Cool! I'm always fascinated by your background Rob. We're watching as my mother in law is in today's parade, Tai Chi troupe.
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“Pay yourself first” and “One thing leads to another”

Categories: Career, RuminationsPosted on July 6th, 2007

I often get asked “How to you publish so much content on your blog?” or “Do you ever sleep?” Here’s some of my tips that I do.

Pay yourself first
I pay myself first. What does that mean? It means before I get bogged down in email hell, and feedreader hell, I focus my priorities on the tools that will maximize my time. A blog is a broadcast tool (with community features) that let’s me communicate to many people at once. It’s the most efficient use of my time, and it saves me time. For every email you write, you’re likely to get more in in return, and that’s not efficient. I look for efficient communication tools, and a blog is right for me, (A social network may be right for you) but that’s how I pay myself first. I hope Tim Ferris sees this.

This isn’t a new concept, many financial advisers will suggest that you invest in the future (funds, roth, 401) before paying down your debt, because in the long run, you’ll survive with debt, but to retire you’ll need quite an egg in today’s modern world.

I think about my focus area Web Strategy all the time. I want to be a resource to people that are making decisions on websites, or are responsible for what happens on the site. I keep a notepad on my (moleskine) near me most of the time, and write down ideas for posts whenever I can. These often go into my drafts area on wordpress. I currently have 131 drafts that I’m working on. Some will never make it, and that’s ok with me. If you check out my blog birthday stats, I’ve done an average of three posts a day, with a return of 4 comments per post on average.

[Every morning, for about 2 hours, I pay myself first by researching, reading, and writing blog posts...before I dive into email hell]



One things leads to another
The last thing I wanted to share is that one thing leads to another. I had a great time in Singapore, I was a speaker, met a lot of people, and blogged the hell out of the event. When I got back home, I now have three invites to go overseas to speak, one thing leads to another. So remember that even the smallest thing will lead to something bigger, and it will snowball.

Overtime, paying yourself first will add up. Whether it’s on Myspace, Facebook, a Videoblog or your blog, all kinds of interesting things will happen. As it ends up, by paying myself first on my blog, it actually pays me employer, as they reap the rewards of my network, increased knowledge, and thought leadership. I’ve done some quantification on my ROI for my employer, and it’s a positive number.

So pay yourself first, and remember that one thing leads to another.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 6th, 2007 at 3:11 am and is filed under Career, Ruminations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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  • http://www.loudmouthman.com Nik Butler

    How wonderfully insightful; would you mind me cribbing and crediting from this at my next Business NetworkBreakfast ?

    Nik

  • http://web-strategist.com Jeremiah Owyang

    Help yourself, a simple reference to me is all I ask.

  • http://www.loudmouthman.com Nik Butler

    Absolutely, credit where credit is due. I have been trying to squeeze blogging and writing into my activities when clearly it should be a priority because the effort results in more paying the bill type activities. Some days it takes someone else to state the plainly obvious. Cheers

  • http://www.mashable.com/author/adam-ostrow Adam Ostrow

    Smart strategy. My personal blog tends to suffer because I start every day jumping right into email and the things that pay the bills and never look back. I’m going to try the “pay myself first” and notepad next to desk strategy next week :)

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Make it a sticky pad on your monitor.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/07/09/daniela-pays-herself-first/ Web Strategy by Jeremiah » Daniela pays herself first

    [...] In a recent post, I shared some of my personal secrets in career growth, focused for the web professional. [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/07/13/falling-behind-on-personal-email-patience-required/ Web Strategy by Jeremiah » Falling behind on personal email, patience required.

    [...] I’m really sorry, but to let you know, I’m falling behind on my personal email. I guess this is partly my doing, as I make my email address public on this blog. It’s overwhelming, I’m getting over 200 emails during each weekday, a lot of requests to interview companies, or requesting information, or introductions from PR firms. I’m a big believer in paying yourself first (that’s why I get up extra early to blog at 3-4am), work email comes second, followed by personal email. [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/07/14/communitynext-viral/ Web Strategy by Jeremiah » CommunityNext Viral: Find out who the hard core community folks are

    [...] One of the great giveaways to all attendees was Tim Ferris’s book, the Four Hour workweek. While I still think it’s impossible, the concepts are great, that’s why I pay myself first. [...]

  • http://www.loudmouthman.com/2007/07/15/paying-me-paying-you/ The Opinions of a Loud Mouth Man :: Paying Me, Paying you.

    [...] part, contribute and interact. However it was not until I read this article by Jeremiah Owyang; “Paying yourself and one thing leads to another” that the lightbulb went on in my head and I realised how much you can get back from a community by [...]

