Yes, Google’s changes over the past 2 years have affected how people discover content. But I don’t think people have moved on to “dicking around in apps and snacking on bite-sized social content.”
People are still reading.
Justin’s response to Marco’s post is great and I agree with him. The way people are finding content may be different, but I think quality writing is still very much appreciated.
The end of Marco’s post, leaves a question in my mind that if answered, would’ve made the article a lot better.
If we want it to get better, we need to start pushing back against the trend, modernizing blogs, and building what we want to come next.
How do we push back on this so-called trend? And what’s involved in “modernizing blogs”?
Justin is on the right track when talking about email. In my opinion, the times of having millions of people engaged with your content is over. For the modern blog to be successful, nurturing your core audience and finding new ways for them to receive your content, are crucial.
The pageviews may be shrinking, but the opportunity for great content creators is far from over.
Price changes aren’t easy, but if you’re ever going to break out of being a commodity freelancer, you’re going to have to be nervous. You’ll have to say goodbye to clients you love who can’t afford you any more. That hurts.
But you’re running a a business, not a friend-for-hire service. Clients will understand.
If you’re unsure about the way you’re pricing yourself, Andy offers some great advice.
During the hardest times, working remotely can feel like a punishment. For what, though? Your defection from the norm? Your overconfidence, maybe — your inability to do something that seems so easy? You suddenly have all these questions and insecurities keeping you up at night. What’s happening?
Mark’s experience has not been mine in the slightest. I’ve had the fortune of working with companies that really understand remote working. Without that, you’re left with the insecurities Mark has experienced: feeling out of the loop and alone.
I used to think that a company had to be completely remote for it to work. However, I currently work somewhere where only some of us are remote, and it’s been great. But it’s because online communication and collaboration has been engrained in the company culture even when you’re working at the office.
My recommendation is this: if you’re feeling out of the loop and alone, you should address those concerns with your supervisor. If things don’t get better, you might need to find a company who wants to put the effort into remote working.
It’s that time where everyone reflects on the past year. I love it. I’ve been writing my yearly retrospective since 2013. But this year, I don’t want to.
2019 has been a year full of transitions, some more difficult than others. Don’t get me wrong, there’s been plenty to celebrate. I have a new job at BuySellAds that I love, I successfully fundraised more than $10k for Bokeh, and Kelly and I made a cross-country move back to California.
Frankly though, much of this year is too personal for me to talk about publicly. I mean, y’all know I like to be real here, but some things I don’t wish to share.
2019 was the year my fake self died. 2020 will be the year my true self rises from the ashes. I’m a Phoenix baby, and nothing will stop me from taking flight.
I wish you all the best in 2020, dear reader. May the force be with you, always.
While it may be cliché to say that the year flew by, it doesn’t make it any less true. In what has become a great tradition, I’d love to share some highlights from 2016.
Becoming Cat People (Again)
Two years ago, I had a wonderful cat named RANDY. Due to a string of unfortunate events, I had to put RANDY up for adoption. I was devastated. I loved him. He was so affectionate and loving, in a time where I was sorely lacking that in my life. Fast-forward two years, and life was completely different, filled with love and happiness. But I still wanted a cat.
My beautiful Minnie. She’s so cute.
So we got two. We have a wonderful rag-doll that we adopted as a kitten named Pixel. And Minnie, a beautiful polydactyl cat we adopted from the Humane Society. Pixel has picked Kelly as her human, and Minnie has picked me. Would I have liked both cats to have picked me? Yes, but it all worked out.
Concerts of a Lifetime
I believe I was 11 when I said to myself that if I ever saw Beyoncé perform, I could die happily. The concert was at TCF Bank Stadium, an outdoor stadium. The day of the show was rainy and right before it was about to start, there was a lightning storm. They emptied the entire stadium to wait it out. There we were, packed like sardines in the concourse, foolishly wondering if this would all be worth it. The Queen B did not disappoint. Beyoncé is a spectacular performer, and her voice—my God, her voice—was magnificent.
That concert alone would’ve made the year. Then Kelly surprised me with Adele tickets. Adele. People I saw not one, but two mind-blowingly talented women perform in the span of three months. When I heard Adele’s voice, I couldn’t help but cry. Not because it was her, but her voice is unbelievable. Multiple songs gave me the chills and she sang all of my favorites. You see a lot of Adele’s personality during the concert, and let me tell you, she is a delight. I would love to hang out with her.
