A big part of this blog from the beginning has been financial transparency.  I’ve shifted from sharing the details of our daily spending (what we used to do), to sharing the details of the business side of the blog.  It seems many of you are most interested in this one segment of our financial journey.  :-)

June was another slow month here (at least on the surface), with only one content based post the entire month!  Yikes!

The progress of the second guide, Sell Your Crap, has been extremely uphill.  Like Unautomate Your Finances, the scope of the project just continues to grow and grow!  It’s nearly 45+ days late in coming and I’ve even considered shelving it for a while and moving onto something else!

Thanks to some helpful consolations from trusted mentors, I’m staying the course and finishing the content as we speak.  It’s better launching 30-45 days later than expected than to launch a crappy product (or to not launch at all)!  I know when the time comes, I’ll be proud of what is certain my most ambition business undertaking to date.  :-)

Despite sparse posting, here are the numbers for June:

Net from UYF Sales:  $328.52

• Total Guides Sold (June):  24
• Income (less Paypal fees):  $407.48
• Affiliate Payments:  -$78.96

Additional Income:  $1560.32

• Freelance Writing:  $400.00
• Thesis/ScribeSEO:  $126.06
• Unconventional Guides:  $919.53
• Amazon:  $24.73
• Fire Starter Sessions:  $90.00

Direct Expenses:  -$110.90

• Hosting:  -$14.95
• Aweber:  -$29.00
• ScribeSEO:  -$27.00
• E-junkie:  -$5.00
• VodBurner:  -$9.95

Net (Income – Expenses):  $1777.94

This brings the average of the last 4 months (since monetization from guides) to:  ~$2020/month

July’s Business Plans…

June’s goal was to launch Sell Your Crap and to have that also increase Unautomate Your Finances do to store traffic and package sales.  Obviously, this goal will roll over to July!

Other plans including a complete revamp of the Militia Newsletter, which will become a weekly e-mail with 3-5 free giveaways, 5-10 useful/interesting links, and recaps of current and past content on the site.

Lastly, I’ll be coordinating a 15 mega-blog guest posting tour to help support launch and create some momentum.  I’ll be documenting the results, traffic, and other metrics to share down the road!

As you all know, 90% of my effort and content will remain 100% free.  I’ll continue to openly share our journey to eliminate our debt, our battle to avoid accumulating clutter, and the ups and downs as we attempt to pursue our passions!

For those of you on a journey to produce online income yourself, feel free to e-mail me any specific questions you may have!

Hope everyone has a fantastic June!

Xoxoxo,

-Baker

photo by Matthew Simantov

I try not to do it too often, but I’m asking for your help!

I’m wrapping-up the creation of my second guide, Sell Your Crap. In order to decide which final pieces will be included (and which tips I’ll break down even further!), I’ve put together a quick, 5-min survey using Google Forms.

Click Here to Take the Quick 5-Min Survey!

Your answers really do help a lot.  The first survey I ran (several months ago) was a huge help.  In order to show my thanks, I’ll be drawing one survey for every 100 submitted to give a FREE, advanced copy of Sell Your Crap to.  So not only do you help me and the project, but you can win a free copy before anyone else has a chance to see it!

*Alternatively, you can also take the survey anonymously.  Totally up to you!

Here’s the link one more time if you are interested in winning a free copy:

Click Here to Take the Quick 5-Min Survey!

Just a couple questions about the content covered in the upcoming guide!

Have Clutter?  I want to see it!

I’m calling on any/all Man Vs. Debt readers who have any shred of clutter (a whole garage, part of a room, or even a junk drawer) that they are wanting to destroy (or just organize/purge/etc…)

I want your pictures!

If you’d like to be a part of Sell Your Crap, I’m collecting genuine, reader pictures of their own trouble spots!  Simply snap a quick photo of any clutter around your house, car, or work and send it to:  Baker @ ManVsDebt . com

I have several ideas for the photos, including putting them together in a huge collage or slideshow.  :-)  If you decide to send a picture, I’ll assume you don’t mind me using it on the site or in the guide, etc…  I could surf the internet for anonymous pictures, however I’d love to have real examples from the community!

But I never intend just to take without offering something in return!  For every 20 people that submit a photo (whether I use it or not), I’ll raffle off another FREE, advanced copy of Sell Your Crap.

So that’s officially two ways you can help me and two ways to win free premium content!  :-)  Simply click the links above to take a short survey or get out your camera, take some pictures, and send them to:  Baker @ ManVsDebt . Com !

It’ll be a couple weeks, at least, until launch, so in the meantime be prepared for some anti-consumerism, clutter-killing, and selling online material the next few weeks (hey, it’s on my mind)!

As you know, the interaction and feedback from the community is my favorite part of blogging.  I appreciate your help!

Xoxoxo,

-Baker

It’s been a long, long time since I shared a list of the blogs that regularly influence my life and my business.  It’s time I did so.

We’ve gained several new readers in the past couple of months, some interested in personal finance, some in the travel aspect.  Others in entrepreneurship or ditching their clutter.  With such a diverse community, I decided it would be best to share the leading blogs I follow for inspiration in several of these niches.

At one point, not so long ago, I followed over 100+ blogs.  More recently, I simply don’t have the time to keep up with many of them, despite the information being incredibly valuable.  So slowly, but surely, I’ve eliminated my RSS Reader down to just most of the sites below.

Keep in mind I have dozens and dozens of other blogs I regularly follow via Twitter and Facebook.  This isn’t simply a list of my blogging friends (while some of them are good friends), it’s a compilation of what sources have been the greatest influence on me in several topics that I’m currently interested in.

I hope you enjoy what turned out to be a fairly beefy list.  If you happen to find any new sources for inspiration amongst these rockstars, please help share the post by stumbling it below:

Pay Off Your Debt

Personal Finance blogs to spark momentum, regardless of what financial stage you are in.  While those familiar with personal finance surely already recognize the sites listed below, I firmly believe that for someone new, 95% of personal finance is well documented and covered in the sites below (and there is something for all tastes):

Get Rich Slowly

Get Rich Slowly is the online baby of J.D. Roth, an average guy who started studying (and sharing) personal finance knowledge to turn his own situation around several years ago.  For the last 3 years, it’s been a industry leading source of information.  It is still updated daily and was one of the first influences on my own financial journey.  I’m consider myself lucky to be able to contribute to GRS these days with a weekly article!  For a great place to start, check out J.D.’s twelve money tenets featured on the about page.