  • http://500hats.typepad.com/ dave mcclure

    nice. i really need to think like this more often.

    thanks :)

  • http://www.launchsquad.com/blogs/exclamation/2007/07/17/paying-yourself-first-how-launchsquad-does-it/ LaunchSquad : Blogs : Exclamation

    [...] been a bunch of conversation in the blogosphere about “Paying yourself first.” As a total devotee of time-management gurus like David Allen, I was a little surprised to [...]

  • http://www.fourhourworkweek.com Tim Ferriss

    Hi Jeremiah,

    Great, great points.

    “Paying yourself first” is strategic in the most literal sense. Good tactics are often born of good strategy, but the opposite is damn hard (trying to drink from the fire hydrant of e-mail and find prioritization through that, for example).

    The “one thing leads to another” is sooooo important. People often ask me how I pitched bloggers, what the secret is to pitching bloggers, etc. My answer should just be: I had a bunch of drinks with cool folks at SXSW (note: not all bloggers are cool) and “one thing led to another”…

    Keep up the good fight, J,

    Tim

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/07/21/for-the-community-managers/ Web Strategy by Jeremiah » For the Community Managers

    [...] his post, Alex says that he’s almost back to blogging, and I want to encourage him to continue paying himself first. I suggest (and have argued) that blogging can lead towards the road of [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/07/24/techcrunch-profiles-9-out-of-60-white-label-social-networks/ Web Strategy by Jeremiah » Techcrunch profiles 9 (out of 60+) White Label Social Networks

    [...] Thanks for crediting me Mark, be sure to check out my other Industry Indexe lists for future market analysis. Friends, here’s a living example of paying yourself first, and one thing leads to another. [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/08/16/tips-to-save-time-from-the-web-strategist/ Tips to save time from the Web Strategist

    [...] Pay yourself first: I rarely check email before I start reading and blogging, it’s an endless spiral, the more [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/09/04/the-roi-of-blogging-intangible/ The ROI of Blogging? Intangible

    [...] right time, and blogged just about every day and reached out to others. A few months back I wrote why you should pay yourself first, and why one thing leads to another, I encourage you to follow this principle [...]

  • http://www.widerfunnel.com Chris Goward

    Great post, thanks Jeremiah.

    It’s too easy to get bogged down in the urgent and neglect the important. It’s a reminder for me to refresh my priority list.

    Cheers,
    Chris

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/09/29/letters-to-the-editor-career-pathing-to-web-strategy/ Letters to the Editor: Career Pathing to a Web Strategy role

    [...] Continue to learn, and absorb everything you can, be open to feedback, and follow your passions, one thing leads to another. As a designer, you may want to expand out and start to do some user experience research projects. [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2007/10/31/6-things-ive-learned-since-becoming-an-analyst/ 6 things i’ve learned since becoming an analyst

    [...] in the morning (I sleep in 2 three hour shifts at night, and am up right now at 3am to blog) as I really believe in paying myself first. Learning how to manage all the input and output time (and time spent writing reports) around [...]

  • http://smalldots.wordpress.com/2007/12/01/thirst-for-knowledge-apetite-for-change/ thirst for knowledge, apetite for change « small dots

    [...] 1, 2007 by BethDunn I’ve been thinking about Jeremiah’s recent Utter, his post on paying yourself first and about how we get where we eventually [...]

  • http://conniebensen.com/blog/2007/10/13/milestones-momentum-social-media/ » Milestones, Momentum & Social Media Connie Bensen: My Conversations

    [...] to yourself – Jeremiah has a great post on paying yourself forward. Put things in this [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/05/08/career-insights/ Six Career Tips

    [...] Connie Benson reminded me to post up my mantra of “pay yourself first” and “Manage your time as you do [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/05/16/career-tips-how-i-stay-organized/ Career Tips: How I stay organized

    [...] Related: Pay yourself first, one thing leads to another [...]

  • http://egovau.blogspot.com Craig Thomler

    Hi Jeremy,

    I’m impressed at your approach in your blog and the commitment you’ve made to yourself.

    I’ve recently started a blog on eGovernment within Australia, making a similar long-term commitment to a high level of activity in a relevant and useful manner.

    I’m referring to you as a role model for this approach and keeping a close eye on your approach.

    I wish you continuing happiness and success in equal measure.