Our Trip to California
We went out this year for a friend’s wedding, but we also had a great time with family. For those of you who may not know, California is where I was born and raised. As much as I dislike my home state (and wouldn’t move back unless absolutely necessary), I do miss my family. We’re a tight-knit bunch of Latinos, and I regret taking for granted how often we saw each other and spent time together. It was an awesome weekend. I took about 300 hundred pictures on a DSLR that I rented. Only kept about 15. Using a DSLR was a new challenge for me, and I look forward to doing it again.
My First Cruise
I was so nervous about this trip, almost to the point of not looking forward to it. I worried that I’d get sea sick and it’d be a long week. How wrong I was! The ship was nothing short of amazing. Not only is it an engineering and architectural triumph, there is something for everyone on it. We had great food and drinks, watched stand-up comedy, enjoyed Broadway-caliber shows, listened to some insanely talented musicians, and karaoke‑d our hearts out.
Kelly and I on the catamaran that took us snorkeling
And that’s only what we did on the ship. Our time on the different islands was a blast, snorkeling was breathtaking, and my Minnesotan-pale skin got the tan it deserved. If you’ve been on the fence about taking a cruise, I whole-heartedly recommend it. I’m positive you’ll enjoy it, no matter what your definition of fun may be.
Leaving ACL
In November, I decided to leave ACL after working there 4 months shy of two years. The company was really good to me, but some of our values didn’t align, and I felt that I wasn’t interested enough in the domain to continue doing my best. Still, I had a great time there. I learned so much, and had the privilege of contributing to several applications the company makes. I walked away with more knowledge, and great friends.
My awesome Adamantium teammates
What’s next? I don’t really know yet. I hope to have something more concrete to share soon.
Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
This was the real blow of the year, but I can’t say I was shocked. I wasn’t feeling good for a while, and I stupidly put off going to the doctor. I was at a point where I just had to go, and after doing a blood test, it was confirmed: I had Type 2 Diabetes. Learning to live with Diabetes has been difficult. I have to watch what I eat, make sure to take my medication, poke myself to test my blood sugar, and plan meals for a set time. I used to be able to skip a meal or postpone it, now I have to eat something or my blood sugar will drop and I’ll feel crappy.
Honestly, I hate it. I have moments where I cry because of the constant frustration it causes me, and I regret the decisions that got me here. But as with every other mistake I’ve made, I cannot undo it. The past is the past, and I can only focus on the future. I have a fantastic partner in Kelly, and she’s been so supportive and loving with me. I appreciate all her help, and how much she cares for me.
While parts of this year felt difficult, and anxiety and stress-inducing, it was still great. I lost 15 pounds, traveled a lot, and enjoyed great new experiences. I spent time with family, got closer to new and old friends, and saw some enter exciting new eras of their lives.
What’s in Store for 2017
Just like last year, Kelly and I have decided to follow my friend Phil’s tradition of setting a motto for the year.
Our Motto: Embrace the New.
Here are my goals for the year:
Dedicate 10 mins each day to learn French I want to learn a new language. I’m fluent in both Spanish and English, but it’s not fair because I was taught both from birth.
Lose 40 lbs. My battle with weight continues, but I realized I’ve never actually put a solid number that I’d like to lose. My hope is that setting a specific goal will help me accomplish it.
Make $200/month in side income I don’t have a specific plan for making this happen yet. I do know I have knowledge I can impart to others and hopefully make a little money from that.
This was by far the best year in a long time. Kelly and I were married on May 9. It was the best day of my life.
We were surrounded by all of our friends and family who smothered us in so much love and happiness. If I could, I would live that day over and over. It sounds so sappy, but I just can’t help it.
Working Full-time Again
ACL took us on a team excursion in May. Our team name was: The Totems
Having a “regular” day job has its pros and cons. After running my own business for so long, having a more rigid schedule where I work 5 days a week has been difficult to get used to.
But, there’s something to be said about having a regular paycheck, paid vacation, and other benefits. Most importantly, I really wanted to work on a team, and I’m so fortunate to have landed on a team of incredibly smart, talented, and humble people.
Stepping Down From Goodstuff
As you may recall, Goodstuff was a podcast network I started with Adam Clark and Chris Enns in 2014. Running it was so much fun, but with me getting married, I couldn’t make it a priority.
Soon after, I started a podcast again, which has two really great episodes published. For The Record is the best show I’ve ever done. I have about 6 interviews recorded that I’ll be working on in the next few months. I hope to bring the show back in the spring.
Podcasts have taken on a whole new life for me this year. Sure, they’ve been around for a while, but my goodness! The level of quality has gone up like crazy, and I’ve discovered someamazingshows this year. Maybe I’ll post a list of my favorites at a later date.
