At the beginning of 2007, I had just started this blog, and had just begun my quest to teach myself how to create WordPress themes. It’s been a fun year, and I could never have imagined (although I really hoped) that I’d get to a point where I could quit my dayjob to pursue design full time.
As we draw near to 2008, it’s time for me to speculate on how I hope the next twelve months will go - I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises, as well as plenty of challenges. It goes without saying that when you start your own business, you’ll get your fair share of both.
Well as you all know, starting January 1st, I’ll be on my own, which means a lot of things. Here’s a list of 20 reasons for me to celebrate the new year:
1. I can start going to bed before 1:00 in the morning, since I’ll be able to spend all day long working on my design projects.
2. I don’t have to wake up at 5:00 in the morning anymore to get ready for my dayjob.
3. I can now call my couch, the local Starbucks or Panera my future home of employment. Not that I’ll be working for them, but I’ll be working there. Something that I cannot wait for!
4. All Revolution themes will soon have dropdown menus and a tabber section that work across Firefox, Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Explorer 7.
5. The development of my next premium theme after Revolution should be finished - as the past few weeks it’s been collecting dust on my demo site.
6. I get to spend an extra one or two days a week at home with my 3 year old son. It’s time that I will definitely enjoy spending with him.
7. I’ll have time to go to Best Buy and buy a webcam so that I can finally start video blogging.
8. I can finally do something I’ve wanted to, which is spend more time reading other blogs, and commenting on them.
9. I might pursue an entire affiliate system for the Revolution themes.
10. My personal (or lack thereof) blog Shadowfeet will finally get some tender loving care.
11. There will be more free themes coming, one of which will be the current version of my blog right now.
12. Which means that this site will be under going a complete reboot with the intent of offering a much better user experience and a lot more (useful) content.
13. I plan to create a lot more video tutorials for the Revolution themes.
14. My hope of developing a WordPress theme/blog community with Michael Pollack of Solostream might actually happen.
15. I get to work on a very special/high profile project with my good friend Cory Miller.
16. I will be attending WordCamp this summer in San Francisco.
17. I get the joy and satisfaction of writing myself payroll checks!
18. Projects around the house will actually get done.
19. I can take on more custom WordPress theme designs, something I’ve really wanted to do since I’ve had to turn down so many of late.
20. I become a much happier person because I will finally be doing what I really love to do.
29 Comments
Leave a Comment
Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
How exciting, Brian! May you be richly blessed in all your projects in 2008!
I’m really looking forward to all the fabulous content you’ll be providing us…I’m hoping to learn a thing or two!
You have my blessings to begin working on this list after you make us a kick-ass design. Except for number 20. You can be happy first and then work on our design
Congrats on listing this, though - you now have something to look back on in six months that will keep you going through the tough times (there will be some) and the good times (you’ll wonder how you ever thought you’d be able to actually get anything done with all the work coming in).
Hm. I should write my own list for 2008. I could’ve used something like this a few times this past year.
Wow!
That is great news Brian. I am envious of you, doing what you enjoy doing as a job. That must fantastic ?.
All the best for the New Year.
Respect
Dan
Wow, I must say that you have had a really great year in 2007. Congratulations, and thank you so much for the inspiration. I’m a long time reader, first time commenter.
Happy New Year, and here’s hoping 2008 to be an even better year!
By writing your goals down for next year, you have already started being an even greater success. Your focus and passion will carry you very far!
Thanks for all your help that you have given in 2007 Brian.
I for one look forward to your success in the next year!
Great list, you can beat that on New Years, I’ll be celebrating your list!
Sounds like a great new year for you. Look forward to watching all your projects come to fruition.
A very special thanks to all who have commented to far! It’s going to be a fun year, and I sincerely look forward to what lies ahead!
Congrats on your success this year Brian. You’ve put in a lot of hard work and it shows. Your designs are really excellent. Looking forward to seeing your next premium theme. May you be blessed in 2008.
Great list. Will be praying your 2008 is a great one. But in my experience the list at point 18 actually gets worse when you step out on your own. And I am not sure about point number 1. Chances are you will be still up at 0100 - but because you want to not because you have to. It’s all good fun. All the best. Rev 2.0 up by the way though with some mods to go. Couldn’t wait until the weekend so I had a 0100 morning this morning:-)
Brian - While reading your list, I couldn’t help but silently say ‘Yep; me too.’ We’re following the same path - you for the first time, and myself returning from an errant footstep.
