Confessions of a Workaholic Webmaster

March 25th, 2006 by Mook

Hello everyone! I figured I’d take a break from writing about business and focus on a topic I don’t normally share with anyone, except my inner circle of peers; my personal life as a webmaster. This is a true rarity, so don’t expect many more of these types of blogs from me.

When I woke up today, something felt different. Perhaps it was because today was another birthday of mine, but being a non-birthday celebrator, it’s just another work day for me. I purposely work 7 days a week, and about 12-14 hours a day whether I have to or not. I’m a firm believer that keeping myself on this routine keeps me sharp, so I don’t lose focus of my primary objectives.

As I sit here reflecting on my life and career as a webmaster, I’ve noticed that I truly am a workaholic. It’s one of the first times I’m actually coming to terms with it, because I’ve always said “I’ll never become one of those”. The trouble that I’m having with it, is the fact that people become workaholics whether they want to or not. I think it’s because they get so used to working on one goal, that even after they’ve accomplished it, it just becomes an addiction of some sort. Kind of like an excessive gambler who has won the WSOP, but continues until the day he dies to keep trying to win, over and over. It stops being about fame and money, but starts becoming a personal goal. I feel like that’s the situation I’m in right now. Although I’m still considered young (mid 20′s), I feel pretty old, and wise beyond my years. I’ve also accomplished almost all of my career goals years ago, yet, here I sit by my computer, speaking to project managers, programmers, designers, and other webmasters about upcoming projects.

Why do I do this? Hell, I made my first million dollars back in the Adult arena before I turned 21. As a kid I said “after my first million, I’m going to travel the world and take a break”. That was years ago, and still, the only world I’ve traveled was the one that makes up the internet. Even to this day, and it’s kind of strange to say it, but I know for a fact that within the next five years, I will be making over 8-figures a year, every year, for a very very long time, and that’s without any new projects starting from today. Why don’t I walk away from it? I think I’m just so wrapped up in this awesome career that I feel I can’t leave. I feel like I have a duty to myself, and the community to keep at it and share my wealth of information with other people.

Many of my peers have asked “why don’t you make an ebook, or charge for information to other webmaster?”. My answer is simple. I see it as “paying it forward”. When I was a newbie, I got tons of help from people online for free. Hell, it’s what keeps forums so much fun to go on. I see it like this. If someone takes my advice, uses it, accomplishes their goals, and makes money practicing it, all I want in return is for them to pass it on to their peers for free. Don’t make an ebook and sell out like so many con-artists do on here. That’s the quick buck way of ruining your reputation. Instead, focus on topics that aren’t geared towards webmasters, and stop crapping where you eat, by compiling other people’s ideas and selling it as the million dollar idea to financial freedom. It bothers me when people regurgitate other people’s advice and sell it in a $39.95 one time fee ebook that does nada for anyone.

With that said, I desperately want to share my sites with people. Especially the nay sayers that trash me on forums when I share a screen shot. Whenever that happens I really want to come on, list 10 of my sites and say “LOOK YOU BASTARD, HERE’S YOUR PROOF!”, but then this annoying voice inside my head (could also be caused from too much caffiene) convinces me otherwise, and instead I just let it go.

I have debated on retiring from it all, and just going to some secluded beach to sit in the sun and sip on some cold mixed drinks, but I know what will happen. After 3-4 days, I’ll get bored, and my fingers will start to “ghost type” — you know what I’m talking about, that nervous jitter your fingers start doing where they type in the air with no keyboard in sight — and then my internet withdrawal will set in. The truth is, all of this makes me happy, and it’s taken me a long time to figure it out too. For a long long time I’ve considered going back to school and getting a “real job” as my folks used to put it. But reflecting on all of this honestly gives me a smile, and I’m glad the gods of the internet have smiled down on me and helped me in my success. I’m even happier to pass along lots of good information to my fellow webmasters for free.

With that said.. it feels good to let all of this out to all of you reading it. And for those of you who got down to the bottom of this blog, kudos to you for reading my novel! ;)

My name is Jon, and I’m an internet marketing addict.

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Posted in: General »  by: Mook

11 Responses to “Confessions of a Workaholic Webmaster”

  1. Matt  Says:
    March 25th, 2006 at 1:16 pm

    Mook,

    Speaking as someone more than a decade older than you and having made my first million at 35 rather than 21, I would tell you that it doesn’t change as you get older.

    Those of us who are driven to succeed do so because that IS our entertainment and vacation and whatever else we strive for.

    That being said, you need to find something other than this stuff that brings you enjoyment. Last year I went to my local Harley-Davidson dealer and bought a Road King.

    Whenever I need to relax or get my mind off stuff I hop on and ride. It’s relaxing and it’s fun, and some of my best ideas have come from time on the bike.

    You should also join some type of social group (offline). I joined the Lions Club, and they all get a kick out of me. I like them too.

    We also rescue dogs.

    You have a gift and a drive. You need to channel those to more places.

    When I sold my company I laid low for four years before I did anything else. I got involved in dog rescue, politics and enjoying my cronies. I stayed away from a computer mostly, and I think it did me a lot of good.

