Good riddance 2013. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. To be blunt, 2013 sucked for me. Actually it started in 2012 but 2013 is when the crap meter reached its full and smelly capacity.
Ultimately it's why you didn't hear from me for over a year. I took some lumps in my business and personal life that caused me to walk away from this blog and industry. I won't bore you with the details. But let's just say it was a very dark time in my life and I'm not talking about my beautiful year round tan.
No Pain, No Gain
The great thing about trials and tribulations is that it gives you perspective (assuming you have some self awareness). It also builds some of your spiritual and emotional muscles. Personally I would have preferred to gain these benefits without all the suffering. But it's like the saying goes: no pain, no gain. Clearly the big ‘G' felt I needed to be baptized by fire for me to grow.
No Man is an Island.
Because of all the crap I've been through, I've gained a new appreciation for the important things in my life, which are my family, friends and my spirituality. Don't get me wrong, my family still drives me crazy and I'm by no means a saint. But when you go through some tough time you really see what's truly important and who is in your corner when life is beating up on you. I was fortunate to have the support of my family, church, friends and business colleagues. Without some real talk from them, I don't really know what I would have done. Fortunately I'm rich with people that love me and I quickly realized that is far more important than the ‘Benjamins' I lost during 2013.
It's All Good
Reading through this you would think, Damn Eddy went through some ‘ish'. But in actuality it hasn't been all doom and gloom. There were definitely some bright spots in my life.
My family grew in 2013 with the birth of my son Eddy or as I like to call him ‘little e'. Everyone else calls him EJ (Eddy Junior) just to spite my wishes. LOL With his birth, Team Salomon became complete. I always thought we were complete with just my daughter, ‘Bee'. But fortunately my wife has better insight than me and we had our son because of her vision and persistence. His birth ultimately made me realize we were incomplete. So shout out to my wife and her infinite wisdom (sometimes. LOL).
Although I walked away from my blog, I took the skills I had acquired online and applied them to offline businesses. For years I fought doing that. I always had people asking me to create websites for them or help them with online marketing. But I would turn them away because I was just happy being an anti-social hermit on my blog. But when the crap hits the fan and you're looking for some additional income, you quickly re-evaluate circumstances. I realized I left a lot of money on the table over the years by turning folks way. But I quickly remedied that in 2013 and it was a great experience. More importantly it was pretty profitable too!
Shout out to Kyle & Carson of Wealthy Affiliate for showing me all the skills I used to make money in the offline world too.
They Keep Pulling Me Back In.
Even though I tried to stay away from my online business, it was like being in the mob. People kept trying to pull me back in. I never realized how many folks I really impacted until I started getting emails and comments from many of you asking where I was. Needless to say, it felt great to be missed and to hear how I helped people get into this industry, make money or avoid scams. Your kind words and pleas definitely started to wake up a sleeping giant.
Now What?
I've learned a lot from my experiences in 2012 and 2013. I don't plan to make the same mistakes again in 2014. As such I'll be experimenting a lot more this year. Some of the things you'll like and some you may not. That's fine either way. I'm not always going to please everyone and it's not a goal of mine. The by-product will be that I weed out people that don't really value what I do or share the same mindset.
The good news is I will continue to provide you with the same value in the way of information that will help you earn money or avoid scams. I will continue to give you real talk even if it means hurting your feelings so you don't make the wrong choices. And finally I will continue to be corny so I can entertain you while teaching you. Your time is valuable enough and no one wants to read dry and boring content. We all know I babble on, so the least I can do is make you laugh as you read through my novels.
That's all folks! I'm back on the saddle and I'll start writing again very soon. I look forward to your comments when I do. In the mean time, help me help you. Let me know if there are any companies or websites you want me to cover in the near future.
Here's to a great 2014!
