Five years in – what I’ve learned

It’s hard to believe this month marks 5 years I have had this website up and running. In this instant gratification society, most people can’t really conceive of having spent 5 full years without making money at something. Side hustles being what they are, most demand some investment and longevity to build a brand, establish your expertise, and allow for maturity in the market.

Yet here I am, having spent the last 5 years honing my skills and presentation, and I am still establishing patterns. As part of my 2023 check-up, I have established a goal of continuing to post at least twice a month – which, when you are as busy as I am, can be difficult. That’s not an excuse though; you make time for what’s important. To that end, I thought it prudent to recap some things I’ve learned 5 years in.

It’s all about discipline

Discipline is a game of chess and we all should seek to master it

It’s true: when you are doing something, you get out what you put in. I have found this to be true when it comes to the content and pursuit of building a brand. Of course, one needs to factor opportunity in, too. It’s a waste if there is no market for your idea(s). But if you are confident there is an avenue to pursue, then be sure the principle of getting out what you put in is at work.

Put another way, you NEED discipline if you are going to succeed at something. Talent alone will not suffice; tenacity is a far better trait to possess. If you haven’t already read it, my article on talent vs tenacity is something I highly recommend you check out.

Discipline is a trait that is often undervalued and overlooked. Moreover, it’s also something that’s become somewhat pejorative: it’s deemed unnecessary when you want something, and you want something now. That’s hardly the way things ever work though, is it? The question’s rhetorical – we already know the answer.

In the end, writing for this website for the last 5 years has taught me and increased my level of discipline – one that has been good for me, the content, and the brand, too. IF you are pursuing something, be sure to include generous amounts of discipline in the mix.

What’s your reason

This is a marathon not a sprint – and if you do not know the why, you will be tempted to quit

This may seem strange, but you have to assess why it is you actually do something. Is it to fill a void? Is it because you see opportunity? Perhaps you work at something to get paid. Or maybe you simply enjoy it?

Whatever the reason, it’s imperative to know why you do something.

For me, I have a mixture of the above, but one stands out more than the rest: because I enjoy writing. If I didn’t I certainly would not have continued on 5 years in without any return on my investment of time, energy, and, least of all, money. I am aware of this and understand I’m playing the long game; this takes time, and if I didn’t enjoy writing, I’d of given up a long time ago. Which is precisely what many do in the face of long-term initiatives.

No matter what it is you are doing, you can and should understand not only the what but also the why. It could be the difference between giving up and sticking in there when the going gets tough.

Not everyone can write

I am amazed at the number of people who are “authors” but cannot write

This one seems oddly compelling to me but hear me out – not everyone can write. Of course, many people cannot write – I can hear people interjecting. I am not talking about those who do not write – I’m talking about those who do.

Have you ever looked at some of the blogs out there or the clickbait titles designed to lure you to a website (which I HATE), only to find out the writing is terrible? You know what I mean: the sentence structure is clunky, the writing is superfluous – a word salad of sorts – and the flow leaves something to be desired. In contrast, good writing has good flow, omits unnecessary words, and still gets the point across while clearly articulating what’s being communicated. Good writing highlights the poor – and not in a good way, either.

By no means do I claim to be the best writer; I’ve read some great pieces that demonstrate my own deficiencies. I’ve encountered writer’s block and an inability to clearly get a point across, deleting ideas as a result. Perhaps even more frustrating is a lack of authenticity at times, which leads to mediocre writing and a meager piece. I use the word “that” entirely too much, and “that” is something I need to work on. I can poke fun at my own shortcomings – especially those I’m aware of – and welcome constructive criticism. What’s more, I treat rules for writing more like guidelines; I start sentences with and, end them with prepositions, capitalize words for emphasis, and exploit the oxford comma to the nth degree. I’m aware of all that and even more.

Having said that, however, I would add that much of the above adds a distinctive flavor to my writing; not only is it more fluid, but also more dynamic. I’ve been told as much, too. Academic writing is fine and has its place, but when I’m trying to get a point across, I’ll use whatever grammatical adjustments I deem necessary to do so. Long live the creative writer!