The Simple Dollar

The Simple Dollar is written by Trent Hamm, a father of 3 (or soon to be three) whom also turned around his own finances and shares what he learns online.  TSD and GRS are often compared, however I find Trent’s writing to have a much different voice than J.D.’s.  I enjoy reading Trent’s amazing book reviews, in-depth cooking posts (for cheap, tasty meals), and his productivity-focused content these days.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich

I Will Teach You To Be Rich is the title of both the blog and the best-selling book by Ramit Sethi.  While the name may seem like a scam, it’s simply a genuine bi-product of Ramit’s witty, in-your-face style.  Ramit primarily focuses on Automation, Earning More Money, Entrepreneurship, and Psychology.  He posts far less frequently than traditional personal finance blogs (something I’ve picked up from him amongst others).  I’m constantly learning about marketing, momentum, and presentation from Ramit.

WiseBread

WiseBread is multi-author blog, which focuses on everything from frugality to productivity hacks.  They feature several articles a day, from a wide variety of columnist and authors.  In terms of traffic and size, they are the Godzilla of the personal finance niche.  I’ve had the pleasure of contributing several articles and can personally attest that the WiseBread team:  Greg, Will, Lynn, and Lindsey, are some of the nicest, most genuine people you’ll ever meet in person.

erica.biz

Erica Douglas created erica.biz after selling her startup for $1,000,000 at the age of 26.  She uses what she learned in the startup would to help teach entrepreneurs how to make more money (both online and off).  Some of the topics Erica covers (and her opinions on them) can be fairly polarizes, a concept she fully embraces.  Her style may not fit everyone, but it helps give me a kick in the pants when I need it.  :-)

Sell Your Crap

Leading blogs focusing on simplicity, minimalism, clutter, and/or organization.

Zen Habits (and mnmlist)

Zen Habits was the first official blog I ever followed consistently.  Actually, it was Leo who turned me onto personal finance blogs like Get Rich Slowly and The Simple Dollar early on.  Leo has been driving the online Simplicity-movement for years now and shows no signs of stopping.  If you are new to Zen Habits, I suggest starting with the Zen Habits Guided Tour Leo has put together.  There is some truly remarkable content buried within this site!

The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project is both a blog and a best-selling book by Gretchen Rubin.  While the Happiness Project (both the blog and the book) covers all facets of happiness, Gretchen devotes a big portion of the beginning of the book to talking about how she attacked the “clutter” in her life (I nodded my head the first several chapters)!  Gretchen does an amazing job of engaging her community, asking for input, and reaching out via video.  The Best of The Happiness Project page contains popular links on everything from Clutter to Relationships.  Start there!

UnClutterer

Unclutterer is a blog edited and run by Erin Doland.  Almost all of the content on the blog is extremely tangible (how-to’s, gidgets, gadgets, or specific information) and the far majority is focused on either decluttering or organizing in some fashion.

Illuminated Mind

Illuminated Mind is a glimpse inside the brain of Jonathan Mead.  Jonathan was one of the very first people to reach out and challenge me when I was getting started.  He pushed me to blog less frequently, but more passionately.  He pushed me to break away from a traditional mold and to carve out my own brand and space.  On the site, Jonathan touches on alternative productivity, fitness, and entrepreneurship (and lots in between).

Bonus:  3 Rising Minimalist Blogging Stars!

The Simplicity/Minimalist online movement is exploding with inspiring up-and-comers.  Here are a couple of my favorite making big moves in the niche:

Far Beyond The Stars – E.V. Bogue is cultivating some explosive growth on Far Beyonds The Stars with in rich, quality posts and content.  It seems nearly every post is both thought provoking and packed with applicable tips.

Becoming Minimalist – Becoming Minimalist maps a young, Vermont family of four’s journey into minimalism.  While this family is a couple years ahead of my own, I connect deeply with the personal journey and writing.

Rowdy Kittens – Rowdy Kittens is run by Tammy Strobel and Logan Smith and discusses a variety of specific minimalist-topics (including fun stuff like car-free living, biking, and the tiny house movement).

Do What You Love

My biggest influences in following your passions and online entrepreneurship!

The Art of Non-Conformity

If you put a gun to my head and made me pick only one blog to follow, it would be The Art of Non-Conformity. Chris Guillebeau’s writing has helped incite my travel adventures, encouraged me to be transparent, and radically changed my small business (see: 279 Days to Overnight Success).  In other news, Chris is opening up enrollment in his Empire Building Kit for good today.  You can see my thoughts on it here:  3 Online Business Truths I Learned from Chris Guillebeau.

Art of Manliness

The Art of Manliness is one of those things that I thought in my head “this would be cool if it actually existed”. Well, thanks to Brett McKay, it does.  Deep down, I’m a man’s man.  I love manly movies.  I like learning about combat, weapons, surviving animal attacks, and fitness.  Not that I do any of these things… but I like to read, watch, listen to information on them!  Particularly, you won’t want to miss 100 Must See Movies:  The Essential Men’s Movie Library and the “So You Want My Job” interview series (with people in interesting careers).

Gary Vay-ner-chuk

If in the social media or blogging world, you’ve almost surely heard of Gary Vaynerchuk.  Gary catapulted to success leveraging his intensely passionate personality and love of wine with the video blog Wine Library TV.  Gary has shifted in the last several years to the social media niche, where he’s become a leading authority.  I find Gary’s energy and transparency addictive, and I’m extremely jealous that his GaryVaynerchuk.com blog is nearly all quick, valuable video (what I’d most like to do).  If you are new to Gary (and into blogging or social media) check out his 2008 Web 2.0 Expo Keynote that changed my outlook on blogging forever.

The Blog of Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss is the best-selling author of The Four Hour Workweek, a book that was really game changing for dozens and dozens of people I know personally.  Tim’s tagline is “experiments in lifestyle design” which is a perfect indication of what you can find on his blog.  I admire Tim’s ability to take a subject, break it down, obtain a certain level of comfort or mastery, and then move on.  He does it with topics from weight loss, to sleep optimization, to travel hacking.  Ultimately, that’s the lifestyle I want to lead in my own hobbies and interests.

Kim and Jason

Kim and Jason is a blog by a passionate couple (well, young family now) with the mission to eliminate what they call “adultitis”.  It’s silly, it’s goofy, and I can’t stop reading it.  With so much “life hacking” and “personal development” floating around these days (hey, I’m more guilty than anyone), it’s refreshing to read something positive and uplifting.  In addition to the content on the site, Kim and Jason’s online store The Lemonade Stand is one of the most well-branded and awesome online stores I’ve ever seen.  I’m jealous!