As far as I’m concerned there is no need to apologize! You showed me the path and believe me its been one heck of a path, combined with 2 strokes, job loss/left, going practically broke, finding out I have artistic talent and making money at it, wining your $100 Birthday present, finding clarity of mind once again, mom dieing, replacing over half my salary I made working for someone else, starting a business I love, etc, etc. Keep in mind, not all at the same time, but over 4 years time. I have had times I go away and come back and wait for others who do the same. I’m overloaded with patience. Whenever I doubt the path I’m taking I look back on my past and look at everything I’ve done that I was told I could never do and then plan ahead. The road should go smoother in days to come. If you have your health and not in jail(?) count your blessings!
Catherine, Your story is amazing and inspiring to me! Thanks for sharing that. You have clearly gone through some real things and have come out stronger because of them. I’m so happy at where you are in life right now! Makes me feel good that I had a little part to do with that. So thank you!
I’m really sorry to hear about your mom and all the suffering you’ve been through the last 4 years. But you are truly an example of strength and the will to succeed no matter what!
Glad to see you are back! I took some time off from things as well.
2013 was horrible and 2014 has a crappy outlook. I’m back to the drawing board on work as well. Trying something new this year. God closes one door and i think sometimes it just takes awhile for another to open. So I’m looking into doing things that I always wanted to do and have a talent for just never thought I could do it for a job. Congrats to your family (Mainly your wife) on your son! May you have the blessings that you deserve in all ways with this new year. 🙂
Hey Michele! It’s great to be back. Sorry to hear you had a sucky year in 2013 as well. But don’t have a negative outlook for 2014 no matter what’s going on.
The one thing I learned in the last two years of crap is your perspective is the only thing you can control sometimes. You can choose to have the circumstances overwhelm you and beat you down. Or you can just accept that you’re going through a bad season but you refuse to allow that to control you. We can control how we react. So just keep that in mind if you find yourself talking negatively about your problems and situations.
You’re right about how God works with doors. You really just have to believe and understand that sometimes it’s taking a while for the new door to open because he’s working on someone else that he needs to help you. He has to put the pieces of the puzzle together just right so the picture is complete.
It’s something I’ve discovered during this process and have been reminded of this numerous times via my pastor and scriptures I read. So don’t worry that door is opening. But we have to expect that it will and keep a good attitude until it does.
You will be blessed in 2014 and you need to expect that you will! Thanks for the kind words regarding my son. Why does the wife get more of the congrats? I had a part to play too. LOL 😉
Belated Happy New Year and welcome back! Your voice has definitely been missed! And congratulations to you and your wife on the new family member!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate the kind words and thoughts. Feels good to be missed!
Welcome back Eddy! Wishing you and your family and Happy New Year! Sorry to hear that 2013 was a tough year for you. 2012 & 2013 were tough for me too. I’d dropped the ball with all of the things that I was progressing with related to my blog and online opportunities to make money online. Though I’m determined for 2014 to be a lot different. Have plans to get back on track with it all. Please know that what you do with this blog does make a difference and you touch a lot of people, you are indeed appreciated. Thanks for not abandoning us! 🙂
Hey Lori, It’s so good to hear from you. I was wondering what happened to you too. Guess we traveled the same road in 2012 & 2013.
But I’m sure you learned some lessons a long the way as I did which will help us make 2014 our best year yet! So I’m happy to be on this journey with you.
It’s great to be appreciated and missed. I have now come to realize the impact I made on people’s lives and look forward to continuing that mission in 2014 and beyond. Thanks for your continued support!
Thanks Eddy! I’d been around, definitely fell off majorly. Yes I learned some great life lessons along that bumpy path for sure. I’d most definitely like to make this year the best one yet and working at getting my momentum up so that I can finally get back into figuring out ways to make money online and to do it well. I’m actually unemployed right now so ideally now is the time to get the ball rolling with figuring out ways to get money ;). In addition to a tough 2012/2013 I’d gotten a bit overwhelmed and seemed to have lost a bit of direction and focus with where I was going with my blog. It seems that I had gotten myself as far as I could, with being self taught. Anyway, glad that you’re back at it, hopefully, you were able to see some of that down time as a restoration period of sorts. Sometimes we have to be knocked down, in order to rebuild, and come back stronger!
