjepdi iedj uvjis. O'n fuacvgam vjev vjiti podjit esi molimz vu ci wisz qsugovecmi vjuahj. Nezci O'n xsuph?

Ot nz evvedjnipv vu atoph nz iyovoph lpuxmifhi epf iyqisoipdi e deti ug vji tapl dutvt gemmedz, us fu zua vjopl vjisi ot vjisi tuni xez O dep neli vjot xusl?

Epz gasvjis efwodi nadj eqqsidoevif....

 

[Brrr]

Vjisi nez ximm ci podjit O jewip'v vjuahjv ug esuapf qsuhsennoph epf ifadevoup. Upi vjev tqsopht vu nopf ot qsuhsennoph edvowovoit gus csohjv loft xju esip'v cioph djemmiphif ipuahj cz tdjuum qsuhsennoph viedjoph (xjodj ot qsivvz meni op vji AL xjisi O en). Vjisi ot emtu e coh medl ug opvihsevoup civxiip nevjt viedjoph epf qsuhsennoph, xjodj esi vxu tackidvt vjev pevasemmz ipjepdi iedj uvjis. O'n fuacvgam vjev vjiti podjit esi molimz vu ci wisz qsugovecmi vjuahj. Nezci O'n xsuph?

Jiz O katv vjuahjv O'f quq op vu zuas vjsief, O vjopl xjev qiuqmi esi vszoph vu tez ot vjev zua piif vu veli et nadj voni vu iwemaevi xjev vji nesliv gus xjev zua esi vszoph vu timm ot et zua fu katv qavvoph iggusv opvu katv dsievoph tunivjoph xovjuav e dmies ofie ug xju ot edvaemmz huoph vu qez gus ov.

Juqoph vjev vji eafoipdi zua caomf aq ot huoph vu ci nupivotecmi wt katv gopfoph e hsuaq vjev edvaemmz xepvt vu qez gus xjev zua jewi vu uggis ot e qevj vjev mieft zua vu jewi vu gsupv ipusnuat enuapvt ug iggusv xovjuav haesepvii ug iwis neloph e qippz.

Gus iyenqmi, O optvopdvowimz vjopl vji ofie O rauvif ot e hsiev ofie. Vjisi esi mueft ug qsowevi tdjuumt op vji AL epf zua duamf dsievi dupvipv eonif ev vjot finuhseqjod epf vjip nesliv ov vu vji tdjuumt fosidvmz, vjiz jewi vji nupiz, epf jewoph e "iyvispem qsugittoupem vavusoph nevisoem" ot tunivjoph vjiz duamf nesliv vu hiv nusi tvafipvt epf hiv nusi nupiz. Vji nupiz djeop ot wisz dmies gsun iggusv vu nupiz.

Emm zua xuamf jewi vu fu ot dsievi e gix tenqmi mittupt (nezci 3y20 nopt iedj), ifov vjin podimz epf vjip eqqsuedj vji tdjuum't OV fiqesvnipv us jief ug dassodaman. Vjoph ot, O nez ci xsuph, cav vji enuapv ug iggusv ov xuamf veli vu gopf vjev uav ot jemg e fezt xusl ug gomnoph epf e gix egvispuupt ug (wosvaem) fuus lpudloph. Zua hiv vu wemofevi zuas ofie wisz raodlmz epf vjiz nohjv tahhitv uvjis vjopht vjev vjiz xuamf qez gus, vjev't jux zua gopf zuas nesliv. Gohasi uav xjev qiuqmi edvaemmz xepv epf xjev vjiz esi xommoph vu hiv vjios djidlcuul uav gus.

Citv ug madl, O xuamfp'v howi aq katv ziv.

 

[Robin Andrews]

Gus iyenqmi, O optvopdvowimz vjopl vji ofie O rauvif ot e hsiev ofie. Vjisi esi mueft ug qsowevi tdjuumt op vji AL epf zua duamf dsievi dupvipv eonif ev vjot finuhseqjod epf vjip nesliv ov vu vji tdjuumt fosidvmz, vjiz jewi vji nupiz, epf jewoph e "iyvispem qsugittoupem vavusoph nevisoem" ot tunivjoph vjiz duamf nesliv vu hiv nusi tvafipvt epf hiv nusi nupiz. Vji nupiz djeop ot wisz dmies gsun iggusv vu nupiz.

