This is not a post in my timeline but I just thought of writing it as it could be of some use at this juncture. There were times when I felt like quitting the things I did (9 to 5 Job) and even blogging too. Reason is very simple we don’t get proper recognition, we don’t get good traffic, we don’t know to write articles which could impress our readers, we don’t know what to keep writing on a daily basis, we have invested a lot of time and money but no returns, above all the income which we thought could be earned through blogging did not turn up yet. These could be some of the famous and most probable reasons on why one would decide quit writing for their blog. If you have read one of my previous posts on my blogging journey you would have know that it has been 5 years being a blogger. There were both good and bad times with my traffic and earning yet something keeps me still going and that’s what I call motivation.
As usual I would love to share a beautiful story one of my favorites which I tell my students when ever they feel like quitting their studies, hope it helps you too.
One day I decided to quit…
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
“God,” I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”
His answer surprised me…
“Look around,” He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took a very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo,” He said.
“In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit,” He said
“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant… But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots.
Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”
He said to me. “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?”
“I would not quit on the bamboo. Neither will I ever quit on you.”
“Don’t compare yourself to others,” He said. “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful.”
“Your time will come,” God said to me. “You will rise high!”
“How high should I rise?” I asked.
“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.
“As high as it can?” I questioned.
“Yes,” He said. “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. He will never give up on you.
Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness
Bad days give you experiences;
Both are essential to life.Keep going…
Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,
Failures keep you humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!
— Copyright © 2010 Lebitso TR Mtshali
Hope you have been inspired from this story, this story is what kept me most of the time to push myself little harder over the things whenever I fell like quitting. I am not yet done with my BloginGrace (BIG) I am happy with the results it got over the past 4 months. I want this blog to be more useful to my readers or visitors rather than it benefits me. I don’t say I don’t want to earn money from BIG, yet I believe money can’t bring in everything. It can’t buy me a good relationship, it can’t buy me some love and it can’t even buy me the trust of my readers.
I have identified three possible reasons which could have kept a barricade to your blogging success or hindering your blogging journey. I would suggest going through them and coming out of them successfully to become a next star blogger of the blogosphere.
1. Lack of Resources:
One of the lame reasons one could find is lack of resources. I too am one among them. Initially I had no resources at all to start my WordPress blog it took me 5 years to start BIG(BloginGrace). I started blogging in 2008 somewhere in the month of December and my WordPress blog was started in February 2013. With my blogger blogs I could master some of its techniques by the end of 2009 and I did helped few people who came for guidance to start a blog and I guided them to go for paid hosting and WordPress they did and got successful very soon. Even then I had no resources to build a self hosted WordPress blog. Yet I did not quit as I know I would build my WordPress blog with my hard earned income one day and now I did build it with my own money.
Read: What does it cost to start a Blog
Never compare with the success stories of others as sometimes we feel as if we are not doing well but fact is that we can do more than anyone else if we believe in ourselves. There is a famous quote which I like but I don’t know who said it which goes something like this
I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.
I too love to use premium plugins and a Genesis framework but I am happy I am using a free framework and free plugins and I am still doing like a pro (Sorry if you felt I am bragging). It’s a kind of inspiration I got from the above quote. There are many people who are still struggling with blogger blogs because of lack of resources and I am happy with my free framework rather than having paid Genesis framework. So don’t quit blogging as you lack resources, utilize what ever resources you have at hand to the fullest, even a blogspot blog can do better than WordPress blogs.
2. Lack of Motivation:
Most people lack motivation, as soon as days pass the zeal or fire to write for their blog would slowly calm down, as months pass the fire is quenched and as years pass not even smoke would come. This happens because you don’t find any success over the blog even if it is 2 years old. Here you need motivation and lack of motivation simply turns your goals to a wrong direction other than blogging. Always be in the company of bloggers who always keep motivating their readers rather than those who are always self centered.
Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
Keep motivated don’t lose your passion for blogging as your 1000th post could bring you success. Somebody said to me that there is a difference between zeal and passion. They said zeal is temporary or part time it just ignites fire for few days and it quenches but it is passion that keeps the flame kindled till we achieve what we have planned to reach.
3. Lack of support:
I agree with this point when we don’t get proper support from the society, family and people in the blogosphere we would feel all alone. Lack of proper support does create a hindrance for your blogging success but try to love your critics for they are the ones who would shape your destiny.
After his first audition, Sidney Poitier was told by the casting director, “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” It was at that moment, recalls Poitier, that he decided to devote his life to acting.
When people and the society around you don’t support always be happy you are not like one among them you are standing out of the crowd. Don’t let people override your thoughts and goals, many will not support your ideas but stay with your ideology until and unless you yourself felt it is a wrong idea. So next time when you don’t find support don’t just quit but write one more post and keep going.
Read: 7 Sure-fire ways to get Comments to your Blog posts
So what did you decide do you still want to Quit Blogging?
As I said earlier this post is not in my timeline but I have written this post to help my fellow bloggers and friends in the blogosphere who had some bad time with their blogs. Patience is what it takes to bring your success into reality, sometimes the set time will be just a post behind and when you quit before writing that post you have missed something terribly. After reading this article if you still feel like quit blogging then let your next step be focused more on what you love and like to do the most.
Right now, Vijesh…I feel like quitting. It’s like you read my mind and you posted this just for me. Sometime I wonder if you’re an angel who keep watching me. Who knows my every thoughts. Who knows everything what I’m going through.
After reading your previous post…and how I found out this Google……it’s like a BIG SLAP on my face. After 5 months of hard work. Installing WordPress. Installing Genesis. Re-designing. I didn’t realize I wasn’t doing good. Good Lord, I am praying right now. Please help me SOLVE this.
Your story is very inspiring! But the cut deep within isn’t enough to lift up how I’m feeling right now. And I’d say I couldn’t agree with you anymore…
That bamboo took 5 years before it start sprouting. Your roots must’ve been plowed deep within that even the strong wind blows of the hurricane NO one can dig it up.
Now with my head down…I’m asking myself again. My blog is getting decent traffic. I’m getting around. People start to notice me. Slowly but surely. But THAT problem must be solved first or I’ll never be in peace. It’s either DO IT or DON’T DO IT and JUST QUIT.
I dunno how to clean this mess….I’m praying in my mind.
You alone my friend is the only one who knows what I’m talking about. I have written it to you in PRIVATE. I feel so disappointed and so discouraged right now.
I know I might cry now but later I always try.
I’ve always been persistent and determine in everything that I do. But I’m sorry for being downhearted still….this cannot be happening to me….
Angela
Okay, Vijesh…I actually feel much, much better today. Sorry, I reacted. See…the power of knowledge is good. Because when you know something behind, you understand what’s happening. Rather than worrying about something…this is actually more of an ignorance.
Anyhoo, I talked to Susan, Rob Goss, Rob Cubbon, including Mayura himself…and they all said the SAME thing to me — NOTHING to worry about. I’m fine. My site is just FINE.
So now I’m going to release my NEXT newsletter this Thursday:
“Are Graphic Designers Required to Coded?”
Have a great Wednesday my friend.
xoxo
Angela
CORRECTION: “Are Graphic Designers Required to Code?”
Don’t you just hate words that are mispelled? I wish I can edit my comment on WordPress. But not. Anyhoo, stay cool on this pretty hot weather…
So at last my Friend is back on the track. It is better to trust in the Lord rather than Men so next time don’t come to conclusions depending on my articles or others articles in everything first please do test. Sometimes the tools are just for idea but we can’t completely rely on them.
Workshops or seminars are just a place where they teach how they did and ask you to follow those methods but it is we ourselves who need to test and apply. Even the person who conducted the workshop too one day had to pass through that newbie stage. I feel it is better to rely on God more than we come to conclusions depending on others success.