Blogging Blogs

The most influential blogs and websites I read for tips on blogging, writing, launching products, and building traffic.

CopyBlogger

Copyblogger is my go to source on anything writing and/or marketing.  There are probably many good sites on this type of content, but I’ve yet to fail to find something I was looking for when searching Copyblogger.  If you are interested copywriting tips, headline writing, or crafting landing pages, Copyblogger is your answer.

Viperchill

In the last year, those of us interested in marketing, blogging, and online business got a huge gift…  Glen Allsop switched his primarily focus into ViperChill.  There isn’t a better example online on how to launch a blog or how to build momentum by delivering value to a community (at least I haven’t seen one).  Glen is famous for his huge, comprehensive, guide-like posts on specific topics.  Among his best are ones on SEO, launching an eBook, and guest posting.

The Launch Coach

The Launch Coach is a blog by Dave Navarro about…  product launches, of course!  That may be selling it a little short as Dave talks about all aspects of a product-based business.  There is something about Dave’s writing that spurs me into action.  It was a post of Dave’s that finally led to a 12 hour work session on my first guide (getting me over a huge hurdle).  It was a post of Dave’s that finally led me to start building an e-mail list.  And, I’ve yet to read a better guide to networking than his free networking workshop.

ProBlogger

Not many people know this, but when I started blogging… I knew nothing.  I didn’t know what Wordpress was.  I didn’t know how to host my own domain name.  I didn’t know how to set up an about page or how to build traffic.  For the first month, I used Problogger.net almost exclusively.  Particularly, the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog Series started early in my journey.  I doubt there is a more deep and rich archive of blogging content anywhere on the internet.

My Business “Coaches”

I’m the type of person that thrives with a good coach.  If I had the money, I’d have a business coach, a personal trainer, an several instructors in different hobbies.  Until I get to that point (smile), I get my dose of business coaching from a specific folder in my Google Reader.  Here is my rag-tag coaching team for my business:

Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields is the rockstar author of Career Renegade and continues to dispense his wisdom over on his blog.  I particular enjoy Jonathan’s interviews of other creative rockstar types (a lot which are in video), as well as his ability to take quirky angles on common topics. (For example, he recently shared research that watching porn positively affects test scores!)

Seth Godin

Seth Godin is one of the most popular and respected marketing minds anywhere.  I’ve lost count, but I believe he’s up to 7 or 8 best selling books to his name.  His blog is just as popular as his books, yielding a massive audience.  Seth is known for his short, focused-on-the-point writing, with many of his posts being less than 150 words total.  His talent for conveying abstract concepts make his tidbits easy to read, but nonetheless thought provoking.

Pam Slim

Escape from Cubicle Nation is, once again, both the title of a blockbuster book and blog by Pamela Slim.  While I don’t have a traditional cubicle to escape from, I still deeply connect with Pam’s writing.  Uniquely, most of my appreciation from Pam comes from how see interacts with other people on blogs, in video, and in groups like the $100 Biz Forums.

Johnny B. Truant / Naomi Dunford

This is probably selling both of these individuals short, but for me (or their effect on me), Johnny B. Truant and Naomi Dunford are the same person.  Yes, I fully realize they are different unique people (even different sexes), but their message has such similar impact on me that I group them together.  They are in-your-face, even brash at times.  They curse a lot (yeah, more than me even) and their wit is dangerously sharp.  But above all else, they are motivating.  Anytime I need a shot of adrenaline, I had over to one of their archives.  I hardly ever go wrong with either.

Charlie Gilkey

Charlie Gilkey is my productivity coach (and he doesn’t even know it).  Charlie spends most of his energy at Productive Flourishing helping creative entrepreneurs (and creative people in general) get more amazing work accomplished.  These days, I can use any and all the help I can get in this area.  I didn’t realize how challenging it could be to maintain productivity and motivation in this space, until I did it myself.  Charlie is my fuel when I’m running on empty!

Bonus: 5 Lesser Known Blogs that are going to EXPLODE!

Get in on these blogs, before they become household names…

Ridiculously Extraordinary – Karol Gadja blogs about “Freedom + Health + Travel + Life”.  Karol is an ex-internet marketer, who traded in his fancy house and car for a single suitcase to travel the world.  He’s grown his blog remarkably fast (from 100 –> 1,000 with one guest post) and just released his a guide based on his experience, How to Live Anywhere.

Fluent in 3 Months – Benny Lewis takes us along on his missions to learn new languages in only 3 months!  It’s easy to see why Benny’s blog is one of the fastest growing, once you experience his contagiously positive attitude and his passion for helping others learn languages.  He’s currently learning German and has also just recently released his own 30,000+ word guide, The Language Hacking Guide.

Nerd Fitness – Steve Kamb has combined his passion for fitness and his love of all things nerdy and geeky (comic books, star wars, video games, etc…) into one heck of a site.  This is by far my favorite fitness oriented site (a.k.a. the only one I read).  Recently, Steve quit his day job to take up his mission full time!  Whoo-hoo!

Healthy Lifestyle Design – HLD is probably the newest blog on this list, just launched by Matt Gartland.  I can honestly tell you, that I’ve never been as impressed with meeting someone as I have been with Matt.  He seemed to come out of nowhere and completely blew me away with his dedication, passion, and content writing skills.

Think Traffic – Corbett Barr of “Free Pursuits” fame launched this new blog several month ago centered around building traffic for websites and communities.  His advice is targeted and actionable.  This is yet another amazing example of how to launch a well-designed, well-branded, value-focused community!

What are your favorite websites and blogs not listed?

It’s impossible for me to include all the blogs I love and the friends I’ve made.  What are some of your favorite blogs (from any niches) that inspire you?

Have any suggestions for new ones I may not have heard of?  Let me know below!

A big part of this blog from the beginning has been financial transparency.  I’ve shifted from sharing the details of our daily spending (what we used to do), to sharing the details of the business side of the blog.  It seems many of you are most interested in this one segment of our financial journey.  :-)

May saw the lowest dip in income generated online, since the release of Unautomate Your Finances back in March.  This was expected and anticipated, although I did nothing to help it.  I had planned on guest posting and exposing new lists and audience to my first guide, as well as attempting to push forward the launch date of my forthcoming guide, Sell Your Crap.

Neither happened.

Instead, I posted only a few posts here, with absolutely no guest posts, no new exposure, no attempt at media mentions, and no additions, bonus, or specials on the first guide.  Not exactly a great business plan!  :-)

The only silver lining is that almost all of the income I received in May was very close to passive.  A far majority (as high as 90%) of the sales were initiated from old “evergreen” posts and content.

