This summer I learned a lot of stuff. Some of it was knowledge that I sought out, some of it was things I never thought I would learn over the summer. Some I knew that I needed, some was life lessons. I did a lot this summer: lots of stuff with music (I play a lot of percussion and drums), and lots of less successful stuff with "business".
And I thought it would be a great idea if I put all my thoughts down here.
So without further ado, in no particular order, here's what I learned this summer:
1. Affiliate marketing is not a "fastlane" plan.
First off, I wasn't even making a lot via affiliate marketing, and it's "riding", not "driving" a fastlane. Yet I was spending almost ALL OF MY TIME there!
2. I will never, ever, ever, want to have a J-O-B.
Maybe this sounds lazy, maybe egotistical, maybe selfish, I'm not sure. But every time over the summer that I started doing internet marketing work for OTHER people (quotes for potential clients, simple optimization tasks, etc.) I absolutely HATED it. I hated everything that resembled a job. So this means I better get my *!$% together before I graduate college, cause I ain't gettin' no job.
3. What I really want to do is start my own business/startup.
All the things I enjoyed about internet marketing was the part where I was acting like a real entrepreneur and not just an affiliate. So startups, here I come.
4. I can get cool shoes cheaply.
One of my major goals was once I got all this money I wanted to buy these expensive shoes that Nike made that were designed by electronic music artists that I liked. I got shoes that were just as cool for $14 and $55 at FamousFootwear. My friends love them.
5. When I overschedule myself, instead of stressing out, I totally shut down and do nothing.
This has been a MAJOR problem for me. Because I have all these people who are counting on me doing things for them or us or their organization or our organization, and I just do nothing instead. So there's a few parts to this. 1 is get organized. 2 is STOP OVERSCHEDULING. and 3 is that I need to do a little work on my productivity/workflow. And I have been doing that. (Side note: Eben Pagan's Wake Up Productive is a GREAT course)
6. I waste too much time on self-improvement products and methods and "manifestation".
So I did away with a lot of that trash. Instead I've been listening to some of Tony Robbin's stuff, just on the weekends after homework is done, etc. I think he's a no-nonsense guy with some great ideas, and I find him pretty inspiring to get me to DO stuff, not just sit around and listen to more of his tapes!
7. My sleep schedule is outta whack.
Did some research on that one, got into a more healthy sleep schedule and started good habits for sleep (such as sleeping in a cooler environment, taking naps, getting 8 hours every night).
8. I get overwhelmed with internet marketing stuff. I need help.
So I started a project that is currently just a blog, but I want to make it a business by starting a community and making our own products and stuff. I recruited a few friends to help with both writing content and doing internet marketing stuff. They're not even in it for the money, they just want a good way to spend their time and maybe some recognition for the stuff they're teaching. ( School Destroyer | Get Better Grades, in Less Time, with Less Stress! is what we're doing, shameless plug ).
9. My local police and school administration know nothing about the internet.
This is a story for another time. Don't worry, it's nothing bad!
10. Taking action is very necessary
DUH.
11. I should start investing my money and get it out of this darn 0.0001% earning "Young Savers" Account that my dad still has to sign the withdrawals for. Stupid TD Bank.
My church synod actually sells loan certificates that pay 3.24% on a 5-year certificate. Since I don't have enough PRACTICAL knowledge in other areas of investing, or enough time, or enough desire when it comes to REI, it seems like the best place to start. I'm putting in $500 so at least I can do SOMETHING, and in the mean time I'll start acquiring knowledge re: other stuff.
12. School (even though this is junior year, supposed to be the hardest, most stressful, most important, etc., especially at our competitive HS) is so totally manageable! - it's AWESOME!
I've been spending less time on homework this year then I have since 8th grade! I know some pretty effective study methods now, found a neat application for OSX called "Schoolhouse" which helps me organize, prioritize, and complete my assignments, and now I'm getting 8 hours of sleep a night and time to work on this SchoolDestroyer project/business.
13. I need to learn more about management and leadership.
When it comes to being section leader of the drumline in marching band, I'm pretty good at leading the other kids there, mostly because they respect me because I'm a good percussionist. However, even though I have this group of kids working with me on the SchoolDestroyer site, and they DO do the work most of the time, it's tough to motivate them and make sure everything gets done timely. So on my list of more things to learn about: investing and management.
14. I hate sucking up to colleges.
"My College App Essay, by: Joe Schmoe. When I was supreme dictator of my boy scout troop, I really learned about leadership because I was forced to lead a large group of kids and show that I was responsible and trustworthy. I participated in 9 bajillion extracurriculars at my school and also won the J. R. Stupidpants Scholastic Russian Competition".
15. There's lots of stuff I'd like to do in life.
Be a DJ, even if only once or twice, own/drive an Audi, play in a Phil Collins cover band, be tagged a "thought leader" (i think that's a cool term and/or job), own vintage keyboards and synthesizers and learn how to play them, teach a band in a public school, stuff like that. (also I just noticed the ones I listed are almost all music related
)
And that's what I can think of right now.
In my head, I hear you guys saying this:
"WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?!?!?!?!" (especially Russ )
Honestly, I don't know right now. I feel like there's a lot of variables. What am I going to go to college for? Most likely music or entrepreneurship, learning towards entrepreneurship. Not for marketing- that seems like a j-o-b degree, but what do I know? Where do I want to go to college? Is this schooldestroyer project going to work? (I'm pretty determined to make it work, but is this market fo real? I see commercial indicators, but still...) Where should I invest my money? Should I learn about stocks? Forex? Buying websites/businesses? Something else entirely?
etc.