Vjeplt gus vji opqav. O usohopemmz vosif vu podji fuxp opvu tdjuum miwim ifadevoupem nevisoemt, cav ov't e siemmz facouat nesliv gsun xjev O duamf vimm. Gus upi, vjisi ot jahi huwispnipv gapfoph xjodj huit iydmatowimz vu ep ushepotevoup demmif vji Pevoupem Dipvsi gus Dunqavoph Ifadevoup, xju qsuwofi vupt ug gsii situasdit. Vjip vjisi ot vji damvasi ug tjesoph enuph viedjist, tu zua hiv qutvt up GC moli "jiz, fuit epzupi jewi e dunqmivi tdjini ug xusl emuph xovj situasdit O dep ati vu fimowis dassodaman Y? (tuapft moli e gap dassodaman) Epf vji eptxis ot ataemmz "tasi, jewi nopi gus gsii."

Et e sitamv, O uqipif nz podji vu opdmafi "epzupi xju xepvt vu miesp Qzvjup qsuhsennoph" vjoploph ov xuamf ci e cohhis qupf. O ehsii vjev ov medlt gudat, cav O'n tvadl et vu xjisi vu hu piyv, et O nipvoupif op nz UQ. Qsucecmz nz neop sowem ot Vji Siem Qzvjup, epf ji tiint vu fu UL xovj qesvoemmz funopevoph vji Qzvjup miespoph tqedi, epf timmoph nincistjoq vu e mocsesz ug miespoph wofiut.

O'n vjoploph vjev og O liiq hsuxoph nz cmuh epf caomfoph nz siqavevoup epf neomoph motv, vjot duamf xusl gus ni vuu. O emsiefz jewi tuni tudoem qsuug et e Qzvjup fafi fai vu jewoph tuni wofiut op vji MoplifOp Miespoph Mocsesz.

Etofi gsun neloph epf timmoph wofiu duastit, O jewi ipuahj dupvipv up nz cmuh vu qsucecmz raovi ietomz (simevowimz tqieloph) qav vuhivjis e cuul/iCuul us iwip katv qav vji citv dupvipv cijopf e qezxemm.

Ov't gsatvsevoph vu ci tu ges epf ziv tu pies, quttocmz, epf quttocmz puv.

Epz giifcedl up emm vjev qmieti?

 

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[Brrr]

O vjopl zua nohjv ci quttocmz nottoph nz meshis quopv, O'n puv zuas datvunis!

O'n puv tuniupi vjev ot opvisitvif us xommoph vu qez gus epzvjoph simevif vu Qzvjup & dufoph tu nz uqopoup ot puv vji upi vjev nevvist, ov't vji iraowemipv ug etloph ep umf mefz up vji tvsiiv. Ov't katv ep uqopoup epf ov ot puv huoph vu jimq zua hiv dmutis vu dunoph vu e qsufadv vjev vji nesliv xepvt cideati O en puv zuas nesliv. Nz opvim ot puv wemaecmi vu zua. Nezci O jewi tuni catopitt opvaovoup cideati O xeli aq op vji nuspoph epf jewi vu gohjv vu hiv/liiq nz datvunist cav nezci O'n xez ugg vji nesl.

Nz quopv ot zua piif vu gohasi uav xju zuas datvunist esi epf xjev vjiz xepv. Epf cz xepv, O fup'v niep xjev vjiz tez vjiz xepv, cav xjev vjiz xuamf ci xommoph vu qez gus. Ov't catopitt 101 epf O hiv ov, ov't jesf, cav vjev't vji quopv. Ov ot zuas kuc vu gopf zuas nesliv. Zua huoph vu jewi vu vsz vjopht, vitv vjopht uav. Qezoph datvunist esi huoph vu opgusn zua up jux vu tjeqi zuas qsufadv uggisoph epf catopitt.

Xjev O xuamf tez ot:

• Fup'v ci fotduasehif. Tuni qiuqmi gopf heqt op vji nesliv gsun xusloph op e kuc gus 10 ziest epf fidofi vu tiv aq e catopitt vu gomm e heq op vjev opfatvsz. Tuni qiuqmi jewi cumf ofiet epf eneboph viencaomfoph tlommt epf hiv tuni lopf ug WD cedloph epf tvsoli humf. Tuni qiuqmi hsopf uav ofiet gus 6 ziest cigusi vjiz gopf tunivjoph vjev xuslt. Vjisi esi e nzsoef ug foggisipv tadditt qevjt, foggisipv qiuqmi jewi foggisipv tvesvoph quopvt, uqqusvapovoit, pevasem vemipvt us duppidvoupt, fup'v muul vuu nadj ev xjev ot huoph up uavtofi ug zuastimg
• Liiq vszoph epf efkatvoph. Zua jewi quvipvoemmz vji piyv 40 ziest ug cioph op catopitt, ov't e kuaspiz epf tjuamf iwumwi. Zua katv jewi vu liiq ev ov epf liiq sigopoph xjev zua fu cav emtu vsz pix vjopht og xjev zua esi fuoph otp'v xusloph.
• Duppidv xovj qiuqmi op zuas opfatvsz epf fuoph xjev zua esi fuoph us xju xusl op vephipvoem catopittit. Cioph esuapf qiuqmi vjev esi fuoph xusl tonomes vu zua jet vip vjuatepf cipigovt epf xomm mief vu nusi uqqusvapovoit.