Here are the numbers for May:

Net from UYF Sales:  $481.81

• Total Guides Sold (April):  33
• Income (less Paypal fees):  $577.35
• Affiliate Payments:  -$95.54

Additional Income:  $525.97

• Freelance Writing:  $400.00
• Thesis/ScribeSEO:  $0.00 (under payout threshold)
• Unconventional Guides:  $125.97
• Amazon:  $0.oo (under payout threshold)

Direct Expenses:  -$110.90

• Hosting:  -$14.95
• Aweber:  -$29.00
• ScribeSEO:  -$27.00
• E-junkie:  -$5.00
• VodBurner:  -$9.95
• Kiva MasterMind: -$25.00

Net (Income – Expenses):  $896.88

A couple notes to highlight.  First, I had two new business products I affiliated with in May, but which technically paid the first few days of this month.  This is $1000+ dollars of income that was “earned” in May, but paid in “June”.  This helps prop up the month a bit.

I will also have a couple affiliate payments that didn’t meet thresholds and thus rolled over to June’s payout date.

This months brings the average of the last 3 months (since UYF release) down to:  ~$2100/month

While I’m not ecstatic about that number, it’s not terrible for a start.  The goal is to double it by the end of summer.

June’s Business Plans…

June will see the release of Sell Your Crap, my second premium guide.  This will have several modules, have extremely targeted value across different mediums, and will probably end up in the more traditional $30-$40 dollar range.

I don’t expect sales for Unautomate Your Finances to dip in June actually.  In fact, they will probably go up due to promotion regarding Sell Your Crap. I’d like to see UYF net between $800-$1000 itself.  My goal for the second launch will depend on the final content included in the guide and the price point.

As you all know, 90% of my effort and content will remain 100% free.  I’ll continue to openly share our journey to eliminate our debt, our battle to avoid accumulating clutter, and the ups and downs as we attempt to pursue our passions!

For those of you on a journey to produce online income yourself, feel free to e-mail me any specific questions you may have!

Hope everyone has a fantastic June!

Xoxoxo,

-Baker

Today, I’m sharing a video post about an important topic that applies to finances, lifestyle, and business.  Actually, I believe it to be the most important element of making any change.

This may just be a personality thing, but I’m starting to hear from others that it’s universal (not just me).  :-)

• [2:08] – How “changing your environment” can be applied in your finances.
• [3:25] – Why the same principle helped us sell 95% of our clutter (and why it’s fighting against us now).  :-)
• [4:38] – My fitness advice…  ironic, yes I know.  (Actually it’s environment-based fitness advice I recently read!)
• [6:37] – Conclusion and questions for you guys!
• [7:00] – I show off my cool new office swag (pictures of media mentions that Courtney framed).

I’m really interested to hear your thoughts on this issue.  Specifically, whether you feel the benefit in the same way I do and how you take steps to accomplish “environment change”.  It’s been a very interesting concept for me lately.

Today, Chris Guillebeau opens up another 24-hour window to his blockbuster “Empire Building Kit” guide.

The Empire Building Kit, Chris’ most ambitious and value-packed guide to date, focuses on building a “lifestyle business”, which Chris defines as “a business oriented around something you love, with less than three employees and net income of $50,000+ a year.”

Now that’s what I’m talking about!  :-)

Last time Chris opened up a 24 hour window (his launch last month), his payment processor freaked out at the sudden surge of traffic and sales.  Buzz dominated the interwebs for a day and it quickly became Chris’ most successful launch (that’s saying a lot).  But after the 24 hours, as promised, Chris removed the product from the market.

This time around, Chris is opening the product up again for affiliates of his Unconventional Guides.  As most of you know, Chris is one of the few people/products I proudly support on the “Products I Love” page here.  His previous guides have changed my life, enhanced my travel, and revolutionized my business, so I knew Empire Building Kit would be great…  I just didn’t realize how insanely deep Chris was going to take it!

In honor of the impact Empire Building Kit is having (with myself and several other people I know), I wanted to share 3 of the countless business lessons I’ve learned from Chris.  These are the areas where he’s influence me the most, either through his writing or in our chats.  Whenever I talk to someone who asks me for advice, these are almost always the first few concepts I share.

1.  You can do it yourself.

In other words, stop worrying about specialty systems, outsourcing, and hiring a virtual assistant.  Also, stop complaining about e-mail, productivity, scheduling, and how busy you are.

You see, around the 6-month point, Man Vs. Debt was experiencing a huge growth spurt.  I was connecting with readers, growing my audience with targeted guest posts, and looking to shift to more of a “business” mode.  Unfortunately, I also started to shift responsibility for success onto external factors.

I started to feel overwhelmed at keeping up with e-mails, comments, and communications.  I started to believe I needed help scheduling (especially since we were traveling).  I felt I need to hire a VA (even though I wasn’t making any money) to do all the stuff that I didn’t want to do anymore.  That’s what “business mode” looked like in my head.

None of these things are terribly bad in themselves, but the problem was when I started to view them as my necessary steps in my business.  The simple fact was I was generating excuses.  I was placing hurdles, based on what I saw many other “successful” people doing in the online space.

If I woke up the next day with 10 employees, ready to work, my business wouldn’t have been any better off. Once I realized this, the beauty of Chris’ model really sunk in.  Chris processes and answers at least 10x the e-mail I do.  He’s created 6x the products, traveled to 20x the locations, and has much more demands on his time (large audience, upcoming book, speaking, etc…)

And Chris is just one example.  J.D. Roth is another.  There are dozens and dozens of example in my own life.  The only barriers to my success were internal.  Like Chris, I had built up a website, a blog, and business that would be based on caring. I did this both unintentionally and intentionally, because I love interacting with people.  It’s a source of empowerment.

Chris Guillebeau taught me that you can’t scale caring by outsourcing it.

Instead, he recently told me in Chicago, “Baker, my advice is that you have to pick which communication channels you are going to use and then do those extremely well.”

For example, Chris doesn’t respond to comments on his blog (he gets hundreds a week), but he’s nearly perfected e-mail.  He’s generated stock replies to handle many different e-mail situations (this is a big part of e-mail processing for me), but takes the time to genuinely answer authentic readers and fans.

In the outgoing realm, Chris reserves most of his writing for his own site, products, and book.  He rarely guest posts, saving his exposure for high-leverage industry leading sites (like Anderson Cooper’s blog).  He also doesn’t accept guest posts.  He’s active, but selective on Twitter and has built an amazingly passionate following on Facebook.  Heck, Seth Godin doesn’t even use Twitter!