Anyways. That's what I learned this summer. It causes as many questions and new things to learn as it was lessons learned and questions answered. I'd appreciate any thoughts or insight or tips you guys have. thanks ya'll.
And I thought it would be a great idea if I put all my thoughts down here.
So without further ado, in no particular order, here's what I learned this summer:
1. Affiliate marketing is not a "fastlane" plan.
First off, I wasn't even making a lot via affiliate marketing, and it's "riding", not "driving" a fastlane. Yet I was spending almost ALL OF MY TIME there!
2. I will never, ever, ever, want to have a J-O-B.
Maybe this sounds lazy, maybe egotistical, maybe selfish, I'm not sure. But every time over the summer that I started doing internet marketing work for OTHER people (quotes for potential clients, simple optimization tasks, etc.) I absolutely HATED it. I hated everything that resembled a job. So this means I better get my *!$% together before I graduate college, cause I ain't gettin' no job.
3. What I really want to do is start my own business/startup.
All the things I enjoyed about internet marketing was the part where I was acting like a real entrepreneur and not just an affiliate. So startups, here I come.
4. I can get cool shoes cheaply.
One of my major goals was once I got all this money I wanted to buy these expensive shoes that Nike made that were designed by electronic music artists that I liked. I got shoes that were just as cool for $14 and $55 at FamousFootwear. My friends love them.
5. When I overschedule myself, instead of stressing out, I totally shut down and do nothing.
This has been a MAJOR problem for me. Because I have all these people who are counting on me doing things for them or us or their organization or our organization, and I just do nothing instead. So there's a few parts to this. 1 is get organized. 2 is STOP OVERSCHEDULING. and 3 is that I need to do a little work on my productivity/workflow. And I have been doing that. (Side note: Eben Pagan's Wake Up Productive is a GREAT course)
6. I waste too much time on self-improvement products and methods and "manifestation".
So I did away with a lot of that trash. Instead I've been listening to some of Tony Robbin's stuff, just on the weekends after homework is done, etc. I think he's a no-nonsense guy with some great ideas, and I find him pretty inspiring to get me to DO stuff, not just sit around and listen to more of his tapes!
7. My sleep schedule is outta whack.
Did some research on that one, got into a more healthy sleep schedule and started good habits for sleep (such as sleeping in a cooler environment, taking naps, getting 8 hours every night).
8. I get overwhelmed with internet marketing stuff. I need help.
So I started a project that is currently just a blog, but I want to make it a business by starting a community and making our own products and stuff. I recruited a few friends to help with both writing content and doing internet marketing stuff. They're not even in it for the money, they just want a good way to spend their time and maybe some recognition for the stuff they're teaching. ( School Destroyer | Get Better Grades, in Less Time, with Less Stress! is what we're doing, shameless plug ).
9. My local police and school administration know nothing about the internet.
This is a story for another time. Don't worry, it's nothing bad!
10. Taking action is very necessary
DUH.
11. I should start investing my money and get it out of this darn 0.0001% earning "Young Savers" Account that my dad still has to sign the withdrawals for. Stupid TD Bank.
My church synod actually sells loan certificates that pay 3.24% on a 5-year certificate. Since I don't have enough PRACTICAL knowledge in other areas of investing, or enough time, or enough desire when it comes to REI, it seems like the best place to start. I'm putting in $500 so at least I can do SOMETHING, and in the mean time I'll start acquiring knowledge re: other stuff.
12. School (even though this is junior year, supposed to be the hardest, most stressful, most important, etc., especially at our competitive HS) is so totally manageable! - it's AWESOME!
I've been spending less time on homework this year then I have since 8th grade! I know some pretty effective study methods now, found a neat application for OSX called "Schoolhouse" which helps me organize, prioritize, and complete my assignments, and now I'm getting 8 hours of sleep a night and time to work on this SchoolDestroyer project/business.
13. I need to learn more about management and leadership.
When it comes to being section leader of the drumline in marching band, I'm pretty good at leading the other kids there, mostly because they respect me because I'm a good percussionist. However, even though I have this group of kids working with me on the SchoolDestroyer site, and they DO do the work most of the time, it's tough to motivate them and make sure everything gets done timely. So on my list of more things to learn about: investing and management.
14. I hate sucking up to colleges.
"My College App Essay, by: Joe Schmoe. When I was supreme dictator of my boy scout troop, I really learned about leadership because I was forced to lead a large group of kids and show that I was responsible and trustworthy. I participated in 9 bajillion extracurriculars at my school and also won the J. R. Stupidpants Scholastic Russian Competition".
15. There's lots of stuff I'd like to do in life.
Be a DJ, even if only once or twice, own/drive an Audi, play in a Phil Collins cover band, be tagged a "thought leader" (i think that's a cool term and/or job), own vintage keyboards and synthesizers and learn how to play them, teach a band in a public school, stuff like that. (also I just noticed the ones I listed are almost all music related
)And that's what I can think of right now.
In my head, I hear you guys saying this:
"WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?!?!?!?!" (especially Russ
)Honestly, I don't know right now. I feel like there's a lot of variables. What am I going to go to college for? Most likely music or entrepreneurship, learning towards entrepreneurship. Not for marketing- that seems like a j-o-b degree, but what do I know? Where do I want to go to college? Is this schooldestroyer project going to work? (I'm pretty determined to make it work, but is this market fo real? I see commercial indicators, but still...) Where should I invest my money? Should I learn about stocks? Forex? Buying websites/businesses? Something else entirely?
etc.
Anyways. That's what I learned this summer. It causes as many questions and new things to learn as it was lessons learned and questions answered. I'd appreciate any thoughts or insight or tips you guys have. thanks ya'll.
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