I’ve had a number of offline friends, and people I network with ask me recently what’s the secret to starting an online business. So I’ve decided to start my blog back up with a series devoted to starting online businesses. And even offer in person coaching here in San Diego. The course will be absolutely free as will the content. So sign up for my newsletter in the subscription box and let’s get rocking.

Warnings & Disclaimers

This is not a get rich quick scheme.
My earnings may not reflect your earnings.
There are many factors that contribute to success & failure.
Being a founder is lonely, but it doesn’t have to be.
Being a founder is riddled with doubt.
Being a founder will bankrupt you.
Failure haunts you.
It can feel inescapable.

What you are going to learn

How to start an online business
How to select a successful niche
How to build an email list
How to solve people’s problems
How to create a digital product
How to master Content Marketing
How to master Search Engine Optimization
How to master Social Media Marketing

When, Where, & How

Click Here Sign Up Now & Get Started

I’m not sure when I chose to become an entrepreneur. On many levels I was born this way. My first startup was when I was 7 years old buying and selling items from friends at a profit. Or buying and selling items from my packed lunch in school.

For me often the joy is in thinking of an idea and bringing it into reality. For the last 10 years off and on I’ve been building websites, launching them, and turning them into businesses. Sometimes it takes 3 months to turn an idea into a business, other times it takes a year. Sometimes I profit immediately other times I lose money. Money is rarely a motivation.

Often times the motivation is creation, and that’s all. I’ve created everything from travel websites, celebrity gossip websites, car websites, to technology news websites. I’ve developed apps, wordpress plugins, and marketed wordpress themes.

I became an entrepreneur because it challenges me. It pushes me to use my skills, and forces me to learn new things all the time. It encourages me to compete against myself to create something better. And in turn to become a better person.

Right now I’m building 2.5 start ups and loving every minute of it.

Half of my time is helping customers with new content, and guest blogging placements at Readable Content. And the other half of the time I’m building my own affiliate network of sites at Bryghten.

Both businesses feed off of each other. One pushes me to better for my own business, and the other pushes me to be better for my clients. They both allow me to grow and learn.

In the end I expect both of them to be extremely profitable, but more importantly they are amazing learning opportunities and help me expand my experience, and learning to new heights.

And that is why I became an entrepreneur.

Here’s how I’m effected by the passing of Aaron Swartz. Depression is a real problem in our world. 8 years ago I attempted suicide because of a major health crisis and I failed. It took me months to recover. And I’m not sure I ever completely recovered emotionally.

Over the years I’ve struggled with bouts of depression. Last year especially so, even though things have been looking up for me both financially and with my business. I’ve taken on more responsibility and feel like I’m at a place I haven’t been in 5 or 6 years. Yet, I struggled and grew more depressed even with more success. Loneliness and depression tore at my soul more so this year than most. Yet, at this very moment I’m surrounded by people who care. I know it’s not a long term solution, but for now I’m in a good place.

I’m grateful for life. And the opportunities I have to create on the web, and to connect with people in the real world. Yet, tonight I’m saddened by the passing of Aaron Swartz because it’s a constant reminder of my own battles, and my own human fraility and struggle with depression.

RIP Aaron. You will be missed.

In our modern day and age it seems to me that more and more men are neutered. Yes, I said it. Neutered. We are afraid to be men. Afraid to step into leadership roles in our societies, in our workplaces, in our businesses, in our families, and in our communities. Men used to be great servants. Today more and more people just look out for themselves.

Don’t worry here are 7 hobbies that will help you get your manhood back.

Guaranteed.

1. Start An Online Business
Starting an online business at 21 was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I NEVER regret this important step in my manhood. It gave me confidence, it forced me expand my horizons, and it pushed me to learn new skills, and gave me amazing self-esteem. More than all of that it taught me to believe in myself when I had never really believed I could do anything with my life.

2. Learn To Code
Learning how to building websites, and building an online business is amazing. But if you want to really challenge yourself. When I was in my early growing up years I learned DOS, and C++. It was the most rewarding thing I ever did as a kid. It forced me to achieve things I would have never imagined. It’s a skill I don’t use much these days. But it was the foundation that I leaned on to feel comfortable enough to launch a technology startup at 21.

3. Learn To Play A Musical Instrument
This year I’m learning how to play an instrument. I’ve decided on a mountain dulcimer. It’s my goal this year is to challenge myself to enjoy creating my own music. It gives me an excuse to step away from the computer and do something new. And new is something I really need.

4. Do Something Outdoors
When I lived in Mazatlan I used to enjoy riding the waves. I jogged along the beach. I hiked to the top of the lighthouse. I went to the gym. Doing something outdoors is not only good for your physique, it’s even better for your mind.

