Hey everyone! This week, I'm in Orlando for FinCon, my biggest conference of the year. Something I give FinCon a lot of credit for is the ability to leave my day job and work for myself as a freelance writer! So we're taking a look back this week on another podcast from the vaults- that time I decided to quit my job.
Coming up soon, we are bringing you new episodes of the Personal Profitability podcast, so stay tuned for that. I plan to record some new episodes with Sandy Smith at FinCon! But first, let's take a trip down memory lane…

What We’re Chatting About This Week
In episode 120, we are revisiting the podcast when I announced I was quitting my job to work for myself full-time, as a freelance writer. It was scary, exciting, and inspirational, all wrapped up into one. Here's a glimpse into my journey.
Journey as a Blogger
I started a personal blog on Blogger in the summer of 2006. I then started a political commentary blog (The Israel Situation) because I wanted to get out there, reach people, and make a difference. After a while, I shut it down because I wanted to focus on more profitable endeavors. So in October 2007, I started Narrow Bridge, a site about money and personal finance to help people with financial advice. I eventually changed that name to Personal Profitability.
As my blog grew, I joined a group called the Yakezie. Being a part of that community helped my site grow significantly and I met a lot of great finance bloggers. But it was a lot more than just building community. At the same time, I was learning how to turn what was paying for my beer money into something that paid for my mortgage and my rent. My income kept building steadily and I really started keeping track.
The Big Announcement
While working at a big internet company in Denver, I always had this feeling I needed to change something and do something different. We packed up home and set up camp in Portland, Oregon. I started a job there, the one where I told you that I was let go from (you can find story linked below). In between jobs, I really just focused on my online income (which I doubled in the month I was off work).
When I got a new job offer, I felt like it was a sign I was supposed to take it, because it was about two hours after I got let go from my last job. But as my online income continued to grow and things at work got more and more stressful, it felt like something had to give.
After much deliberation, I made a big decision. My entire livelihood for myself and my family is coming from this website and my freelance work online. That was my big announcement.
The Big Move
We decided to move to Southern California to be closer to my wife's family.
This was one of the scariest decisions I have ever made in my life. But going in to work for someone else for 8 to 10 hours a day, five days a week for most of the rest of my life, that was scarier. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to having the freedom to travel the world.
But really my number one goal for everybody in the Personal Profitability community is to make that first dollar on the side and then grow it. Because you never know what will happen from there.
Just a few other points- do not quit your job unless you have a serious plan in place! I had a lot of savings and did a lot of planning to make this happen. But this isn't something that makes me special compared to other people. You can do it too! I happen to know about personal finance. There are things you know more about than other people, so get to work and maybe someday you'll be able to quit your job too! Until then, stay profitable!
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