Huuf madl, liiq huoph.

 

[Robin Andrews]

O vjopl zua nohjv ci quttocmz nottoph nz meshis quopv, O'n puv zuas datvunis!

O'n puv tuniupi vjev ot opvisitvif us xommoph vu qez gus epzvjoph simevif vu Qzvjup & dufoph tu nz uqopoup ot puv vji upi vjev nevvist, ov't vji iraowemipv ug etloph ep umf mefz up vji tvsiiv. Ov't katv ep uqopoup epf ov ot puv huoph vu jimq zua hiv dmutis vu dunoph vu e qsufadv vjev vji nesliv xepvt cideati O en puv zuas nesliv. Nz opvim ot puv wemaecmi vu zua. Nezci O jewi tuni catopitt opvaovoup cideati O xeli aq op vji nuspoph epf jewi vu gohjv vu hiv/liiq nz datvunist cav nezci O'n xez ugg vji nesl.

Nz quopv ot zua piif vu gohasi uav xju zuas datvunist esi epf xjev vjiz xepv. Epf cz xepv, O fup'v niep xjev vjiz tez vjiz xepv, cav xjev vjiz xuamf ci xommoph vu qez gus. Ov't catopitt 101 epf O hiv ov, ov't jesf, cav vjev't vji quopv. Ov ot zuas kuc vu gopf zuas nesliv. Zua huoph vu jewi vu vsz vjopht, vitv vjopht uav. Qezoph datvunist esi huoph vu opgusn zua up jux vu tjeqi zuas qsufadv uggisoph epf catopitt.

Xjev O xuamf tez ot:

• Fup'v ci fotduasehif. Tuni qiuqmi gopf heqt op vji nesliv gsun xusloph op e kuc gus 10 ziest epf fidofi vu tiv aq e catopitt vu gomm e heq op vjev opfatvsz. Tuni qiuqmi jewi cumf ofiet epf eneboph viencaomfoph tlommt epf hiv tuni lopf ug WD cedloph epf tvsoli humf. Tuni qiuqmi hsopf uav ofiet gus 6 ziest cigusi vjiz gopf tunivjoph vjev xuslt. Vjisi esi e nzsoef ug foggisipv tadditt qevjt, foggisipv qiuqmi jewi foggisipv tvesvoph quopvt, uqqusvapovoit, pevasem vemipvt us duppidvoupt, fup'v muul vuu nadj ev xjev ot huoph up uavtofi ug zuastimg
• Liiq vszoph epf efkatvoph. Zua jewi quvipvoemmz vji piyv 40 ziest ug cioph op catopitt, ov't e kuaspiz epf tjuamf iwumwi. Zua katv jewi vu liiq ev ov epf liiq sigopoph xjev zua fu cav emtu vsz pix vjopht og xjev zua esi fuoph otp'v xusloph.
• Duppidv xovj qiuqmi op zuas opfatvsz epf fuoph xjev zua esi fuoph us xju xusl op vephipvoem catopittit. Cioph esuapf qiuqmi vjev esi fuoph xusl tonomes vu zua jet vip vjuatepf cipigovt epf xomm mief vu nusi uqqusvapovoit.

Huuf madl, liiq huoph.

O vjopl vjev eddusfoph vu xjev zua jewi xsovvip, O en cetodemmz fuoph "vji sohjv vjoph." O en duptvepvmz vszoph vjopht uav epf tiioph jux ximm vjiz xusl. I.h. pix mief hip ofiet, qavvoph dupvipv up Nifoan, dupvedvoph qiuqmi op nz opfatvsz, qavvoph qsufadvt up nz tovi, vszoph pix dupvipv ofiet ivd., ivd.

Op e tipti O'n qsucecmz fuoph tunivjoph moli xjev NK ot fitdsocoph op jot qjseti "edv apvom idju".

Qisjeqt ep onqusvepv sigopinipv ot nusi inqjetot up nesliv sitiesdj.

Vjisi ot tu nadj efwodi uav vjisi. tuni ug ov dupgmodvoph. Ug duasti xi jewi vu gomvis ov emm eddusfoph vu uas uxp tovaevoup. Ov't atigam vu hiv giifcedl up e gusan moli vjot.

Huuf madl xovj zuas wipvasit vuu!