Pick your channels carefully… and do them extremely well.

I still struggle with being selective about which communication channels I’ll utilize (for both outgoing and incoming), but I’ve learned a lot from Chris’ example.  Most importantly, I now fully recognize that I can build a business capable of 6-figure income, without “selling out” (staying true to me), without hiring a single employee, and without discovering some top-secret system.

The only thing standing in my way is…  me. I either do it or I don’t.

2.  Focus on “Benefits”…  not “Features”.

About a week before the launch of Unautomate Your Finances, Chris took time out to jump on the phone with me.  I barraged him with dozens of questions, but honestly I don’t remember any of them.  I do, however, remember how stressed I was about writing my first landing page.

For the first time on Man Vs. Debt, I was writing a page that was designed to sell.  I wanted to be able to convert a new visitor, but more importantly I wanted to stay true to the people who had supported me (a.k.a. I didn’t want to sound like an internet marketer).  I was stressed about writing it, what to say, and what people would think.

Talking to Chris, I whined “This landing page is going to kill me!  I just don’t know where to start or how to approach it.”

To which Chris replied, “By biggest advice is to focus on the benefits… not just the features, which is your first instinct.”

He was right. In my mind, I was thinking…  25,000 word eBook… video interviews with Leo and J.D….  cool bonuses… give me money and I’ll give you this list of things.  These were the features of my guide, not the benefits.

Chris continued, “The product is amazing, Baker.  You’ve worked your butt off and you know it’s way more valuable than what you’re charging.  Anyone who buys it is going to be impressed, so focus on the benefits you will give people… the problems you will help solve.”

Ding… ding… ding…  He was right, again. I had the advantage of deeply believing in what I was selling, because I had put the work, time, and value into it.  There was nothing to be nervous about actually, I just needed to really unearth what benefits my hard work could offer someone.

If you look at the landing page now (still the one I had on launch), nearly 75% of the page is dedicated to benefits.  It’s far from perfect and there are plenty of ways it can be approved, however I’m comfortable with it.  I’m scared to think of what it would look like, without this simple, but game-changing advice Chris gave me.

For another example, here’s my own breakdown of the features/benefits of Chris’ “Empire Building Kit“:

Features:

Literally what you get…  a.k.a. not as important as the Benefits.

• 7 Video interviews with entrepreneurs who have actually created passion-based businesses, which generate $50,000+ per year, with less than 3 employees.
• Each interview is downloadable and comes as an additional transcribed PDF
• 18 in-depth case studies of everything from murder-mystery theater, to person finance website (no not me), to photographer, to dog trainer.  Real life examples, some online, some offline, some mixed.
• 9 Tactical Videos on tools, principles such as Aweber, Upselling, Minimizing Refunds, Continuity Programs, Markets, and Affiliates.
• A Product Launch section containing a 43-item checklist (for launching a product) and a specific interview with Dave Navarro, “The Launch Coach”.
• A full breakdown of Chris’ business, income, product successes/failures, full numbers… gory details…
• 365 daily e-mails. Yes, 365… e-mails.  One a day, for a whole year.
• A “no question left behind” webinar with the original batch of customers from the first launch.

Now, that’s a lot of features.  But it still only conveys a tiny percentage of the value.

Benefits:

These are the benefits of the guide that I’ve personally received in my business…

• The video interviews inspire me, by showcasing real, tangible people who have created life-changing businesses around a passion.  Specifically, they dig deep down into how their business works and the specifics of how much they earn. I be lying if I didn’t admit this is a big benefit for me.  I’m always amazed and inspired about how much money is out there (and how much money genuine people are earning).  You don’t need a ton of subscribers, you don’t have to have a popular blog, or a new product/invention.  These interviews prove that through their transparency.  I love watching them.  I feel like I’m there inside the conversation.

• The 15+ PDF case studies showcase the wide variety of concepts that people are turning into businesses.  I love that Chris really searched wide for entertaining examples.  They aren’t all lifestyle design or personal finance bloggers, who built an audience and now sell information products.  Some are online and others are offline businesses.  The real benefit of these studies is in their ability to expand your brainstorming on what is possible. How about a person who makes doll clothes?  Stages homes?  Translator?  Web Designer?  This has really opened my eyes (and even Courtney’s eyes) to “outside the box” business opportunities.  There are tangible segments that are applicable to any business concept.  Any. I truly believe that after reading them.

• The tactical videos speak for themselves.  While I believe that the “how to” part of building a business is far easier to nail down than the why behind it, I admit that many of my questions early on were of a tactical nature. How to set-up and foster an e-mail list (I should have done this way early than I did).  The specifics of different business models… continuity programs, information products, affiliate marketing, and which is most applicable for your business moving forward.  Most importantly for me, there is tons of information on making the transition to selling: upselling, cross-selling different products, demonstrating value, and increasing repeat customers.  The real tactics on how to avoid mistakes early if you’re getting started or take your business up a notch if you’re already rolling.

• The 43-step Product Launch and interview with Dave Navarro is worth the price of the product alone.  I sincerely estimate that Chris’ advice on my first launch netted my at least $1500-$2000 extra dollars. This is a combination of tactics (step-by-step) and strategy (branding/marketing approach, etc…).  Once you get to the point of launch, 1 or 2 small tips can generate you tons of extra sales/revenue.

• At first, I was skeptical about the daily e-mails.  In fact, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get them (I get enough e-mail).  Man, would I have been sorry.  You see, Chris understands that delivering access to so many features at once is a double-edged sword.  It allows people to dig in and get started right away, but often there is so much information that we may not process it all or even get to it all.  So Chris settled on giving the best of both worlds.  The content is available for anyone to go through at their own pace, however each day Chris highlights a business concept, theory, or tactic from the kit. Some e-mails may just be short reminders to think about a specific segment, while other may introduce a step-by-step walk through on evaluating opportunities to increase revenue.  Some point out specific concepts within the video interviews, while another may breakdown a item on the Product Launch checklist even further.  Something I wasn’t even sure I wanted, has quickly become my favorite part of the guide. Each e-mail tends to send me down a small rabbit hole… sometimes it causes just a 2 minute reflection, but other times it may lead to a complete overhaul of a project I’m working on.  It’s almost like a daily accountability to prioritize my business… perfect for me right now!  :-)

So if I were creating Chris’ landing page (which I’m not, he’s far better) or I was giving an interview about the Empire Building Kit (again, probably not needed), I would look back through the way the product has benefited me and extract the key problems it can solve for others.