You are an excellent graphic designer not because you have attended a workshop on graphic designing it is because the creator has keep seeds of designing inside of you and thus you got attracted to Graphic designing and left your RT program(though it is personal reason).
Read Exodus 31 in Bible the scriptures go something like this
1Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you
If you observe in the above scripture it says that God has given ability for those to make artistic designs, similarly in everyone of us he does keep an ability and we need to recognize and move on.
I am glad you are happy now and ready to release your newsletter and your new blog post.
Hello Vijesh..
Its very great to hear that you are blogging from since 5 years..
Regards
Hi Siddharth,
Thanks for your wishes and you too write pretty well keep it up, I remember your mail and when I feel you will benefit I will definitely let you know.
Regards
In 5 years you should earn at least $1000 per month these days man.
Hope “BIG” willstat bring you some BIG income on a monthly basis.
Best regards from I. C. Daniel
Yeah Daniel I should have been making 1000$ per month by now but I did not concentrate to make money. But my aggregate income of all these years have crossed 1000$. Hope I not only make it Big with BIG but also help many to make it BIG…
Hi Vijesh,
Just like you, I also started with blogspot somewhere in the latter part of 2011. I was more or less like poet writing on various poetry sites until one of my readers told me to consider creating a blog through blogger.
I therefore went out and took my dictionary to check out what a blog is.
I just posted a few of my poems and that was it. I just expected to make some cash without any promotion.
To make long story short, I therefore discovered Linkreferrral which started bringing in some traffic. FaceBags.blogspot.com that was the name of my poetry blog, had it first success when I got a direct sponsor through komoona.com who was willing to pay 1 pound every week and he bought it for 90 days even though alexa was in the millions.
Venturing into wordpress with mycudjoe.com was more or less like a nice mistake. I had all the excuses of this world. With the greatest of them being how to make online payment for a domain since I have no credit card. The solution was found in Libertyreserve( which is now no more).
mycudjoe.com was first aimed as a poetry blog But I realised it wasn’t ideal for poetry. There have being numerous of times where I wanted to quit this whole blogging thing but the likes of Mitz of Letsbuildwebsites urged me on when she personally wrote to me of wanting me to write for her. She said, she just enjoys my writing.
I was surprised and that email just kept me going. It just motivated me to the next level.
Sorry for being personal here but it just appears this post just blow me away and reminds me of how far I have come!
Hi Emmanuel,
Glad to hear your story and I am surprised to hear that you are a poet. but as far as I have read your post you are an unique writer. Mitz of Letsbuildwebsites has recognized that you have the potential and you do have it, I think you are feeling better now want to see more of your posts buddy…
Hi Vijesh,
Sharing your beautiful story of going into the woods and having a talk with God brought tears of joy to my eyes. If this doesn’t inspire a person, I don’t know what will. This is a perfect analogy of a person involved with blogging. It takes time, patience and persistence. But most importantly we have to understand that we are growing our roots, just like the bamboo. Once we do and sprout, we can grow very quickly.
Motivation I feel, must come from ourselves. We cannot look outside of ourselves for it. We must keep on learning every day, meet people and engage with them every day. But most importantly, we have to be truthful with ourselves and know the goal that is in our heart.
Yes, we all get stuck once in a while, but just reading something can give us a great new idea of sharing that information with others on our blog. We must keep our mindset strong and not listen to others that have a negative thought on what we are doing.
“To thine own self be true” – once we get that, and are true to our selves things go smoothly.
And of course, I feel spirituality is one of the key factors that can keep us going. Like you having your talk with God, we do get messages if we listen.
Sometimes in life when things go crazy, I just give it to God. When I do that, I listen. The answer might not come immediately, but it always does.
I loved this post because it is the most inspirational one I’ve read in a very long time.
Blessings,
Donna
Great Article and great story Vijesh.
I loved the story and awesome message in it.
I am also one of the person who quitted his job in year 2011 to enjoy blogging life, but I am not from one of them who also decided to quit the blogging.
The day I started blogging, everything was clear to me and I did my best to stand out from the crowd. Because I was not having any option in those days.