Hey Lori. Sorry to hear about being unemployed. But that’s definitely a good time to rebuild and evaluate how you’ll do things differently with your blog or what approach you will take.
I know I hit a wall too when I learned everything by myself. Eventually I wised up and invested in the training I needed and that pushed me over the edge. So that might be an option when you start working. And WA does a free starter membership you’ll learn a lot from as well.
But I agree these trials were a set up for triumph. So let’s get this year! I’ll do my part to help you out with the information I present here and anything else I can do. Thanks for the support and reaching out!
Welcome back have really missed the Sir E. Wisdom and you know who it is!
You have God’s favor and you have credit on account for all the help you have been
to others!
Kind regards,
DragonSpirit
龙的精神
Lóng de jingshén
Thanks Dragon Spirit! Great to see you back! I know it’s been a long while. I like the credit analogy. I’m not worth of that credit but I do appreciate that I do have his favor and he’s basically who led me back here. So you must be right! Thanks again! Great to see you back here!
I was wondering where you had been…thought my inbox was eating your emails and spitting them out in my spam box, lol. Glad that’s not the case! 2013 was a sucky year for a lot of people…definitely for our family. But God is still good!! Looking forward to 2014! Good to see you back, and congrats on your new little one!! 🙂
LOL, It wouldn’t surprise me if my emails do end up in your spam folder. A lot of emails I actually signed up to receive end up there. SMH.
In any event, yes I’m back. I keep hearing from everyone that 2013 was bad for them too. So I guess it was something in the water. LOL
But 2014 is a great year already and we’ll continue to make it one! Thanks for the congrats. And I’ll speak to you soon. Be sure to check out my first review of the year here: https://www.workathomenoscams.com/2014/01/08/is-instagc-com-a-scam-or-the-real-deal/
Enjoy!
Happy New Year to you and your family. Glad to have you back.
Thanks Lourdes! Great to be back!
Happy New Year Eddy! You know how I feel about finding you online – and I’m really glad we reconnected at the end of 2013. Here’s to an unpredictable, productive 2014!
Happy New Year Jennifer! I’m glad we’ve reconnected as well! I predict that 2014 will be a great year for us all! Thanks again!
Welcome back Eddy and thank you for sharing with all of us. I was a relative newbie to your blog and was sad when you disappeared. I thank God that you made it through your trials and look forward to reading your “novels” again.
Thanks Maggie! I’m glad I left enough of impression that you came back! The ramblings will continue in 2014! LOL
Hey Eddy! I’m so glad that you decided to fome back. I really didn’t realize how much missed you until you were gone, lol. You have been a huge part in my quest to work from home. And even though I havent been successful in it yet, I haven’t givem up my dream of one day being able to work from home. I promised myself that this year, im gonna put my whole heart in to it. And seeing you back and reading your story is my confirmation.
Welcome back Sir!
Hey Desmond, Thanks for the kind words. It means a lot that I was missed. Sorry to hear you haven’t been successful yet. Clearly we’re both on the same wave length since you decided that is year was going to be your year to achieve your goal. I think with my help you’ll be closer to making that happen.
So here’s to a great year! Thanks for the continued support!
Hi Eddy,
So sorry to hear about your rough times this year but CONGRATULATIONS on the birth of little Eddy, he is beautiful and so is your whole family! I have also been incognito this year as my son Thomas was born 1/17/13 and he takes all my time, lol 😉 Your blog is characteristically honest, positive and irreverent. You will have an *awesome* 2014, I can feel it! Take care and Happy New Year to you and yours 🙂
Best,
Sarah Dillingham
Hi Sarah, Thanks for the kind words. I’m very blessed to have my Salomon clan even if they drive me crazy. LOL
Congrats on your son! Kids are a blessing but definitely time suckers. LOL But it’s all worth it.
I appreciate your kind words about my blog especially the irreverent part. I sort of pride myself on that. LOL
Here’s to a great 2014. And I hope I’m part of making your year a great one too! Thanks!