    I enjoy reading your stuff and enjoy even more reading about your success. I have quoted you often at AffiliateBlog.com (with attribution, and I enjoy telling people about you even though we have never corresponded.

  2. Bryan Flores  Says:
    March 25th, 2006 at 1:34 pm

    Hey happy birthday man. I’m very inspired by all your posts and I’m glad to see that in this business there is a way to quit your day job. I’m also happy to see a fellow New Yorker do big things.

    Be safe and have a good one,
    Bryan

  3. Chromate  Says:
    March 25th, 2006 at 3:16 pm

    I have one thing to say… Happy birthday! ;)

    (Oh, and go on, take a break for goodness sakes! Have some cake.)

  4. rento  Says:
    March 25th, 2006 at 6:58 pm

    Happy Birthday to you, Jon !
    I hope you can manage the “webmaster lifestyle” well.

    Me too an Internet Marketing Addict.. I spend my time learning about these whole thing about making money from the net, but sometime i feel so lonely when i stuck in a project and nobody seem not to care.

    Look forward to your posts.. Im a big fan :)

  5. Richard L.  Says:
    March 27th, 2006 at 4:36 pm

    Happy Birthday to you! I am figuratively a baby in this web publishing business (I only began reading up on it in December) I’m 28 years old right now and I regret I didn’t find out about this type of career sooner. I always thought that you had to be big business or have a product to sell in order to be successful at making money on the web. I made some websites in the past, but they were just for fun.

    I wandered through my twenties working jobs that I didn’t really care for and while I had some clues what I wanted to do, I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it. But this is it. This is what I want to do. I love working my own hours, I love being independent and I love how much you make depends on how much time/effort you spend on it.

    Since I’m starting off, my goals right now are small so they are realistic and achievable, but they’ll get bigger in the future if things progress smoothly.

    You and the people on Sitepoint are my inspiration. Some day I hope to have a success story to share to you.

    -Richard

  6. Mike  Says:
    March 30th, 2006 at 12:54 am

    Great article!
    But what I don’t understand is that you made already a million many years ago in the Adult industry, but mentioned 2 years ago that you were working at a leading search engine company on the ad sales dept.! My question: If you made already a million dollar why still working at a search engine company?
    Thanks Jon!

    Mike

  7. Mook  Says:
    March 30th, 2006 at 9:03 am

    Mike-

    You sound like my friends! I haven’t really allowed my lifestyle to change. One of the reasons I took a job in the sales dept was because I wanted to see the tactics they used to sell PPC and CPM campaigns. The job didn’t last too long, because I quit after under a month of working there due to the fact that I’m a lot more productive when I’m working at home with trance music blaring in the background. I guess that’s not something you can do in an office with lots of other people! I also worked at a leading SEO firm about a year ago, and even though I loved the atmosphere and people there, I just couldn’t stand working for someone else. That was also about the time when my financial sites started to explode in the revenue dept., so I guess it’s just a fact that I cannot work for someone else, whether I want to accept it or not.

    Thank you to everyone for your awesome comments! I always appreciate them!

  8. Bryan  Says:
    March 30th, 2006 at 11:54 am

    Damn Jon,

    That was a great read! In the publishing side of the webmaster genre good helpful information is often hard to find and I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate successful people like yourself and Chris sharing experiences and tips.

    It really is a very cool way to go about your business. I wish you ongoing success and hope you continue to find happiness in what you do.

    Thanks,

    BGray

  9. Mike  Says:
    March 31st, 2006 at 1:44 am

    Thanks Jon!
    Your answer makes sense to me…I also would like to work (maybe in the near future) for Media firm dealing for example with setting up Adwords campaigns in order to understand Adwords deeper meanings more! On the other hand, it might conflict as well when you have your own internet business, because I can use information learned at Media firm for my own benefits. Thanks!

  10. Lord Brar  Says:
    April 4th, 2006 at 3:27 am

    Belated Happy Birthday mate! :)And thanks for inspiring me all this time.

  11. Kim Stewart  Says:
    April 16th, 2006 at 9:16 pm

    Hey Mook,

    I noticed your comment in which you talked a bit about your previous work experience and preferred working conditions. Interestingly enough, I feel we have a bit in common … starting out that is, haha! I am still very much new to the game. 21 years old, 2 years university, currently employed with a leading SEO Firm (www.seo-guy.com) but have been branching quite deeply into the real estate market lately these past few months. I have been working with the team here for just over a 1 year, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

    With the enormous amount of potential coming from website publishing and residual income I would be a fool not to not seize this golden opportunity: which is why I am partnering with SEO Guy for some starter projects to get my feet through the doors, then begin my own journey, keeping the connections strong of course. Funny enough, I also work best while listening to trance! (but I wear headphones when at work lol) Do you have any favorite artists? Pandora has become an addiction lately.. My personal preference is in vocal trance, really gets the mind in motion, nothing too fast tempo though, haha – that just gives headaches. Pretty much ALL that I listen too right now is… Tiësto, Armin Van Buuren, ATB, Ian Van Dahl, Plummet, 4 Strings, Iio and a ton of great mixes on Di.Fm – Haven’t really gotten into Last.Fm yet… Any artists that you recommend? =)

    Cheers,

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