Even those days I was not having money to pay hosting (I paid with my brother’s CC for around 2-3 months) but the idea of quitting never came in my mind.
I think lack of motivation is the biggest factor. Because if you are not motivated enough then you will keep complaining like this is not good, that is not good and so and so. But if you are too much motivated then you will find gems from the mud also.
People think that this is a quick rich scheme and they keep looking people who are making money and they don’t make too much efforts like them.
Vijesh, you did great job in writing this article.
All the best.. Keep writing such articles. 🙂
Hi Kulwant,
You have surprised me with your comment. I am so happy that you liked the story, its good to hear your story on how hard it was for you in the starting days of your blogging. But now you are one among the top Indian blogs.
Thanks for your encouraging comment…
Ya, i feel many time to quit blog this is why from last 4 year my blog is still not so popular, but now i decided to keep blogging , no matter what situation or problem i will face but i keep on sharing
Hi Vishnu,
Don’t just leave your blogging journey abruptly just keep blogging and promoting you have a good future ahead.
Hi Vijesh,
I am really impressed with the topic selection of yours. I think you share stuff that you or come across or may be I am not right.
Yes there is a time that comes in the career of every blogger when they do not succeed. The reason can be anything but mostly as we understand making money or readership can be the thing.
Based on my own experience I can say that it is all about what you not and how you trust it. Blogging is not very easy and it requires a lot of learning to actually understand the basics of blogging success.
Setting inappropriate goals and not achieving them can be a cause of this.
The story in this post is absolutely a match for the topic, similar to the Bamboo that took time to strengthen roots, blogging is always learning with experiments and being better every day and a day comes when it produces more that our expectations.
Excellent post and a much needed for bloggers who are considering to quit.
Hi Suhas,
Thanks for your comment. I actually have a timeline of posts but this post is just like that. I wanted to share and I shared it. But now I am blogging happily but some times I feel struck on not writing and all and this story did inspire me so thought of sharing with you guys.
Hi Vijesh,
I really love this article. First of all, the story about the woods was beautiful. I think everyone should read the story whether they are bloggers or not. It pertains to everything in our lives. Ya know I started blogging about 2 years ago but I’ve never been consistent with it. I lost my corporate job 2/2013 and have become more consistent. I find I sometimes get stuck on topics, so that’s when I end up skipping blogging. Not good. But now I’m in school full time and I’m hoping I’ll be able to share what I’m learning so that I will be more consistent. Thanks so much for sharing this post. It’s very inspiring. Warmest regards, Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Glad you liked the story of the woods, also happy to know a bit of you and hope you are enjoying your teaching. I too was a teacher by profession but now I am planning something else.
Thanks for stopping by and giving your valuable comment.
Hi Vijesh,
What a beautiful article and the lesson learned from your story in the woods is priceless.
We all get stuck at some point in our business and we get frustrated and we consider quitting. I admit that I considered quitting so many times but thanks to the motivation I get from bloggers like you. Every effort counts and will take us a step forward and deepen our roots (foundation). It may be baby steps but since there is movement, there is life in the process.
Lack of support is very difficult and I have been through it and makes us feel lonely sometimes but I loved the saying you mentioned “try to love your critics for they are the ones who would shape your destiny”. This is very encouraging.
Thanks Vijesh for a great inspiring post. It really rekindled the fire!! Have a great rest of the week.
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Hi Neamat,
Thanks for your encouraging comment and glad that you loved the story.
Critics are really those who enhance our productivity if we take their words in a positive manner. They point out our mistakes and weakness so that we could not repeat those or become strong in the area. So having criticizers is a good way to boost our success ratio…
Hey Vijesh,
I’ve heard that story about the bamboo but it’s been awhile so sharing it in your post today is just brilliant because so many people have been on the verge of quitting something, not just blogging.
