The Quiet Before The Storm
By CHM on Apr 3, 2008 in 'Down Home' Financial Planning, Featured
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I have now entered into my 10th month of blogging, I started on July 9th of last year. During that time, there have been some pretty big swings, emotional and otherwise (much like the investment markets themselves), and Chance Favors has zigzagged in a few different directions over that time.
I think blogging is an evolutionary process… let me correct that - I know blogging is an evolutionary process. You have this picture in your mind of where you want to go with your precious cargo and it never quite turns out that way, things change.
Dealing With The Ups and Downs
I’ve read many times over - that you have to find your voice and your blogging comfort zone. Well, I’m here to say that is very very true and I have struggled mightily along the way.
There have been days where I’ve been elated by some little bit of success and channeled that positive energy for hours on end. There are days where I sit in from of the key board almost loathing it, depressed by it - the key letters as foreign as another language.
There are days where I feel like I cobble out posts, much the same way a mason chisels away at a large slab of cold granite. There are days where everything is as fluid as running water, the letters and words connected to your fingertips, just dripping off the ends of your hands, and before you know it you’ve written a mini- masterpiece- at least in your own mind. I prefer those kind of days;)
Way Back When
Originally, I wondered whether or not I should have dedicated my entire blog to all things Roth IRA. I had a catchy name in the waiting - “Roth Matters”. Well, I’m glad I didn’t do that, as there’s much more to the sometimes interesting world of financial planning than just the might Roth IRA. Over the course of the last 9 months I’ve softened my stance, as well. Although, still a big proponent of the Roth IRA, I’ve lost my militant edge.
Something To Be Proud Of
I also invented a term called “Down Home” financial planning and brought financial calculators onto the site, paying for 6 calculators for an entire year - so that visitors could use them to sort out certain Roth/Traditional/Savings/Nestegg issues for themselves. I’m sad to say when their lease is up (in July), those calculators won’t be returning. And what about Down Home?
Don’t worry, that’s here to stay. Down Home is a synonym for informal. And I thought because of the less complex nature of financial planning for thirtysomething’s ( as opposed to those in the Sweetspot), “Down Home” would be a cool phrase to encapsulate the type of planning many GenXer’s needed. I still believe that and will continue to brand that phrase to a degree:
“Down Home financial planning, slightly less than formal.” I thought it was kind of clever when I made it up and still like the way it sounds.
A Big Announcement
Now, I’m writing all this today because after 8 months of blogging I have…
a much better sense about my blogging voice and what direction I’d like to take this blog next. (You didn’t think I was gonna quit, did ya?)
I’ve addressed many of the issues that I think GenXer’s should be focusing on over the past 8 months (just look at the big bolded sections of my tag cloud - over to the right - to see what I’ve written about most.) Going forward - I will be taking this ship in a more focused direction, a direction I’ve hinted at for quite sometime.
But Before I do that
With change there comes hiccups, so I ask that you bare with me, as I learn new things that will slow down the frequency of my blogging for a short period of time, think of it as the calm before the storm. Once I get my mojo, my intention is to be blogging slightly more regularly than I do now.
(My current posting frequency is about 16 times a month or once every other day - I know that’s chicken feed for some, but that’s what works for me. TIP: for new bloggers - follow your heart and learn what frequency works for you, setting unrealistic expectations will only end your blogging career prematurely.)
Looking Ahead
I have a vision of what I want this blog to become and I’m setting a course for the future. At this point you’re probably exploding with excitement, wondering what’s happening here. Is he re-inventing the wheel, you may be thinking? Actually, NO.
Staying in the vein of Down Home Planning, I am going to start taking a more hands on approach to showing my friends and GenX contemporaries (and all others for that matter) how to start preparing for your future. To date, I’ve spoken about what you should do, where you should focus your attention, etc. Now it’s time to take action and show you how to do these things.
I will be evaluating different personal finance/financial planning software and hope to illustrate my findings by introducing video tutorials or vidcasts to the blog over the next several weeks and months. Before I can do this, I just need to learn more and become comfortable from a technical standpoint. And God knows that’s where I’ve struggled in the past.
Stay tuned more to come shortly…
Tags: 'Down Home' Financial Planning, Roth IRA Basics
Frugal Dad | Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
It sounds like you have big plans for Chance Favors, and I look forward to following along! I can appreciate your comments on the evolution of a blog from inception to its current form. I have been blogging half the time you have, but in that short period Frugal Dad has evolved from a hard-core frugal site to a more well-rounded (I hope) personal finance site, with a good bit of frugality sprinkled in. I think blogging is list most businesses - evolve or die.
Keep up the great work!
CHM | Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
Thanks FD - you do a great job and are a natural at it - which is evident by your success and early popularity.