5. Do Something For Someone Who Needs It
One thing I enjoy doing is doing something for someone in need. It fulfills one of man’s greatest soulful needs. The need to rescue. The need to help. The psychological need to be a leader, and be needed. Helping someone in need often does great things for your soul, and helps meet others needs. Building schools for in need children is part of the core mission of my company. Doing something for others should be apart of your core living. Even if it’s a great sacrifice.

6. Learn To Cook
Tim Ferris’s book Four Hour Chef is an inspiration to me. Not because I’m a huge Tim Ferris fan, but because I believe it challenges men to step into the kitchen and learn to cook, or better yet create amazing things in the kitchen. Cooking is another form of servanthood, and a great way to express love in many cultures. Something I think all men need more practice at. In order to break out of our societies cookie cutter expressions of video game dominated violence. As men we need to learn how to be servants, cooks, and creators. All things we can learn by spending time in the kitchen.

7. Workout Like A Caveman
Working out doesn’t need to be going to the gym. I hate going to the gym. It’s sweaty, it’s smelly. It’s boring. And I feel like I didn’t accomplish anything by the time I’m done. But you know I love doing. I love chopping wood. I love moving stacks of lumber. These are great natural workouts. I love sprinting along the shore. I love doing physical workouts that don’t require me to go to a place that feels like a prison. Take back your manhood, and skip the gym. Instead go volunteer to split some firewood for your neighbor. Shovel snow for your entire block. Help unload lumber with strangers at Home Depot. Not only will be doing something good for others, you will be getting a great workout.

“Do something you are proud of. Instead of struggling to get one up on everyone else, raise your awareness to the point where the competition becomes insignificant. Get in the habit of creating real value, and you won’t feel the need to take anything away from others.

To be truly effective be sincere and helpful. Find satisfaction and fulfillment in making a difference and pulling all of life forward with you.” ~ Marc and Angel

If you truly want to succeed at anything you have to learn to create value. Whether you have a traditional 9-5, or whether you are an entrepreneur, or a small business owner. Heck, if you are just a parent. You have to instill value in your child.

For me in my life I’ve seen the worst of life, and I’ve seen the best. I’ve seen sunrises, and I’ve seen sunsets. All from high mountain peaks, and from the lows of empty valleys.

And the lessons I’ve learned are always simple. No matter what in this life you have to create value. You have to be valuable to someone. In doing this you will have immense success in this world.

Every day practice learning something. Something you can use to create value.

I put up a quote yesterday from a book I’m reading called Flinch, by Julien Smith. It’s a challenging book and it’s free on Amazon.

Here’s another powerful quote:
“It’s time you found out what you are made of.
It’s time you made the world flinch, not the other way around.

Fact: Those who face the flinch make a difference. The rest do not.

Those who leave the corridors find new frontiers, avenues for growth and happiness
that most never encounter, while the rest will be left in old deserts, like vultures picking
on scraps.

Facing the flinch, and being willing to get the scars that come with it, is the only thing
that divides your present from your future. Those who fight it are easily identified—you
can see the fire in their eyes and the determination that practically courses through
them. Their determination is like an aura; it can be felt just by being near them.”

My whole life I’ve been flinching. Allowing the world to make me flinch.
When there’s so much more I could be. So much more than I am.

All my experiences in my life all of the things I have overcome are a result of this defining principle.

I flinch.
Yes, many difficult things I have overcome.
But so have many people.
But often I have flinched.
And when I do it always hurts.

It hurts my heart. It causes problems even if for a moment.
Yes, people have given up on me.
So what ? We all have to pick ourselves up and move forward.
Yes, I’ve struggled in my life, and yet I’m still doing just fine.
Moving forward, and growing as a person.

The only regret I have in this life however is…

I flinch.

I mean I know we all do.
But the greatest moments in my life, the things I’m most proud of are when I’m not flinching.

And right now is one of those moments. I am going to stop flinching.
I need to live the life I desire. The only way to do that is to STOP.

Seize life with everything I have and become who I need to become. Now that the fire has burned away all that I do not want to be, I can become whoever I want.

And so the door opens, and onward I go…

So, do you flinch ?

For four days and four nights the rain continued to fall upon our courtyard.
For four days and four nights the tears fell from the windows of my soul into the ground below.

For a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day.
Maybe it is you who does not understand time, and maybe it is I who does.

The struggles of this fortnight are mere opportunities to seize success.
But alas too many people see them as suffering and embrace the suffering.

Would you rather embrace suffering ?
Or would you rather dig the wells of success ?

For four days and four nights I dug the wells of success.
For four days and four nights I let go of my suffering.

And what I discovered was that everyone is offered this choice.
To embrace suffering, or to embrace the opportunities of success…

Four days. Four nights.

The choice is yours.

