One of the problems facing many webmasters (especially if blessed with ADD like me) is the lack of focus. You can be all too easily distracted with websites like YouTube or Digg. Once you start browsing them looking for shit, you just can’t stop. And the sad part is, yes, you are surfing for shit.
Even if you are not looking at the umpteenth funny video or checking out a new digged story about the hottest chicks in ______ (insert whatever here), and are actually browsing in search of videos/stories about a topic you may genuinely be interested in, you are still wasting your time.
Resist the temptation: nothing will happen if you miss that oh-so-interesting video or that story with a really appealing (i.e. linkbaiting) title.
Do not bookmark it and do not spread it around
If the video/story is actually worth something in the sense that you will learn something useful from it (menaning you will either boost your webmaster knowledge base or improve an area of your life), bookmark it and visit it later. Visit it immediately only if it solves a problem you may be facing right now.
If it’s a retarded “funny” video, do not bookmark it. You will erase most of these bookmarks later, after you notice that you really haven’t bothered to look at them at all. Which will in turn lead you to the realization that it was really bullshit. And do not e-mail it to your buddies. You will reduce the amount of shitty chainletters and forwarded stupid e-mails going around. You will save time. Your buddies won’t e-mail that kind of crap to you once they see that you’re not interested in it.
Now comes the big question: Why are you tempted to look at such crap in the first place?
Answer: instantaneous gratification. It makes for an excuse (a really lame one) not to work, it makes you laugh or whatever.
Work and discipline yourself to shed bad habits
Once you start having dozens of websites, you simply won’t have time for bullshit. And once you start earning money from all these websites, things are going to get pretty exciting. Believe me, it is waaaay more fun earning cash and working on earning even more, while learning exciting new techniques, meeting new people and expanding your community (which leads to great friendships and more opportunities to learn & earn). But you must put yourself to work if you wish to get there.
So, when tempted:
- Do write that new blog post that you have been putting aside.
- Do search for new ways of promoting your website/blog.
- Do post comments on blogs that you are regularly reading. Get involved in the discussion.
- Do make that extra effort to churn out great, high-quality articles, graphics, blog designs, etc.
Once you acquire a healthy working habit, you’ll be well on your way to great satisfaction, bigger earnings and a more fulfilling life.
Earning money from bullshit
And by the way, what more does this all tell you? Just look at how many people has that funny video been e-mailed to, how many diggs a retarded story got. This means that the majority of people love to look at that kind of stuff. This means that you can exploit that fact and earn money from it. Stop and think about it for a moment: how many times did you click on a link to such rubbish, but distracting content? I thought so. Don’t waste your time on this rubbish, earn money from it instead!
Most people won’t make an effort to improve themselves and their lives. Most people are happy with their current state of being, because they are either too lazy to make an effort, or afraid of to do it. And these videos/digged stories are what makes them happy and keeps them distracted. Exploit this fact. Most of media (be it printed media, radio, TV or WWW) churns out rubbish anyway.
I nice post on freelancing by Will Mayo inspired me to write this.
If you enjoyed this post, consider subscribing to my RSS feed or leave a comment. Share and bookmark:
7 responses so far ↓
1 Will Mayo // Dec 16, 2007 at 22:42
Hey thanks for the link dude, yeah I used to be a sucker for wasting hours on digg, and TV for that matter. Then I gave away my TV… best decision of my life. UNTIL YOUTUBE CAME ALONG DAMNIT lol
2 evernerve // Dec 16, 2007 at 23:29
I still have my TV, because I am never tempted by it - 99% of the programmes are pure bullshit. It just can’t keep my attention. With YouTube, one at least has the choice of looking at what one wants. But it’s mostly rubbish, still.
I discovered an interesting thing: I punched in “Learn Korean” in YouTube’s search box. It’s amazing how much well-made and instructive videos popped out. Stuff you can actually learn from. Guess what? There is much quality content on YouTube, one just has to search for it and get away from car crashes, fights and stupid stunts.
3 Artimus // Feb 8, 2008 at 19:04
So this article tells us that we should avoid internet bullshit to stop propagating it, but get to working on making your own bullshit to exploit those that are addicted to it??? Oh, the irony.
4 evernerve // Feb 8, 2008 at 19:43
Well, if you think that my blog is bullshit, don’t read it. It’s simple.
5 eren // Feb 21, 2008 at 14:57
i too have ADD. I think there needs to be a time to rest and a time to work. so the whole thing is schedule you time to rest anD your time to work and therE won`t be a problem. Wehn i`m tired of working i go to youtube and watch stand up comedians- very important to maintain my sanity. by the way you are very smart.
6 evernerve // Feb 21, 2008 at 18:44
Thanks for the nice comment eren. Humor is a good way to relax, I agree. As for time management and scheduling, this is the main problem for ADDers. Trying to keep a balanced lifestyle. I overwork myself from time to time because I get sucked into whatever I’m doing, and I forget to eat and sleep. Which is not good - chasing away the feeling that the task at hand must be immediately completed is hard. It can be finished tomorrow, of course, but try explaining that to yourself
7 eren // Feb 21, 2008 at 19:03
lol- i have done that many times. once i spent months trading night for day. I have forgotten to eat and then would start shaking- then overeat. I tell you it`s so hard to be ADD. I only found out I was ADD september of last year- when I turned 30. Now I try to take it easy and say to myself- you can do this CALMLY. We`ll get there.
Leave a Comment