On September 9th 2007 I committed to a challenge that I made to myself. I pledged that I would do what it takes to make $10,000 by December 31st, 2007.
Why? For my sanity! I love what I do, I am a teacher and a coach, but I cannot live the way that I am living. I spend way too much time with way to little appreciation, and way way to little time and ability for my self to do what I want.
Why $10,000? That is strictly arbitrary. It is simply a number that to me seems very large right now.
What has happened is that over the last few years we have actually lost money teaching. Even though we have had a small step in pay, and an even smaller raise in our contract negotiation, we are taking home nearly the same amount of money. Our raises are so small that they do not even cover the cost of living. We do not live extravagantly, we actually live a very simple life, but we keep getting deeper and deeper in debt.
It is our fault, both me and my wife had prior careers, and decided to go back to school to teach. We both love to teach, we both love to work with children, and we both try to make a difference in anyone who is willing to learn. We both wanted to teach so that we could have our summers off and have time for ourselves. I coach football, and my wife has been in a masters program, so we have not had our summers off. Now I have gotten to the point where I am just ready to retire.
I figure I have worked for 10 years since I first graduated from college. It was a good run, I am satisfied with my work, it is time to do something so that I can retire (yes that was sarcasm).
I am just ready for me. It pains me to hear other teachers say, “just 14 more years and I will have a large pension, my house will be paid off, my parents will have passed away and I will have that inheritance, and my kids will be out of college. I will have it made, just 14 more years.” It makes me want to puke. I am not going to wait 14 more years. I want to live my life while I am still young (33). I am ready to do it. So I figure that if I can make $10,000 before the end of the year I will be on my way to being free and clear.
So what is the plan?
I will not change anything, or any commitments that I have. I have to devote myself to certain things that I will list in order of time not importance
- Teaching Algebra I
- Coaching Football
- Being a husband
- Training for an 8K race on Thanksgiving day
- Losing 15 pounds
- Giving myself some time just for me
The last one is for my own sanity. I will not change anything, I will continue to live my life like I am living, only now I will have a long consistent and massive effort to earn an extra $10,000 by the end of the year. All sources will be included such as
- Coach Kip
- EZ Playbook
- Prof Moolah
- Affiliate Marketing
- Project X
- Project Y
- Project Z
X, Y, and Z are projects that I will divulge all information on but I am not willing to reveal what it is yet.
On this site I will document all the information that I can, including time spent on different things, time management techniques, successes, failures, and whatever happens to me along the way.
I start from 0. Not just Zero Dollars but from nothing. I have been researching, and trying to figure out how to start my own business online, and I have had a little success, but not enough to be able to quit my job, and certainly not enough to be able to do what ever I want, when ever I want. I do not know how I will make the money, I do not know when I will make the money, but the Challenge is to make it.
So here I go, wish me luck, tell me I am a loser and I can’t do it, whatever, but remember this, once I do it, I will definitely tell everyone how I did it, and how it came to be. Remember I am a teacher and a coach.
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