What threads throughout all of your points is the main attraction of freelancing: more time for the important things in life. I’d lost count of the number of times I’d said to myself ‘i’ll do that when i have some time.’
I particularly can’t wait for this theme to be released. Over time, you’ve managed to become a zen designer, distilling the essence of communicating.
have some great holidays.
Hey Brian,
Ahhhh #4…. let’s not forget about Safari
No reason to neglect us Mac users. We’re the fastest growing group in the computer industry.
Bryan
All great comments, and I appreciate all of the continued support! Gosh, I love you all!
hi brian,
congrats..
thats a bold step to quit your full time job and start solo. And that also 1 year down the link blogging. I hear lot of people talking about word press. wonder wot so special about it. any clues will be helpful..
vineet nair
http://internetbusinessjunkie.blogspot.com
Hey Brian,
I am super proud of you for walking out on your faith in Christ and letting Him lead you into what He has called you to do. That is truly amazing and you haven’t seen anything yet. God is truly going to bless you this year! I am looking to quit my dayjob one day too and would love to hear more details about how you planned your departure. Well, enjoy the holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your family. God bless and shalom!
Woohoo! So excited for you Brian. When is your last day at “the day job”?
Did you get my email, btw? Sent it a couple days ago and haven’t heard back from ya (but I know this is SUCH a busy time!)
Brian! Congratulations! I was wondering how you got started teaching yourself how to make wordpress themes…. its something that I am interested in!
Brian, in the last month since I bought your theme, I have learned so much about Wordpress and CSS that I was able to customize the Revolution theme. It’s still a work in progress, but the more that I do the more I learn and it’s becoming addictive to a point that I am almost inspired to follow your career footpath. I started my first blog in January of ‘07… http://www.tmsruge.com, and didn’t really do much with it. I think 2008 is going to see a complete revamp, maybe I’ll design my own theme to go along with it.
Thanks for the inspiration! And always keep God’s love in your heart, it will show in all the things that you do!
Belated Merry Christmas and advance Happy New Year! Wish you all the best and God bless you and your family!
i just installed my rev theme. It was quite puzzling but was finally able to switch in my own humongous header, so I can finally go to bed. I’m glad you’re going to be able to make some more tutorials, and Panera also became my office starting abt a month ago. I love it and I know you will, too. All the best!
I’m certainly excited about 4, this is something I have been waiting for as you knwo through the forums. It will only make me love my copy of Rev Mag even more, but I hope that isn’t ruined when I see your next masterpiece you mention in #5… You might shake me down for another bill, god I hope I don’t get jealous… lol…
Advance Happy New Year, Brian! Goodluck to your endeavors. I can just imagine how thrilled and excited you are to be finally doing what you really want to do. This is a rare opportunity. I just know you’ll have a good year ahead.
Great work Brian! You inspire a lot of people to do what they love to do, by showing them that it’s actually possible to quit your day-job and start your own thing. Great post.
–
Tayyab from Pakistan.
Congratulations Brian,
You are an inspiration in so many ways. It’s great to see what God is doing in your life. To be able to create the best Wordpress themes in under a year is truly amazing. I have set a three year goal for myself to be able to do what you have done.
Your revolution theme may help me get there sooner. It’s clean, functional, and really looks professional. I was able to create a new blog with all the latest goodies in a day and your video tutorials were a big help! Thanks for the mentoring!
The address is http://audiobooknotes.com
Have a great New Year
John Richardson
Personal Development Plan 2008
As 2007 draws to a close I wanted to share with you some ideas for the coming year. This is always a good time to reflect on the past and look forward to tomorrow.
For me 2007 was a watershed year. It was a time of preparation for the future along with…
I really liked the way you are looking forward the next year. I would definitely set my goal for 2008 in this manner. Thanks for the inspiration.
As a happy owner of two of your themes, I wish you continued success!
Great to hear all your exciting happenings, Brian, have a happy, blessed and prosperous new year.
[...] of the things that I mentioned in my post entitles “20 Reasons to Celebrate the New Year” was that very excited about having more time to read blogs. Below are 5 blogs that I plan to read [...]