This is now the same advice I pass onto anyone who asks and what I’ll be doing for any future project, guide, or business I’m involved in.  :-)

3.  Show Up and Ship It

This is one area where Chris’ actions speak louder than his words.  I’m sure he’s written about it several times, but I don’t remember his writing.  What sticks with me is what he does.

Simply, Chris just shows up. He writes.  Every Monday and Thursday for the last 2+ years like clockwork.  He answers e-mail.  He creates products.  He sets clear boundaries, communicates those to his fans, and then shows up.

Looking back, I’ve had foggy boundaries, done a poor job of passing those along, and been extremely inconsistent.  I’ve had periods of a month where I didn’t provide free value to readers through the blog (that’s just silly).  I’ve juggled the issue of which product to create, in which order, and exactly how it will look, and exactly how it will go.

Chris deals with this, too.  He procrastinates just like everyone else I know, but at the end of the day he “ships it”, as Seth Godin calls it.  He gets the product to a point where he can be proud and he delivers.  He doesn’t let the perfect, become the enemy of the good.

Last week, I talked to 3 different people who were working on their first product launch.  Different niches, even different mediums, but all with the exact same problem.  They were doing the same thing I do and did.  They were letting their quest for perfection delay and even destroy their ability to just freakin’ launch it.

So I told them the same thing, everyone with experience told me…  just freakin’ ship it.  Get it to 80% and let it fly. Screw market research, the best feedback you’ll ever get is once you try to sell it to someone.

The ability to adapt in business is much more desirable than the ability to plan.

Some may disagree with that advice, but every time I’ve followed it I’ve been glad I did.  As soon as it fails, I’ll let you know… but for now I’ll continually push myself to stick to Chris’ example on how to consistently show up and consistently ship it!

Final Thoughts

Don’t get me wrong, this post is a 100% endorsement of Chris’ Empire Building Kit.  It is the best investment you can make for your business that I’ve ever come across.  If someone is doing this better, I’ve not met them or seen the product.

At the same time, even Chris admits that 95% of his audience won’t ever purchase a premium product.  So for those of you that aren’t in a position to benefit from the guide, I wanted to share how I’ve been influenced.  I’m fairly confident there is value hidden somewhere above.  :-)

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  If you are interested in the “do what you love” part of this site.  If you are interested in creating a business based around a passion, that generates at least $50,000 per year, with less than 3 employees… the Empire Building Kit is the best of the best.  You should not only buy it, but you should seek out Chris Guillebeau as a mentor.

Bonus:  One-Hour Business Chat with me…

As an affiliate with Chris, if you decide to take your business to the next level with Empire Building Kit, I’ll jump on the phone with you for 1 full hour and talk about the specific details of your business, my experience online, building traffic, branding, launching a product…  whatever you need.

We can talk strategy (my favorite part) or I can answer specific questions about tactics, software, programs, and getting started.  You can pitch and idea and I’ll be completely honest about what I think, what I love, and the holes I can see.

I’m in no way a “business” coach (although I’m strongly considering launching coaching), but I’ve had the opportunity to receive a lot of advice from amazing people that I can pass along and apply to your particular situation.  This will not be about me (although we can spend 5 minutes on that if you like)… it’ll be about you and your business.

The Empire Building Kit is only available for 24 hours.  Once you order, send me and e-mail and we’ll get on the phone as soon as you have the time (I’ll make the time).

See you tomorrow!

[If you can't see the interview with Danielle, click here to view it directly.]

Today, I’m proud to share with you a rare guide I’ll be adding to the “Products I Love”.  (The first of two this month)!

Danielle LaPorte unleashed her much anticipated “Fire Starter Sessions” today.  Danielle, who blogs at White Hot Truth, has been someone I’ve looked up to since my first few months blogging.  She’s directly influenced my levels of transparency and my quest to be as genuine as possible here.

I interviewed her on finding passion, building momentum, avoiding burnout, and the details of her product launch.  Here’s the breakdown of the above video interview:

• [00:40] – Who is Danielle LaPorte?  (Danielle’s 30-sec elevator pitch)
• [02:05] - Danielle’s tips for unearthing your business passions.
• [03:10] - How Danielle defines a strength and a weakness. [<-- powerful]
• [04:25] - Danielle gives ME advice on finding my specific strengths.
• [05:55] - How to tap into the “real” reason certain people inspire you… and what resources/people inspired Danielle when she was getting into “go” mode.
• [08:50] - How to maintain your motivation/drive without hitting “burnout”
• [12:55] - Overcoming urges to conform and why being authentic will explode your business.
• [17:40] - The “features” of Danielle’s new “Fire Starter Sessions“  (What people get)
• [19:05] – The “benefits” of the “Fire Starter Sessions“.  (What’s it going to do for me?) 

My biggest takeaways…

As you can tell when you watch the video, I deeply enjoyed talking with Danielle.  There were at least two “a-ha” moments for me in our chat.

First, I loved how she defines strength and weaknesses (based on Marcus Buckingham’s work).  Danielle explained that true strengths are those things that make you feel “strengthened”… NOT necessarily what you are “good” at.  So many times, I reflect on something that I’m skilled at, or something that people tell me I’m skilled at… and call that a strength.  Danielle’s definition really resonates with me more.

The same is true for weaknesses.  There are some things that I may very well be great at, but that make me feel terrible or weak.  These are not strengths, then.  I get it now. 

The other big takeaway from this interview was Danielle’s approach to burnout. As you hear in the video, Danielle hates the stigma we’ve attached to the word “burnout”.  She talks about how it’s a necessary part of the entrepreneurial cycle and how we need to learn to not only accept it, but plan for it.  This help removes some of the negative energy and guilt that always accompanies downtime!

Since recording the video, I’ve had a chance to really dig into the “Fire Starter Sessions” product.  I’m genuinely amazed. I’m always careful about who I affiliate with and/or share with my audience, however it’s the real deal.  These two points on strengths and burnout are only a couple pages of the 200+ that come in the guide.  There are videos, audio recordings, workbooks, exercises.  It’s an inspiring example of a product/guide done right.

Danielle is one of the top 3-4 people I feed from in my business.  And I have no doubt the this guide is going to have an drastic impact on this site and my business.  I have absolutely no reservations in telling you to check this out.  It’s worth many times what it costs.:-)

This is a guest post by Matt Gartland. In his own words, Matt is a healthy lifestyle geek extraordinaire, blogger, world traveler, lifestyle entrepreneur, coffee fanatic, web techie, and more. He writes at Healthy Lifestyle Design (HLD), where he unleashes his passion for remarkable and unconventional living propelled by amazing health. Follow Matt on Twitter and join the HLD Tribe on Facebook.