“You don’t know anyone at the party, so you don’t want to go. You don’t like cottage cheese, so you haven’t eaten it in years. This is your choice, of course, but don’t kid yourself: it’s also the flinch.

Your personality is not set in stone. You may think a morning coffee is the most enjoyable thing in the world, but it’s really just a habit. Thirty days without it, and you would be fine. You think you have a soul mate, but in fact you could have had any number of spouses. You would have evolved differently, but been just as happy.

You can change what you want about yourself at any time. You see yourself as someone who can’t write or play an instrument, who gives in to temptation or makes bad decisions, but that’s really not you. It’s not ingrained. It’s not your personality. Your personality is something else, something deeper than just preferences, and these details on the surface, you can change anytime you like.

If it is useful to do so, you must abandon your identity and start again. Sometimes, it’s the only way.

Set fire to your old self. It’s not needed here. It’s too busy shopping, gossiping about others, and watching days go by and asking why you haven’t gotten as far as you’d like. This old self will die and be forgotten by all but family, and replaced by someone who makes a difference.

Your new self is not like that. Your new self is the Great Chicago Fire—overwhelming, overpowering, and destroying everything that isn’t necessary.” ~ Julien Smith, The Flinch

“We all have our time machines, don’t we. Those that take us back are memories…And those that carry us forward, are dreams.” ― H.G. Wells

I took a serious step forward in 2012. I’m proud of myself. I’m gaining my focus back. Especially toward the last few months of 2012. 2010-2011 were tough years. But they were formable years. Years of struggle. Years of maturity. Years I spent out of the game.

2012 was pretty awesome. I got a lot done all considering how miserable 2009-2011 were.

I Started A New Business
It was an up and down 2012 business wise. But I started something and I’m committed to it for the long haul. Which feels great. Bryghten, is a handful of affiliate websites that generate leads for online colleges and universities. Some of the profits get funneled back to investors. 25% gets funneled back to me to cover salary and expenses, and the rest goes to building schools in the developing world. I fully expect 2013 to be pretty amazing for Bryghten and our impact.

I Transitioned Away From Consulting
I spent most of 2011 doing consulting. It was hard. It was miserable for me. So much uncertainty, working in someone else’s office, on someone else’s projects. It’s not my forte. I managed to get away from that in 2012 and it created a lot more happiness in my life as well as freedom.

I Spent Most of the year in Mazatlan
I spent most of 2012 in Mazatlan about 9 months actually. It was amazing. But in many ways it was a learning experience. Friends came and friends went. Ups came and downs came. But all in all it was great to be in one place for a considerable amount of time.

I Ended the year with net positive in Savings
For the first time in a few years I ended December with cash in the bank, and a positive financial outlook with all my projects. The key really is spending less and less, and reinvesting in my websites. Giving up on smaller projects and focusing on the bigger more profitable ones seems to be the answer to my long term financial success.

I Learned to Play Texas Holdem
I sepnt the last
few months of the year learning Texas holdem. It’s a fun hobby when I need something to distract me from my normal work routines. It also seemed to keep my mind fresh. It’s a hobby I plan to keep doing, even if just to keep my mind active when I’m not working.

I Overcame a pattern of health disasters
Since 2007 I seemingly battle a string of health disasters, and 2012 looked like I was going to have some struggles after a rough 2011 but with a focus on eating better, and exercising more I managed to steer clear of any disasters. I hope to continue this pattern into 2013.

Thoughts on Next Year

Work
I’m really focused right now on working about twice as much as I did this year. I feel like I’m in a healthy groove. I’m loving what I do. And while my workflows aren’t always 100% successful and efficient I’m making solid progress on many fronts. I look forward to striving to reach my bigger goals and letting go of my smaller work goals.

Relationships
Dating was something I was very inefficient with last year. I had 2 girlfriends, one of which was pretty awesome at times, and unstable some of the time. And in the end her irrational behavior scared the bejesus out of me. Don’t worry she was American. My other girlfriend was a real sweetheart but we had our testy moments in the end I realized it just wasn’t working out. And nor was it going to last long term. This year I plan to pretty much spend about 1% of my energy looking for a new relationship. I know I’m not getting any younger but honestly for the next 4 years my focus is going to be on my business development. I don’t expect to develop a long term anything in 2013. But you never know in years past when it was a larger focus of my life nothing came of it. Now that I am determined to leave dating behind something make come of it. And so be it.

In Conclusion
I am really looking forward to business growth, and personal growth in 2013. I seemingly have found new energy again and that really excites me. Like, a lot. I don’t think I’ve had these energy levels since 2006. That’s a great sign of success as that was one of my better years.

“A mans calling is written on his true heart, and he discvers it when he enters the frontier of his deep desires.”
― John Eldredge