One of my few strong capabilities has always been the ability to self reflect in any moment in time – make a clearcut judgement at where I am at any given time and thoroughfully evaluate the situation. What I’ve been thinking about lately is one thing – I think I’m losing the edge when it comes to domaining.
When I started out I had an immense thirst for success. I was willing to bet everything on one card – I didn’t have much, so it wasn’t that difficult. I was immensly focused. I was uber-creative, I basically swooped in, had a plan how to use immense leverage and it worked out. If I look after the last 3 years I’ve been in the biz, no single domainer has seen so much growth as I have, my ROI is in the thousands of per cent per anum.
But times have changed. I sort of have a feeling that I’ve accomplished all I wanted in domains. Like it was a game and I completed it. So it stopped being a challenge anymore. When it comes to the material side of things, back in the beginnings I was maybe living off $1k a month. Today I have 3 bling cars, an amazing apartment, a personal 5* french chef, fly private etc and make more money than I can spend. Since I’ve finally accumulated something I have hence become slightly risk-averse. I mean I’m probably willing to take on more risk than 95% of businessmen when the odds are right, but I simply am not in the absolute vanguard I used to be. However that’s probably enough to tip me off the edge. The crazy motivation is also gone. The focus as well – I’ve been spreading across to multiple other businesses. To be honest domains don’t entertain me much anymore – I have to find other things that do, for example I’m just producing a movie etc. When I was younger I recall learning about the Maslow hierarchy of needs in school – I suddenly feel materially secure and I’m heading towards the top of the Maslow pyramid towards the concept of self-actualization. I suddenly feel that I have enough and and becoming more interested in being more happy, being more nice to people, helping people, being more creative, enjoying simple things, doing some charity etc. I simply came to the point of asking what’s the point of making more if I already think I have more than enough?
It’s not that I will drop out of business completely. But the bottom line is that because of all these aspects I mentioned, I am slowly but surely losing the edge that I once had and that nobody could match. I think that all the well known domainers like Frank Schilling or Kevin Ham must have went through something similar. It’s just too difficult to stay on top forever. That’s also the reason I have been blogging less and less – I just think that I don’t have that much to say anymore. And I don’t want to become completely pathetic, like the grandfather to whom’s advice nobody listens to anymore – I prefer to leave that role to others (with all respect, I just think Rick is passed his time). The good news for everyone that is reading – suddenly there is a big opportunity to fill up the vacuum and take over the vanguard of domaining again…
Happy 4th of July everybody!
#1 by Lda on July 5, 2010 - 02:33
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Talk about facing the absurd.
Looking in the mirror again ?
You really should take your pants off, your voice is being muffled.
#2 by Domainers Wall on July 5, 2010 - 08:12
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“grandfather to whom’s advice nobody listens to anymore” – that was funny
#3 by Stefan on July 5, 2010 - 21:07
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And some tip at the end how to be creative with domain financing?
#4 by Igor on July 5, 2010 - 21:16
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Try martial arts and some real offline business
#5 by Lukas Stibor on July 5, 2010 - 23:12
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Hmmm interesting reading. I am really curious, where you’ll be in 10 years. Anyway good luck.
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#6 by Jim Holleran on July 6, 2010 - 23:53
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Do you have kids? If you do, focus everything on them. If not, maybe you should have kids. I was like you before I had kids 2 years ago, and they are what is important.
Don’t chase things, follow your passion whatever that is.
Thanks, Jim
#7 by James on July 7, 2010 - 09:35
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“(with all respect, I just think Rick is passed his time). ”
It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing. The fundamentals of business remain the same. You may believe that Rick’s delivery is perhaps old fashioned, but unless you have a fragile ego it shouldn’t bother you.
#8 by Sisyphus on July 7, 2010 - 13:15
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Jim – funny you say that because I’ve been thinking about it more and more lately…
#9 by Rob Sequin on July 7, 2010 - 18:17
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Stay in the domain business just look for development opportunities.
I have a lot of Cuba domains and websites in preparation for a post-Castro post-Embargo Cuba.
Look into alternative energy domains, nanotech etc.
I think whatever path you decide, there will be domains you will want to own.
Good luck.
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#10 by Anonymous on July 7, 2010 - 23:40
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The good news for everyone that is reading – suddenly there is a big opportunity to fill up the vacuum and take over the vanguard of domaining again
Well, so it was you who bought every NNN.CO domain at GoDaddy? Great, lets fight at auction on two of them. And remember Leviticus 23,22 and Deuteromium 24,19.
Have you checked? Take it easy, I am kidding. Let the who-have-better-balls wins.
#11 by Anonymous on July 7, 2010 - 23:44
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Sorry, it is Leviticus 19,10. The others are also for you to consider but not at this time.
#12 by Daniel Dryzek on July 8, 2010 - 17:22
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I am father for 5 months now and I exactly know what you mean Jim
The funny thing is that you won’t have a clue how is it to have kids unless you really have one
Good luck Jan! Sounds like you have a good plan
#13 by MC on July 13, 2010 - 00:49
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life is cool
btw ahyde don’t even think about getting married ’til you’re 30
#14 by Business Web Hosting Services on July 15, 2010 - 06:35
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I enjoy your blog. Hope you can keep it going. Maybe a summer off on holiday would do you good.
#15 by man1k on July 18, 2010 - 17:27
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Summer off on holiday? He would go nuts. Totally. For sure.
#16 by Louise on July 21, 2010 - 04:34
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Hi, why not keep your blog and branch out to diverse interests you express in recent posts? We enjoy your adventures. How is your wood processing plant coming along? Are you trying to keep it “eco?”
#17 by Web Development on July 27, 2010 - 19:06
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Hm.. seems to be you are going into development more than domaining. Well now you are becoming a enduser in a sense. It is great your .cz domains are doing great, as you are probably dominating your local market!