Imagine eating yourself into an abyss of debt. It’s possible. And it’s not a pretty picture.

This tragedy befalls many unknowingly. How? Because many lack an adequate education about food and food products. Many don’t respect the profound lifelong impacts of their food choices. Many are short-sighted about the cost-relationship between food and money. And many believe there is no meaningful correlation between literal health and financial health.

So let’s get something straight - food is like money, in every way.

Food is a currency – actually, a collection of currencies. Different foods have different values (qualities) as currencies do. Thus, they have different exchange rates – some foods yield greater returns (lifestyle benefits) than others. And like smart investment decisions, smart food choices are wonderful long-term growth vehicles for your financial and literal health.

Hence, savvy food choices are way serious. So the need for dietary responsibility (like fiscal responsibility) is paramount. You have to make smart, conscious decisions to better your overall situation. If you don’t and instead allow yourself to make apathetic and nonchalant choices then you risk going way deep into debt.

Sadly, this allegory isn’t enough to assuage the danger. Many (perhaps you) will still fall victim to the veiled and pernicious sources of food-incited debt. So I think it’s high time that they be fully exposed and put into perspective.

1. Dining-Out Debts

We all know (or should) that dining out is (by far) more expensive than cooking meals yourself. We also (should) know that dining out is usually not a healthy affair – what with all the hidden additives, high processing, environmental contaminants, etc. Fast food joints are the obvious villains. But (sadly) many mainstream “high-end” restaurants (e.g. The Cheesecake Factory) offer meals riddled with hidden calories and unnatural ingredients.

Such overindulgence in dining out easily reeks havoc on your well-laid budget (you do have one, right?!). And costs are rising as the food industry ecosystem is waylaid by mounting economic pressures (transportation costs, raw material prices, etc.).

Overall, doesn’t sound like you’re getting a positive ROI on your dining out investments.

2. Excessive Alcohol & Alcohol-Related Debts

I know many that go wild at the bars and similar establishments. I’m sure you know the type. Okay, you may label these “entertainment” costs in your ledger, but I don’t. They involve alcohol (a food product), and lots of it. They involve nibbles, and lots of them too. You can fancy it up however you like – these expenses are still food choices that drive financial debt.

It gets worse because excessive alcohol debts are a double whammy. First, you get socked with the pricey bills in the present. Second, your health corrodes in the future, which triggers greater health care costs (more on that soon).

3. Food Waste Debts

Many don’t fully comprehend the gravity and magnitude of food waste.

What is food waste? Any and every food or food product that ends up in the rubbish bin. It could be fresh vegetables that have gone bad. It could be canned food items past their expiration date. It could be those leftovers from your last dining out venture.

You paid good money for all these things. And you’re chucking it away – usually without a second thought. The cliché “flushing money down the toilet” comes to mind. It’s criminal, and damn expensive!

4. Food Label Debts

I’m a healthy lifestyle geek, don’t get me wrong. But you don’t need to buy everything “healthy”.

What is “healthy”?

It’s a noble ideal that’s been bastardized by the modern food industry for insidious marketing. Classic culprits include “all natural”, “certified humane”, “free range”, and “grass fed” labels. These terms have been poorly defined by the USDA and are thusly near-impossible to regulate. Nevertheless, despite inconsistent health benefits (at best), food manufacturers will gladly sell you these wonder products for a pretty penny.

Organics deserve special mention. I do eat organics, absolutely! But only those products that yield the greatest nutritional (quality) returns. Keep in mind that all organics are NOT created equal

No need to take my word for it. The Internet has a wealth of good information for your perusal. Here are two to get you started:

• Ethical Meat vs Meat Hype: A Look at “All Natural”, “Grass Fed” and Other Half-Truths – by Tim Ferriss
• Deciding Which Produce to Buy Organic; The Dirty Dozen – by WiseBread

5. Supplement Debts

Supplements are like double-taxation. First, they’re bloody expensive. Second, they propogate a nutritionally inadequate base diet, thus fueling the need for more supplements. This is a vicious cycle – eat poorly and thus you need supplements; take more supplements and you convince yourself you can “get away” with eating poorly. Rinse and repeat.

Worse yet, many supplements are shams. Oodles of folks buy miracle protein powders, detox diet pills, dangerous metabolic accelerators, weird tropical extracts, and more. Crap, crap, and more crap. The lot of this stuff is nothing but snake oil and pixie dust.

I’ll give that some quality supplements (multi-vitamins, probiotics, omega-3, etc.) are good, even necessary if you have an abysmal diet or genuine medical condition. But if you’re of average health most supplements are pure nonsense. They certainly won’t turn you into Brad Pitt. But you’ll certainly be spending like a Hollywood star.

6. Health Care Debts

Health care debts are the worst travesty of all. They’re astronomically high. And their financial impacts are heart-breaking, horrid, and unacceptable. I’ve written about these inconvenient truths before. It’s important that some be re-shared now.

• The US ranks 1st in health care costs as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – 16.2% in 2007, projected 20.3% in 2018 (1)
• US health care costs will average $8,160 in 2009 for every man, woman, and child (1)
• US health care costs are estimated to be $13,100 in 2018 for every man, woman, and child (1)
• 1.5 million US families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable medical costs (2)
• 62 percent of all US bankruptcies filed in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. Of those who filed for bankruptcy, nearly 80 percent had health insurance (2)
• 178,000 US small business jobs will be lost by 2018 as a result of health care costs (2)
• $834 billion in US small business wages will be lost due to high health care costs over the next ten years (2)
• US small businesses will pay nearly $2.4 trillion dollars over the next ten years in health care costs for their workers (2)

Granted, not all health care costs pertain to your eating habits. But many do. The metastasizing obesity epidemic is proof of that. Consider this – obesity is a leading cause of the following (3):

• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Stroke
• Liver and Gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

The Bottom Line

Any good financial report has a bottom line. Here’s mine:

The food you eat has profound affects on the financial and literal health of your life.

This is a great bottom line! Why? Because it proves that you are in total control of a major factor in your financial life. If you exercise smart and sensible dietary responsibility you’ll reap a wonderful ROI – both financially and health-wise.

And a final word of warning – don’t get shortsighted.

Yes, healthier food choices will surely increase your net food spend upfront. But think big picture. An investment today in healthy food choices will payout massive dividends down the road. Think of all the supplements you can stop taking. Imagine drastically lower health care costs. Couple those with an optimized food management philosophy that reduces waste and eliminates senseless indulgences and you have a kick-ass plan live fantastically healthy and debt-free!