  • http://www.enidhi.net Shrinidhi Hande

    So true…

  • http://www.anbusivam.com Anbusivam

    Great thoughts Jeremiah….Thanks for this wonderful post. “One things leads to another” -> I very well know how true is this. When I started as a novice blogger last year, I’ve no idea about how can I bring in some goos posts. Now when I go back and browse through my older posts, I can see how much time and effort I’ve spend in writing them, learnings happened, friends I got….yes “One thing leads to another”…and that’s what is “Butterfly Effect”

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/06/27/happy-2nd-blog-anniversary-web-strategy-blog/ Happy 2nd Blog Anniversary: Web Strategy Blog

    [...] (I’ve over 100 of them sitting in wordpress) and I’d budget my time in the morning to pay myself first. (It’s 430 AM when I write [...]

  • http://technology.techstar.in/?p=177 Technology Talk! » Blog Archive » Waking Up to Blogging Again!

    [...] blog post by Jeremiah Owyang reopened my eyes to blogging. For a long time, I’ve left this blog [...]

  • http://blogcampaigning.com/?p=563 blogcampaigning » Blog Archive » “Why haven’t you been blogging as much lately?”

    [...] also a firm believer in what Jeremiah Owyang refers to as “paying yourself first,” although I think I have a slightly different spin on it. His priorities are to his blog and [...]

  • http://jcyreus.com/blog/2008/08/13/getting-back-on-the-field-and-accepting-the-challenge/ Getting Back on the Field and Accepting the Challenge | Jcyreus dot Com :: [J-seer-ee-uhs]

    [...] amount of time each day to generate quality content, or as one of my favorite Internet strategists Jeremiah Owyang calls it, “paying yourself first”. This is where I have failed myself lately and more importantly, failed my growing base of loyal [...]

  • http://www.disruptiveconversations.com/2008/09/paying-yourself.html Disruptive Conversations

    Paying Yourself First – Starting the day with blogging… …

    A few weeks back I found myself on a Friday realizing that in the entire week: I had not published a single blog post. Not one. Not on any of my blogs. Now, just to put this in context, please…

  • http://www.thislandisforyou.com Gina Kay Landis

    That is a great concept – thanks!

  • http://www.2thenextlevel.com/blog Jeffrey Alexander Brathwaite

    Hey Jeremiah,

    Great post. I have also been checking emails and other social networks before concentrating on my blog post. I have only been able to post to my blog 2 times a week. I need to step that up to at least 1 time a day. Thank again for your insight.

    JB

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/11/15/growing-your-career-do-at-gut-check/ Growing your Career: Do at GUT Check

    [...] and ask them to show you something or teach you something new in your career. What am I doing? I spend two hours each morning reading and blogging before I look at email, and I just started Guy’s latest [...]

  • http://kimworld.com/online-resources-from-totally-hers-business-advice-day/ Online Resources from Totally Her’s Business Advice Day : kimworld.com

    [...] Pay Yourself First Article [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/02/04/the-dangers-of-being-under-and-over-qualified-during-a-recession/ The Dangers of Being Under –and Over– Qualified During a Recession

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  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/05/08/how-do-i-keep-up/ How Do I Keep Up? « Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Social Media, Web Marketing

    [...] changing industry has its tolls, so I’ve figured out a system that keeps me half way sane. I pay myself first every morning by reading and sharing (you’ll see me tweet out interesting links as early as [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2009/06/19/three-years/ Three Years « Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Social Media, Web Marketing

    [...] the secret? Pay yourself first. I put in a lot of passion, and read and blog nearly every morning (It’s 3:51am right now) [...]

  • http://www.gabymenta.com.ar/three-years/ Three Years. | GAby Menta

    [...] worked for me? Pay yourself first. I put in a lot of passion, and read and blog nearly every morning (It’s 3:51am right now) before [...]

  • http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=User:Nino_Gonzales/The_Filipino_Soul_According_to_Google Nino, the grammar nazi

    small typo…

    As it ends up, by paying myself first on my blog, it actually pays **me** employer, as they reap the rewards of my network, increased knowledge, and thought leadership.

  • http://curiouslypersistent.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/increasing-visibility/ Increasing visibility « Curiously Persistent

    [...] Jeremiah Owyang says he likes to pay himself first – he does that through his blog concentrating his thought processes and the recognition he receives for it. I’m not very good at getting up before 8am (or noon on weekends), so I’m going to try to end the week by paying myself. [...]

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2010/02/11/matrix-buzz-vs-facebook-vs-myspace-vs-twitter-feb-2009/ Matrix: Google Buzz vs Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter (Feb 2010) « Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Social Media, Web Marketing

    [...] has a morning ritual, for me, I invest up to two hours reading, thinking, and blogging. I hope this helps you cut through the noise –if it [...]