So glad you’re back! I’m sorry you had some bad times, but it’s great to hear that you had some good times as well. I have to say that I truly did miss you and your blogs. Usually, if a website goes offline for a while, I move on. But I kept coming back to yours hoping for a new blog. Still waiting for that one “perfect” job that hits, but until then, please keep those wonderful blogs coming.
Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family!
Hi Ruby, Thanks for the kind words. It means a lot that you continued to come back to my site hoping for new content. It just confirms i made the right decision by coming back.
Sorry to hear you haven’t found that perfect job yet. But in the mean time, I’ll continue to share various ways of earning extra income while you wait to land that perfect job. However keep in mind sometimes you have to adjust to what’s actually out there.
When I couldn’t find the perfect work at home job I wanted, I ended up creating my online business which is this blog that you enjoy. So don’t be afraid to adjust to the circumstances.
In any event, thanks for chiming in! It feels good to be missed.
Happy that you are back! I greatly missed your input on work at home jobs. About 4 years back you helped me find a wonderful job from home doing customer service. Now that I have 5 month old twins that job is no longer possible (too much noise!lol) so it’s back to the drawing board. I almost got caught in one of those new scams a few months ago but at the last min I thought about you and started doing a lot of research. Needless to say I saved 375 dollars. Congrats on your new edition to the family!!! Looking forward for a wonderful year in 2014!!!
Hey Vanessa! It does my heart good to know that you were able to secure a good work at home job because of my site. Congrats on the twins and God bless you. My two kids are handful but are at different ages so that helps. I couldn’t imagine how to handle twins. LOL
I’m so proud of you about remembering to do your research! Every time you do that you’ll pretty much avoid being scammed. I look forward to introducing you to new opportunities this year and beyond.
It wasn’t all rotten Eddy, you still knew how to make money offline, I know a lot of folks that can’t on or off, you now have a legacy to carry on the Salomon name. It only felt like it sucked. It gets better .
No Pamela it wasn’t and I acknowledged that above. But you’re right I was still making money online which was a huge blessing so you’re right in that respect.
But trust me when I say it’s still was a sucky time. It didn’t just feel that way, it was that way. LOL
But here’s a to a great 2014! Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Glad to see you back, and congratulations on your sweet baby boy. What a beautiful family, Hoping 2014 is a great year for you!
Thanks Lynn! I appreciate the kind words. 2014 will be a great year!
Glad you’re back Eddy. I am just “getting my brain back” and was starting to wonder why I hadn’t heard from you (I’ve not noticed much of anything since the unexpected passing of my dear husband). You are right – 2012-13 were not the best.
You asked for topics to cover. My friend and I started selling on eBay & Amazon (something to keep my brain busy) in 2013. We were told by others who sell this way that if we didn’t make $20,000 we did not need to report it. This sounds wrong to me – the IRS passing on money??? Really??? I want to report it, but can’t even find a year end report on eBay (Amazon has a nice one). Do I need to go through every email from eBay (I saved them all) and list all the income, expenses, etc.? Please go into some detail on how to best do this. We took in about $1,000. I will report it with my taxes and 1099 my friend for her half. I do all the paperwork since she still works outside the home and I am “retired.”
Bonnie, I’m so sorry to hear about your lost. See that’s something real that would make anyone’s year or life harder. So I applaud you for pushing forward as best as you can.
In terms of your tax question, one never listen to friends. You only speak to a tax professional. Sometimes people do things that they assume are fine but aren’t.
So talk to tax professional. It usually doesn’t cost anything to have a conversation. So do that. It’s great you kept records. Your accountant will definitely need them. Between your expenses and profits they’ll be able to tell if you’ll owe anything or get money back.
Congratulations on your profits with this business. As it continues to grow you may want to consider becoming incorporated as it will help you taxwise. It’s something I did later in my business which was a God send. I should have done it sooner but I was being cheap and didn’t know any better. So that’s something to consider in the future.
