Project Mojave Blog - Latest Comments in The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Jagad Guru — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:07:29 -0000

I only stumbled upon this site a little while ago and I have to say I

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Jagad Guru — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:10:24 -0000

What you say definitely matters, as the others say. I will do what I can to help you out. I hope you don't think of closing this blog down again!

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Cody McKibben — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:11:17 -0000

Wow, I'm really interested to learn what these common income streams and earning strategies are for your "freed" friends! I'll definitely be paying close attention for the new launch. Great post, Clay.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Marcus — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:02:23 -0000

If its not enough that you wrote a blog that gave a lot of hope and solidified a lot of floaty ideas I already had in my head, you've also come out and listed all the grievances I've had with your site better than I could have articulated them, and moved your blog in an ever increasingly positive direction. I look forward to being an avid reader of FYF. Keep up the great work.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Jenny — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:15:49 -0000

Glad you are still around!

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Rama — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:15:17 -0000

Hay,

When I was a math tutor, people would tell me (all the time) that getting good grades was importaint to them but their actions told me otherwise. My clients would go out drinking and couldn't study the next day, cancel tutoring sessions and sleep in class. It was very frusterating and I see you lament some of the same frusterations.

This has led me to get started on my dreams. thanks.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Anni — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:01:22 -0000

Looking forward to the new site! In my experience writing can be a catalyst for growth and change, and it sounds like you've done just that.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

James Hall — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:38:59 -0000

Cool man, just do it! Sounds like the realization TGL wasn't going anywhere must have felt dishonest. That probably rubbed your integrity the wrong way. You have lot's of fans here (I'm one) and even though no one really seems to be doing anything serious about changing the 9-5 prison lie life (because of the money), it sure sounded like a great thing to be doing. I often wonder if that old saw "freedom is just another name for nothing left to lose" points out the problem of clinging well enough. We lose it all eventually, yep! even the neat stuff we tried so hard & long to organize so perfectly (a short visit to your local cancer ward will quickly confirm this obvious fact). The Growing Life has lot's of seasons when nothing much grows or else it grows perfectly withered and dead. It baffles me that people just can't see that. Our whole economic outlook is based on an arrow wafting ever upward through an ever increasingly tight dark narrow soul suffocating quarterly consciousness repeated ad nauseam (till death do it's part). Sound like the valley of the shadow of death? Nah, but if we're looking for perfection we came to the wrong place. Things are supposed to be fucked up here. Folks, let the fucked up light shine a little.
Nothing grows forever not even TGL.
j-

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Lisa @Finding Balance, Natural — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 09:05:03 -0000

I really like the idea of hacking together an income in order to create freedom, time, and more enjoyment in life.

We're working toward this. I took my love for writing and connected it with my desire to be home with my children and created a website helping people recover from depression naturally. It's not easy to make money doing your passion, and it's easy to get caught up in simply "working" for your passion - no different from a job.

Clay, so far you've more in terms of helping me think differently about this than anyone I've been in contact with and I really want to thank you. I am really looking forward to this new site and will eagerly read what you have to say. I wish you all the best.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Impry — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:24:43 -0000

Clay,

One of the best sites I've stumbled upon this year. This blog, and what it stands for, speaks almost holy truths to those who sit glued to a monitor, watching their gut grow larger, feeling their creativeness and aspirations dwindle; all for what? A paycheck? At some point I had to step back and say "OK self, you're where you're supposed to be (as others have told and pushed you). I don't think I can last another month, but it will be easier knowing I have this source of information (and many others) to guide me along the path of self liberation. Took the survey and signed up. I want to thank you for all the time and energy spend creating and maintaining this blog. Every post rang loud and clear, and I hope to see the continuation of that and much more in FYF.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Peggy Payne — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:00:36 -0000

Danm, you're good at this!

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

resonanteye — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:36:01 -0000

I like your writing. That's why I'm here. If you stop writing about your writing I will continue to read.