  • http://digitalrecruitmentdigest.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/google-buzz-vs-facebook-vs-myspace-vs-twitter-feb-2010/ Google Buzz vs Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter (Feb 2010) «

    [...] has a morning ritual, for me, I invest up to two hours reading, thinking, and blogging each morning. I hope this helps you cut through the noise [...]

  • http://eggtea.com/?p=12708 Web Strategy Matrix: Google Buzz vs Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter (Feb 2010) « eggtea.com

    [...] has a morning ritual, for me, I invest up to two hours reading, thinking, and blogging each morning. I hope this helps you cut through the noise [...]

  • http://popboxsocialmedia.com/dashboards/?p=758 Web Strategy Matrix: Google Buzz vs Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter (Feb 2010) |

    [...] has a morning ritual, for me, I invest up to two hours reading, thinking, and blogging each morning. I hope this helps you cut through the noise [...]

  • josiecarolinesmibb0455

    Krukowski and Yang run Exact Change, publishing experimental classics like Denton Welch’s In Youth is Pleasure, Fernando Pessoa’s The http://www.myeasypayment.com Book of Disquiet, Comte de Lautréamont’s Maldoror, Leonora Carrington’s The Hearing Trumpet, and Unica Zürn’s Dark Spring. It’s an impressive catalogue of books (beautifully designed by Yang.)

  • http://thisisanawesomewebsite.com/2010/07/social-media-listening-you-don%e2%80%99t-to-be-joey-chestnut-on-the-4th-of-july/ Social Media Listening: You Don’t To Be Joey Chestnut on the 4th of July! | This Is An Awesome Web Site

    [...] Owyang wrote a great post two years ago called “Pay Yourself First.”   In a nutshell: “Every morning, for about 2 hours, I pay myself first by [...]

  • http://www.fsuama.com/feeds/?p=4761 Social Media Listening: You Don’t To Be Joey Chestnut on the 4th of July! « My Blog

    [...] Owyang wrote a great post two years ago called “Pay Yourself First.” In a nutshell: “Every morning, for about 2 hours, I pay myself first by researching, [...]

  • http://thisisanawesomewebsite.com/2010/07/social-media-listening-you-don%e2%80%99t-have-to-be-joey-chestnut-on-the-4th-of-july/ Social Media Listening: You Don’t Have To Be Joey Chestnut on the 4th of July! | This Is An Awesome Web Site

    [...] Owyang wrote a great post two years ago called “Pay Yourself First.”   In a nutshell: “Every morning, for about 2 hours, I pay myself first by [...]

  • http://hoongyee.com/2010/07/19/pay-yourself-first/ Pay Yourself First | Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer

    [...] is from a post about how to think about your blogging by Jeremiah Owyang that tells you to pay yourself first.  Why is it that we head first to the inbox [...]

  • http://www.chrisbrogan.com/pay-yourself-first/ Pay Yourself First

    [...] Nate DiNiro points out that Jeremiah Owyang wrote very similar posts back in 2007, in 2008, and 2009. It figures that I’m once again catching up to something Jeremiah’s [...]

  • http://www.algiroditalia.com/2010/10/31/pay-yourself-first/ Pay Yourself First | Technologicamente

    [...] Nate DiNiro points out that Jeremiah Owyang wrote very similar posts back in 2007, in 2008, and 2009. It figures that I’m once again catching up to something Jeremiah’s [...]

  • http://jobshuk.com/blog/2007/07/25/blogs-are-a-business-s-best-friend/ JobShuk | Blog | Blogs are a business's best friend

    [...] putting your personality out there, creating relationships and communication, are all forms of "paying yourself first". That is, it’s a way of investing your time in your future, maximizing that time for yourself [...]

  • http://web-strategist.com/blog Jeremiah Owyang

    It’s 4am on Wed Sept 14, 2011, and I’m still following this a few times a week.  It’s harder now with continued client work and now being in a management position at Altimeter, but it’s a great time to find that quiet moment to think when the world hasn’t woken up.  

  • http://www.abbasalidina.com Abbas Alidina

    We’re awake over here in Dubai :)

  • http://www.abbasalidina.com Abbas Alidina

    We’re awake over here in Dubai :)

  • http://findingacareer.net/privacy-policy/ Finding A Career

    Career Search…

    [...]“Pay yourself first” and “One thing leads to another” « Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Social Media, Web Marketing[...]…

  • http://swami-vivekananda-life.blogspot.com/search/label/swami%20vivekananda Vivekananda

    Vivekananda…

    [...]“Pay yourself first” and “One thing leads to another” « Web Strategy by Jeremiah Owyang | Social Media, Web Marketing[...]…

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