I’ve thought of quitting blogging a few times myself. Back when it was a ghost town and I wondered why I was even wasting my time. Something inside me though wouldn’t let me quit because I just knew this was where I was suppose to be. I’m so glad that I didn’t because like God shared in the story, all that time we thought nothing was happening was just moving us toward where we needed to be. Because of that I found the right information and support and it’s been great ever since.
We all have to find our place here, our educators and our support groups. Without them we’re nothing because no one can do this alone.
Thank you for sharing this story and for being so vulnerable. Everyone else in their comments as well, just beautiful.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne
As usual a long and beautiful comment, thanks for stopping by and making my blog beautiful with your comments.As in your story everyone might think of quitting on things they are doing but if we trust in God and keep moving we would definitely see the results.
Thanks for your encouraging comment and thanking every other commenter in this post…
Hi Vijesh
Like some of the others have said I too love the story you shared. I also felt very emotional reading it.
Yes I have felt like quitting at times. I think for most of when we started we had to wonder what the heck we were doing this for when we have no readers. But of course if we found our way to a blogging community then of course this helps.
I also love the examples you have shared like Thomas Edison and Sidney Poitier they are examples of excuses we could make up.
Any business takes time to build and time to establish. We have to learn new skills when we start blogging so of course it takes time.
A great post and thanks for sharing that beautiful story.
Sue
Hi Sue,
Thanks for stopping by and giving an encouraging comment. Its true that it takes some time to build and establish a business and in the initial days when results don’t show up we need to work even more. Trusting God and moving forward is the only secret to success…
Im flattered,Wow the story was amazing and very much inspirational.I dont know whether the story resembles my life or not but certainly resembles yours,Great sign bro…Soon I am going to be a friend of best India’s original blogger.
Thanks for your lovely comment I understood you loved the story as you have shared it in your personal blog.
Hi Vijesh,
I LOVE the examples you used – especially the story about the bamboo. And of course the Edison story is classic. It inspired a post that will be published tomorrow – so…great minds…
I can relate as I have given up on things in the past pretty easily.
It’s easy to give up things when we’re focused on a result. If something doesn’t happen on our timeline, whatever that is, we get frustrated and think what we’re doing isn’t working.
What I’ve learned is that when we’re simply connected to the process from a place of enthusiasm, the result takes care of itself while we’re lost in the joy of what we’re doing.
Great post!
Hi Dana,
Glad you liked the story and Edison’s Story. Glad that you have been inspired to write a post. Looking forward to read your post. If we are immersed in doing our job without seeking the results as you’ve said we would definitely see the results.
Have a nice day ahead…
Hi Vijesh
An excellent set of reasons not to quit on your dream, I particularly like the quotes you have inserted into the post.
Excellent
Robert
Hi Robert,
Thanks for your encouraging comment, glad to hear you loved the Quotes,
Loved the story of the fern and the bamboo. You just have ti be aware of what you have planted to know when you can expect the first green shoots to appear! Thanks.
Hi Iris,
Glad to know you loved the story, yes as you have said its true that we need to plant proper seeds to get proper results, a guava seed cant give mango fruit.
Thanks for your valuable comment…
Hey Vijesh,
First of all, the story about the bamboo was a very motivational one to read. Anyway, their are certain reasons why a blogger quits blogging and one of those is lack of motivation. A motivation could easily fade away if we didn’t see a result coming out from our efforts. That can really be a big discouragement for all of us but the one’s who succeed never gives up in times of crises and raises up to the challenge similar to the bamboo story. Giving up should never be an option.
Hi John,
Its true that many people quit blogging when they don’t get proper results and who lack motivation, If we keep waiting like that bamboo we are sure to rise like it one day…
Thanks for your valuable comment…
hmmm this is interesting to read..and it motivated me alot..many examples we heard to not to stop our work and keep hardworking. one day we will get the success..anyways great article !!
Yes Vijesh i also feel sometimes in my early days of blogging, that why i am not getting constant visitors, ? why my alexa rank is not increasing,? i was totally frustated, then as i get to know the things slowly and steadily i understand that it requires time and patience to become a successful blogger.!
🙂