Summer Trip to Europe
Kelly and I went to Europe for the first time this summer. It was the first time both as a couple and individually. Europe was wonderful. Visiting places you’ve only ever seen in pictures is quite the experience.
The Europe group on the tour bus
We saw the Eiffel Tower at night with all the lights on, walked many unknown streets, took the subway, had espresso and pastries in a French cafe, missed our train, felt frustrated because we couldn’t speak French, ate amazing food, made great new friends, and saw people nude on the beach like it was no big deal. I hope we get the chance to go back.
The last highlight of the year? Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I’ve watched it in theaters four times. Each time better than the last.
What’s in Store for 2016
My co-worker Phil told me that his family agrees on a motto for the year. I loved the idea so much, that I’m stealing it. As always, I’ve got some goals for this year, but I also want to share the motto Kelly and I plan to live by.
Motto: Live Healthy.
Build a Piece of Furniture I’m keeping this one from last year. I really want to dabble in some carpentry this year. It’ll get me away from my computer, and the chance to spend some quality time with my Dad.
Lose Weight Not much I can say here that I haven’t said. Part of living a healthier life.
Travel Taking breaks is part of being and staying healthy. I have paid vacation now, why the hell not use it?
Andrew Wilkinson talks about being In-N-Out Burger instead of becoming McDonalds. It’s quite encouraging to read something like this from someone who’s had so much success in our industry. Here’s my favorite part of the article:
Meanwhile, there are thousands of internet businesses out there, quietly making tens, and even hundreds of millions of dollars, who have taken the same path as In-N-Out. They don’t need to be first, second, or even tenth, in their space, and have instead chosen to focus on a small percent of a massive market. They answer to customers, not investors, and focus on making their employees, customers, and themselves happy.
Have you listened to The Web Ahead? If you work on the web, and you haven’t, you’re monumentally missing out. The Web Ahead is a great show where Jen Simmons talks to some of the smartest people in our industry, and sparks conversations about web technologies like no one else can.
The new website for the show is absolutely beautiful. She’s done such an amazing job. Designing websites for podcasts has become a bit stagnant, with most1 resorting to a cookie-cutter episode title, description, audio player, and show notes. Jen breaks the mold with a beautiful audio player, a more in-depth description of topics, and a transcript that actually looks good.
As soon as we saw news of AMC doing a subscription, Kelly and I were convinced to sign up. Here are the things I like, and don’t like about it.
Pros
Three movies a week is amazing. We love movies, but don’t usually see more than three a week. That being said, since we’ve had the subscription, we’ve hit that limit a few times already.
The buying experience is really simple and easy.
Canceling a reservation is simple and easy.
No restrictions on watching movies on opening night, which we love to do.
Feels like we’re just another moviegoer except we don’t pay at the end.
$19.95/month feels expensive, but when you think about it, you wouldn’t even get two movies at $10/ticket. With AMC A-List, you get 12 movies a month.
You collect rewards points for your concession purchases and the price of the subscription. That’s awesome.
Cons
No family account. I don’t necessarily want a discount, just a way to connect accounts as part of the same family.
This means I can’t buy our tickets together. Instead we both need to reserve separately and make sure we have seats together.
If you want more info, I recommend reading through the FAQ.
As you can see, the pros far outweigh the cons. If you live near an AMC theater, and you love going to the movies, this subscription is for you.
For the past two years, I’ve run my own business, Anythin’ Goes. I’ve been so incredibly happy to work on some awesome projects with great people. On Monday, I begin a new chapter.
As some of you know, I’m getting married to my best friend in May. Since December, I’d been looking for a great company to join. Looking for a job is a difficult process. You end up reading a lot of job descriptions; some are written well, others are really not.
Two weeks ago, I interviewed with Matt Crest. The first interview went really well. On the second interview, I was convinced. I really wanted this job. I was excited about the work, and I felt I fit with the team.
Monday, March 30th, is my first day at Artletic. I’m so excited about this opportunity. I’ll be able to use my skills to help the team, but I know there will be much for me to learn from this great group of people.
I’ve interviewed with a lot of companies in the past four months, and I thank them all for chatting with me. I also want to thank all of you who made intros for me, hired me in the last two years, and who sent me job listings you thought I’d be great for. That type of generosity can never be fully repaid, but I promise to try my best.
I want to give a special shoutout to Matthew Kammerer, Jory Raphael, Nicole Dominguez, Chris Kennedy, Jonathan Cutrell, John Locke, Myke Hurley, and Bermon Painter. If it weren’t for you, there would’ve been months that I wouldn’t have been able to pay my rent. You didn’t know it, but your help was monumental, and I thank you.