I also look forward to see where this blog goes from here:)
Ron@TheWisdomJournal | Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
Waiting with eager anticipation to see whatcha got!
David | Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
Looking forward to the next chapter Ciaran!
CHM | Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
Me too guys! I just hope it’s fun and informative. Thanks for the well wishes.
hank | Apr 5, 2008 | Reply
Absolutely excited to see what’s to come! My blog has also transformed a bit over the same time; I started in September, so 2 months after you, but blogging REALLY is a living, breathing, moving thing. It SHOULD change, it shows that you’re evolving yourself as a person and a blogger.
I, like you and FrugalDad, have morphed from my original “investments” only (your vision was niched even more in the ROTH only; that would have been a hard road to haul for sure) to a more well rounded Personal Finance blog. That’s the path to take apparently.
I’m all for the video entries also, I was thinking of a way to integrate it also in the PersonalFinance niche, but couldn’t think of any. I have a few ideas wrapped around blogging in general that require a video post, but interested to see what you have cooked up on the video of strictly Personal Finance…
I’ll be listening in!
CHM | Apr 6, 2008 | Reply
Hey Hank,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I’m interested to see what happens myself. My initial plans are to put up some sample financial plans (prob. using eFinplan or MoneyGuide Pro) and use voice and video technology to explain what is going on.
The goal being to open people’s eyes to what really happens with fin. planning software and show ease of use… encouraging people to start doing it for themselves.
We shall see how it all goes.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
Jeff@My Super-Charged Life | Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
Ciaran - I’m missing your posts, but I’m excited to see what you’ve got up your sleeve. I think the vidcasts are a great idea. It sounds like something that very few others are doing. It should work good for you. I can’t wait to see it. I’ll check back soon.
CHM | Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
Hey Jeff - thanks for dropping by. It’s been strange to be on my computer, but not to post. I will say it has allowed me to catch up on a few other things and investigate the video side of it… but this part doesn’t come natural to me, so far its been frustrating (like when learning something new) but baby steps. I hope to have a trial run video up in the next day or two.
I don’t see things really heating up here until the end of next week at the earliest. I have some friends coming from overseas next week and will be away for most of the week. But once I nail the video editing process etc. I think I will be more active then before. I also downloaded some good voice recognition software that I hope will improve my efficiencies…
Zandriana | Apr 21, 2008 | Reply
hi Ciaran,
I’ve just happened across your blog and I simply wanted to wish you well. You write with such openness and it is clear you care about what you do and the people you serve. Its a pleasure to see someone who cares, talking and educating others about matters financial. Keep being your authentic self
CHM | Apr 22, 2008 | Reply
Thank you Zandriana, I appreciate your kind words and hope to be back to blogging shortly. I hope you drop by in the future:)
Heather Allen | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Hey Ciaran,
I did try a trackback from my post, but perhaps it didn’t work. I wanted to thank you for the inspiration and for the permission(!) to write at my own frequency rather than the rate dictated by others. I was finding it a bit of a strain.
CHM | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Glad to help Heather, I’ve gone off the path a bit here recently, as things have gotten somewhat complicated… I hope to be back soon.
You know yourself best and must work within your comfort zone, then you can succeed, good luck;)
Herm | May 7, 2008 | Reply
C - hope all is well. Drop me an email and let me know what’s up.
Matt H.
Aaron Stroud | May 19, 2008 | Reply
Looking forward to the new projects! Btw, good call on forgoing the Roth-specific site. It would have been an extremely useful tool, but limiting at the same time. Not to mention Congress could have made your blog obsolete overnight!
The Baglady | May 28, 2008 | Reply
Hey, I really love your blog, and your name is cool, too. We started about the same time, and it’s nice to see how much this blog has grown! Great job and I learned a lot from you. Keep on writing!
Scott | Jun 12, 2008 | Reply
Looks like I found your blog at the perfect time. It can be struggling for new and veteran bloggers to stay focused and create consistent content. You are the first CFP I have found with a blog and willing to open up and share some wonderful advice. I have several friends who are cfp’s and congratulate you on your success and dedication to blogging and helping others.
fivecentnickel.com | Jul 10, 2008 | Reply
With it being July 10th, 2008 you should throw up a quick post. Since you started on July 9th, 2007 you could then claim that you’ve been blogging for a year.
vikram | Jul 22, 2008 | Reply
gr8 blog buddy love the way u write just keep on writing and we’ll keep on reading more from u
Stephen | Sep 14, 2008 | Reply
Personally, I much prefer a blogger that evolves over time. This really shows in the blog posts over time as it caters to the maturing information that appears to morph and capture more readers.
So really that takes great discipline and a success type attitude to want to create and recreate the blog as reflection of yourself don’t you think?
So please go right ahead, I’ll most certainly be watching.
Julie | Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
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