Sources:

1. Health Care Costs to Top $8,000 Per Person – ABC News
2. Health Care Facts: Costs – National Coalition on Health Care
3. Health Consequences – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Baker’s Note: I’m super impressed with Matt’s surge onto the blogging scene.  This was one of the most well-written and professional guest post submissions I’ve ever received (his article, the e-mail, his passion).  Do me a favor and check out Healthy Lifestyle Design, you’ll be able to say you were there before it was HUGE. 

[If you cannot see the video above, click here to watch the interview directly]

Episode 4 features Grant Peelle and Alan Ledford of The Ren Men Show. Grant and Alan have built a Real Estate portfolio of 80+ properties, run a vending machine business, own a video production company, and just recently started a used car lot.  Their online video show, The Ren Men Show, is the best produced and edited show I’ve ever seen in the niche.  They go in depth with different issues surrounding their businesses and passive income opportunities and always seem to have a blast in the process.  I never miss a week!

Episode 4 Content Guide:

• [01:00] - A 30-sec introduction to what Grant, Alan, and The Ren Men Show is all about!
• [02:10] - The size of their Real Estate portfolio and why they’ve decided to branch into other business, as well.
• [03:45] - Being able to seize opportunities, a.k.a. how they ended up in the used car business.
• [05:10] - Why the ability to adapt is much more valuable than the ability to plan.
• [06:50] – Grant and Alan’s management styles (they are polar opposites) and how they’ve turned that into a strength.
• [09:35] – Grant’s background and motivation in getting into the entrepreneurial lifestyle.
• [11:20] – Alan’s background and why he feels like a non-entrepreneurial entrepreneur.
• [12:10] - Grant and Alan’s 3 core mentors who have inspired their business ventures.
• [14:20] - The opportunity to leverage offline skills in the online world.
• [15:25] - I ask the Ren Men where they see themselves in 2 years!  (Specific numbers/goals for each venture)

The Ren Men’s question for you!

I forgot to ask the Ren Men for a question for you guys!  Doh!  (fail)

However, I know these guys are passionate about searching out opportunities for true passive income.  While they both possess an intense work ethic, they are constantly pushing for ways to “remove self” from their business.  They focus on building systems and delegating the “busy work” to focus on growth.

Personally, this is an area I can work on a lot more (and Grant is pushing me to do so).  The larger my business grows the more of a “job” I’m building for myself.  I don’t mind putting in the effort, especially in a field that I’m passionate about.  However, there is at least 50% of my day-to-day activities that I could be “removing self” from.  This would free up my time, my energy, and my stress levels to tackle the things that could really add significant growth and satisfaction. 

What are your thoughts on passive income? I like the concept, but haven’t done a great job in aligning myself with it.  Grant and Alan seem to really “get” the concept and use it as the focus of their efforts.  What about you?

Is your ultimate goal some form of passive income (retirement, business, investments)?  Are there ways you could make your current income more passive?  Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to stop by and subscribe to The Ren Men Show.  You’ll be impressed.  I promise.

Over the course of this blog, I’ve shared the details of our debt, our income, and our spending.  Back in March, I took a big step in the business side of this site by releasing my first premium guide, Unautomate Your Finances.

As I continue to take steps to grow my business, I want it to remain open and transparent to the members of the community who help support it.  Last month, I gave a breakdown of March’s sales and income, as well as results from the product launch.

Every month moving forward (launch or not) I want to continue this habit of reviewing/sharing the past month and forecasting out the current month.  Here’s April’s numbers and my business plans for May…

Net from UYF Sales:  $1012.73

• Total Guides Sold (April):  83
• Income (less Paypal fees):  $1344.17
• Affiliate Payments:  -$331.44

Additional Income:  $746.24

• Freelance Writing:  $500.00
• Thesis/ScribeSEO:  $120.45
• Unconventional Guides:  $105.57
• Amazon:  $20.22

Direct Expenses:  -$185.90

• Hosting:  -$14.95
• Aweber:  -$29.00
• ScribeSEO:  -$27.00
• E-junkie:  -$5.00
• VodBurner:  -$9.95
• Tech Consulting:  -$100.00

Gross (Income – Expenses):  $1573.07

As anticipated, income in April is down from March (launch month).  Despite this, I’m not too disappointed in these numbers.  I wanted Unautomate Your Finances to hit the $1000 mark for the month and it just barely crossed right at the end.

May’s Business Plans…

I fully expect another 15-20% dip this month in passive sales of the guide.  With that in mind, I’ll be looking to help boost traffic and sales in order to try to keep income from UYF sales right around $1000 net.  This may include going after more interviews, reviews, and guest posting opportunities to achieve that.

I’ll also be sharing two business products this month from two of the people I respect most online.  As you can see from the above numbers, I am very careful about who I affiliate with or what content I share with everyone on this site.  Here are some reviews you can look forward to:

1. Danielle Laporte’s “Firestarter Sessions”.  Danielle’s hot new multimedia guide is coming out on the 12th and we already recorded an interview that I’ll be sharing with you.  Frankly, it’s one of the best interviews I’ve ever had the pleasure of giving. Danielle blogs over at WhiteHotTruth.com and is one of the most authentic and passionate bloggers I know.
2. Chris Guillebeau’s “Empire Building Kit”. Chris launched his Empire Building Kit last month, but only left it open for 24 hours!  Luckily, I was able to snag a copy and have been devouring it (tons of content, video interviews, and 365 daily e-mails over the course of a year).  On the 18th, he’s opening it up for another 24 hours and I’ll be affiliating with this second opening.  I’ll be doing a write-up of my experience so far, what I’m using the product for in this business, and a special bonus guide on what I learned from the first UYF guide launch.  It’s going to be a lot of fun for anyone interested in small business.

So from May 12th –> May 18th, we’ll just call it “blow up your business” week around here, as two of my favorite people finally share their expertise with the world! 

Sell Your Crap…

Last, but not least, I’ll be working heavily on my second guide, which will be titled “Sell Your Crap”.  I think it’s more realistic that it’ll be released in early June, however it could hit the digital shelves later this month!  Either way, it’ll be consuming a big part of the business side of things around here in May.

As you all know, 90% of my effort and content will remain 100% free.  I’ll continue to openly share our journey to eliminate our debt, our battle to avoid accumulating clutter, and the ups and downs as we attempt to pursue our passions!

I appreciate your support and am looking forward to an exciting May!