How do you guys/girls keep doing it?

[JanTM]

No... not doing THAT

But doing business??

I've been in this business since late 2000. I have built a lot of stuff - free sites, link lists and even a TGP.
I have read pages after pages of how-to's and guides. I've even written some newbie help.
I have read pages after pages of messages on board... and I've even written some myself ;-)

But this year has really been bad. I have run into the same problem several times now. I simply get fed up with doing the same things over and over and over again.
Not so much post and reading the boards... that is ok. But building and submitting and reviewing. |raygun|

Now then what do you do... those of you who has been in this business as long and even longer than me. What is the secret trick? Yeah I know there probably is none... but if there is I'd like to know it.

I am not tired of porn or big tits. Not at all. So why don't I jump out of bed every morning and build stuff?
Where did the fun that I had doing this go?

Now... I got a serious load of catching up to do... now that I've decided to give it a kick... again. Inputs please before I pull all my hair out and go cold turkey again

[Linkster]

JanTM - Ive had a similar problem this year - I think we both started out about the same time really pushing this - the thing I found was that I have to treat it as a job (the mundane parts anyway) and new projects become my "fun" part - experimenting and seeing what I can do with say SEs, new avenues etc.

I know in the back of my mind that the mundane parts (submitting, reviewing etc) hae to be donw and I try to get those in a pattern and done first - then reward myself with new things and projects to really have fun with.

Sometimes I also find that talking to other WMs and trying something as a team helps as well

[SirMoby]

I think about the boob empire that my friend has built

Seriously I'm burned out on a number of things so I'm doing a few things to expand and keep my sanity.

1. I'm hiring help to off load some of the more mundane taaks.
2. I've had a lot of custom PHP work done recently to make life easier.
3. Taking time off and I mean no laptops, no checking emails no nothing to do with work.
4. Working on new projects is always fun so I'm trying to do a lot of that.

[Cleo]

Mr. Bill motivates me.

[Greenguy]

Take a week off completely from the computer - don't even go near it - that usually works for me

[kristian]

It doesn't matter how much you enjoy something; have the same flavor every day, you begin to want to taste something new.

Anyone of the suggestions so far are good.

You could also try doing something new. I've been getting more involved in domains and ebay. Outsource your mundane duties and get involved in a new project that you can fully develop in the new year.

[Cleo]

First take a very large hammer and smash multiple walls after a hurricane puts a tree through your roof. Then start remodeling and be sure to spend about twice as much as you planned. Now you will have had a vacation away from the computer and a monthly notice in the mail reminding you to work at least 27 hours each day.

[Jim]

Get to where you are tired of boobs and porn and start treating it as only a business. I got sick of porn probably in early 98 and decided to only concentrate on the business part. But, during that time, I took a year off and did nothing

[MrMaryLou]

Lots of good tips here for you JanTM But I tend to look forward to my days. From time to time I get the sick feeling about it but when I do I slap in a movie or take a ride or just plain veg out for a few hours it seems to work for me but then again I have been told I am nuts too LOL

[Ramster]

Life's a bitch and building and reviewing are too.

I think motivation is the key. I know if I build today and submit I will make more money. More money is good. Does it suck? Yes. But knowing the results make it all worthwhile.

How do I do it? As Linkster said I treat it as a job!!!

I get up and do all my reviews updating all my sites. In between I do things like read the boards as I am now. When I'm done here I'll go back and review and update another site.

I usually screw around on projects throughout the day and then build and submit mid afternoon or in the evening. That way I've fooled around for a bit and it's time to get back to work.

[Ramster]

This brings me to another point actually for all the newbies reading.

You NEED to build and submit everyday to make money. If you are not willing to do that then you will not make substantial money in this biz.

Disclaimer: Unless you own a huge traffic hub, are a wiz at SE or play the PPC game of course.

[Alphawolf]

It's mundane, but not difficult or stressful to build + submit.

Think of people with real jobs who need to wake up at 6:30AM, get dressed up then drive or take a train into work that they *hate*.

Still, maybe you need a break. When was the last time you took a vacation?

[ngb1959]

In between the "job", I play here World Winner

It takes your mind off of things and you can play for free.

I also listen to CD's on my computer or the radio or tv while I'm working.

You may also want to set certain hours to work "part-time" right now until you get out of this funk.

The build and submit thing is the key. I just got a sale from a site I built about 6 months ago that looks 'not too good', but I have improved since then, so there's hope for 's like me.

Change your surroundings. Rearrange your work area. Open the curtains and let the sun in. Turn on more lights.

Don't get too down - hey - it could be worse - you could be working at a drive-through restaurant from midnight till dawn serving all the drunks.

So, all in all, this job really doesn't suck.

Take care.

Nina

[JanTM]

Thanks for the inputs everyone. Maybe I DO need to be more "coorporate" about this. Maybe I need even more structure on the daily stuff that needs to be done.

Up until now it has been a lot like "do a little here" and then "do a little there". A lot of wasted time... and constant guilty conscience of not doing enough.

Cleo,
Mr. Bill motivates me a lot as well... but you know when a slow periods sales-wise coincide with a burn out... its easier to say "ah screw this".

Jim,
Tired of boobs?? Not possible
But I will take your advise to heart and up the "business" part and down the "pleasure" part of this.

Thanks again everyone... now you might expect to see some submissions from me soon

[Mishi]

Originally posted by JanTM
Thanks for the inputs everyone. Maybe I DO need to be more "coorporate" about this. Maybe I need even more structure on the daily stuff that needs to be done.

It really can make a huge difference. My partner (venturi) and I have been at this for a few years, and it's only recently that we've REALLY buckled down and started treating it like a business. We finally bought ourselves a nice pair of office chairs, a "real" filing cabinet (as opposed to the file boxes that were doing the trick), color-coded folders; silly stuff like that - and installed a real time-sheet program. All these things combined have made an amazing difference, but honestly I'd say it's the time sheet program that has done the most. It forces us to account for how we spend our hours, which has two possible affects - if we're not working enough, we get guilt-motivatied. On the other hand, when we're working enough (or too much) it makes it much easier to feel free to take some time off.

That's one of the big monsters in working for yourself, I think - with no real set hours, it's too easy to just work and work and work until you drop. Or, to spend hours reading the boards and call it "work" and then wonder why you haven't managed to get a thing done. Actually tracking your time lets you see exactly what you're doing, and whip or reward yourself as appropriate.

[gnomey]

I hit major burnout a while ago, it sucks when that happens. I took some time off and had a baby and now I'm just dying to get back to work, now that it's difficult to find the time!

I would suggest taking some time off if you're hitting burnout. Granted my leave of absence was wayyyy too long but a little time off can do wonders.