No more self-referential meta-blogs about the blog, please. I like it when you just speak your mind. I don't care what direction you take it, you have an interesting voice and it's worth reading. But I'm not really interested in the rationale behind the work, if you catch my meaning.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Dot H. — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:21:49 -0000

After reading Leo's post about his "secret," on ZenHabits, I'm much more inclined to look forward to your new website. Not that I wasn't already, but he reminded us that we're figuring this out together.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

madeleine — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:12:25 -0000

I stumbled across your blog a few weeks ago, and I am so glad that I did. I use it as one of several touchstones to know that I can transform my life...now I just need to up my readership.

thank you for keeping up this good work.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Lance — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:54:24 -0000

I'm here to stay. What you say resonates.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Vitor - The Fractal Forest — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:01:56 -0000

Hey Clay,

I share the sentiment of this post, specially the part of not being able to afford my own time. I had been struggling to find just the right words for this feeling.

Cool to see you're moving in a similar direction I'm going.

Vitor

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Anthony Teegarden — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:05:55 -0000

Congratulations! I'm excited about your evolution. I can so relate because I just did the same thing and am in the midst of doing the exact same thing with my blog. The ironic thing is I'm switching from Typpad over to Wordpress and I'll be gosh darn if I didn't choose to use the "FRESH" theme that you're walking away from LOL.

Ironic? Maybe not.

I like your thought process and the fact that you follow your heart.

I salute you and look forward to the value that you plan to share.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Nick — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:39:45 -0000

Clay,

Thanks so much for writing this and everything you're contributing. I feel like this post has given me a lot of strength. I'm looking to get myself out of the 9-5 thing. Superficially, I have the "perfect" job, but in all honesty I feel like it's taking the life and creativity right out of me. I'm looking incredibly forward to seeing what Financing your Freedom will have to offer.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Dot H. — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:13:51 -0000

@Clay - Thanks for the reply. That makes sense to me. I'm looking forward to seeing the new site and finding out whether it would apply to my particular situation.

Also, it occurred to me last night after reading your tribute to your grandparents that the existence of (perhaps illegal) migrant workers had helped your grandparents survive in their business. That brings up the same issues that The Four-Hour Week brought up, namely, is it ethical to profit from the exploitation of others.
----------------------
Response:
Good point about ethics. My grandparents provide FULL INSURANCE to their workers and the highest rates in the industry. And personally, I don't hire VAs from out of the country.

Exploitation is, by definition, unethical.

--Clay

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Wendi Kelly — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:32:25 -0000

Clay,

Did the survey and signed up. Looking forward to reading and learning what you have to say.

I have only been blogging since March and it is interesting to see how thoughts about what I wanted to blog about and the direction that I should go does seem to grow and evolve over time. I can see how that is happening here. The more experience we have, the more we can narrow in our focus to our clear desires. Growth is good. Best of luck!

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Vanessa — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:43:42 -0000

I'll be interested to see what you come up with. This post comes at an interesting time for me. I have been out of the "real world" and volunteering abroad for almost a year which has been an amazing escape from the 9-5. I will be back in the States soon for job hunting, which right now feels like a return to the comfort of the familiar as well as about as much fun as getting a root canal. It sounds like FYF will be a great way for me to have some of the amazing things that I have had in my life this past year.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Guest — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:16:56 -0000

Clay,
I'm with you, and looking forward to the new project. Personally, I'm intellectually ready to make the leap but I'm missing a piece somewhere and I don't know what it is. Maybe I'll find it in your work. Either way, it's an inspiration to continue working for it.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Ron — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:43:41 -0000

I really appreciated this post. Not just because of what you're preparing to launch, but simply because you told your story in a manner that really resonated with what I needed to hear right now.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Matt — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:57:36 -0000

I only stumbled upon this site a little while ago and I have to say I'm intrigued by your new project. I'm looking forward to what you've got to say... I've found it hard finding the focus for generating the necessary alternate income streams to liberate myself.

Re: The Whole Scoop: Why I Almost Shut Down The Growing Life

Bruce Diesel — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:48:24 -0000

Excellent Post. I was more of a fly on the wall but you have intrigued me to sign on. Im sure I can use what you have to offer to better my quest to find something rewarding besides jobs that pay next to nothing for seasoned workers.

For those who have found some freedom in your own ventures, I am trying like a mofo to get mine off the ground but Im not much of a Salesman. Any pointers would be sweet. Viscotroy@gmail.com