Seriously though, take a look around at the web and look at the shoddy writing in abundance – it will make you appreciate the stellar wordsmith and hopefully, keep you coming back for more.

*SIDE NOTE: I started using Grammarly a few months back – not because I felt the need to; it was due to taking classes in a Master’s program and it was a requirement. Much to my chagrin, there have been times when the recommendation(s) were better than my own style – and I reluctantly adopted them. On the flip side, though, there are times when the software wants me to change something and I felt it was better in my voice. Through it all, I am a better writer than I was 5 years ago, and 5 years from now I will be better still.*

Good content is worth the words

With articles online, it’s all about the SEO

It may not be apparent to many, but it’s telling that podcasts have exploded in popularity over the past 5 years. Who would have thought long-form communications would be as popular as they are?

As it turns out, the short, sound-bite-ridden communicative styles have their place, just not in the marketplace of respectable ideas. For comprehensive and nuanced communication, we see a surge in long-form, whether substantive articles, podcasts, or some other medium. This website and the content published demonstrate that quite clearly.

For example, the most-read piece on this website is The Pros and Cons of the Skilled Trades – it’s read daily and has a word tally of more than 5,000. That is a substantive amount – but good content is worth the words. The average number of words for an article this website publishes is just shy of 2,300 – a respectable amount to be sure. What’s more, robust word content rates higher when evaluated by the bots for SEO (Search Engine Optimization); essentially, if you are seen as an authority, write substantive articles (NOT word salad or clickbait garbage), and are intentional about posting – you rate higher to search engines – and that allows you access to a greater audience, simply put. I don’t make the rules, but I sure am trying to play by them for maximum effect. In my pursuit of trying to make The Wealthy Ironworker a household name, I’ll do what I think I need to (within reason) to get the brand out there – and that includes being at the top of the Google machine where it counts.

In the end, solid, thought-provoking content is the operating mode here and I do not expect that to change.

I may need to adopt other avenues to expand my reach

I’m looking into uncharted territory with this action item

I wrote a post a while back about battling the stigma of the trades – and it can be found here. To be sure, it exists and it’s a problem going forward – something we should be devoting energy to attempting to find solutions – especially with the shortage affecting us all.

To that end, I had two Ph.D. candidates reach out to me because of that article; both were excited to find my content and intended to study this stigma for their respective dissertations. I had an interview with one over the phone and at the end of our correspondence he said I should think about doing a podcast – it’d increase my audience and get the message out there more. I’ve thought about it since then, done some research, and even set it as a goal for 2023: research and explore a podcast. For the past week or so I have been listening to other podcasts about starting one (the irony here is thick) and have looked up what it would take just starting out.

The reason for the above is simple: I realize with a podcast I can reach a wider audience than I cannot with the website. I have no plans to abandon this; rather, I merely intend to augment what infrastructure I have existing. Complimenting each other is the main goal and eventually, I hope to have people seek me out as an authority on the subject – or even a multitude of subjects. Whatever gets the word out there to the broadest audience possible – that’s what I want to see.

To that end, I am serious about a podcast and think it may be a late 2023 initiative for me. From what I can tell, it doesn’t take a lot of equipment, I don’t need a studio – just a quiet place – and starting out, I only need to expound on the articles I have already published. The more I look into it, the more I am emboldened to begin the process. Don’t fret; should I launch one, readers of The Wealthy Ironworker will definitely know about it first. Keep reading and telling others.

Conclusion

Everything has an end – including this article

After 5 years, I am still surprised at how much I have learned – and have yet to. I have content – and a list of potential posts for the future – but I still need to polish up this website more. There is so much more I can do and I’ll keep plugging away as I try to make things better. And if I were to wait until I felt ready? I would still be waiting; sometimes it’s just as good to dive right in and get at it. This year I hope will be better than the last – and perhaps it will be the one where this content goes viral. A podcast is not just possible but probable; and with it, I hope the message spreads. Plus, I’d like to have some more fun in the process; after all, life is short and we should do that which not only provides for our family but also capitalizes on opportunity.

Thank you all for an enjoyable 5 years – and here’s to 5 more to come!