Either way, here’s to a better year for you Bonnie. Nothing will ever replace your husband, but I hope that this year you’ll come closer to peace in your heart.
Thanks for sharing with me.
Hey Eddy,
Great to hear from you. Sorry you had a rotten year. Looking forward to your next post.
Hi Cathy, thanks for the kind words. 2013 is in my past. Now it’s all about 2014 and on. I’ll post something very soon. I’ve already worked on some stuff.
In short, great insight, “E.” I can feel you/empathize. With knocks that have experienced of late (2013 inclusive)…almost forgot you were, uh….missing. But, all in all…whatever doesn’t eliminate us – makes us stronger, does it not? Welcome back, thanks for sharing – we are propelling forward! Have the best & blessed 2014!! -dj
Well said DJ! Sorry to hear you visited the school of hard knocks this past year too. But like you said whatever doesn’t kill you just makes you stronger. And after the year I had, I feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger. LOL
Here’s to a great year! May you be blessed as well.
God is good all the time. What a blessing
Amen Carty! Even in the worst of times he is and I learned that lesson well in 2013! Thanks for chiming in!
Welcome back and congrats on the new baby.
Thanks Al! I really appreciate it!
So glad to see you back. I have missed your feed from my email! Happy New Year and I hope this one is much better for you.
Thanks Shelly Ann! It’s great to be missed! This will definitely be a great year for me and I hope to make it that way for everyone else as well!
You are so welcome! LOL Now you can review Bubblews and AboutChat for everyone! I have links if you need em! LOL
LOL, Damn you’re already putting me to work. LOL Aboutchat I had on my radar already. And I have seen Bubblews around. So definitely share your links with me. If I see value, I’ll join under you or I’ll use your links if I decide not to join. Pass the on the links either way and any other companies you think I should review.
Thanks.
LOL ok I have a whole slew of them! I can think of 5 right off the top of my head. Two of them I have been paid by already.
I have earned enough off of Bubblews for a 1099 this year. I just joined Chatabout recently. It looks promising.
http://chatabout.com/home/52524
http://www.bubblews.com/?referral=517c7f1aba9d51.60319651
There is also PostAnyArticle and Teckler. I have earned with PAA but not Teckler.
Oh yes and congratulations on your new family member. You have an even 4 now and that is perfect!
Shelly, that’s great to hear that you’ve already been paid by some of them. I may contact you offline to get some details about each one. I’m sure you can have some cons that you can share with me about each opportunity. But clearly whatever that may be hasn’t stopped you from earning so that’s great.
Give me your referral links for the other companies as well.
Thanks for the congrats. I agree my family is complete now. But if it were up to my wife we’d have a whole basketball team of kids. LOL
LOL I am with you on going ahead and stopping. I have 6 so I know from experience. Stopping now is smart. Feel free to mail me if you need to. One of the links I have, has to be emailed to you so it will probably work out best that way!
Okay sounds good Shelly Ann! Thanks again!
Hello Eddy! Glad to see you back. Sorry to hear that you were going trials and tribulations last year and I hope things go much better for you in 2014! May God continue to bless you and your beautiful family. Happy New Year!
Hi Sharon! Thanks for the kind words. I’m confident that 2014 will be a better year. May God bless you and your family as well! Here’s to a great 2014!
Great to see you back! I finally can put some of your wonderful advice to use. Keep them coming.
Thanks Janet! Look out for more of it!
He’s baaaack!!! So proud to see you back at what you do best. There was too much love, sweat, & tears put into this business of yours to just walk away. Glad you realized this. And shout out to that infinitely wise woman of yours she’s definitely a keeper lol
Leave it to my modest wife. This is why I can’t compliment you online. LOL
EDDY EDDY EDDY oh and EDDIE ;). Nice to see you back again, if I hadn’t seen you at WA I would have thought you were dead lol
LOL, News of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. Being active at WA made me miss blogging here. So it’s great to be back and missed.
Thanks for chiming in and welcoming me back!
Ok I don’t know if disqus is pissing me off or my phone, but this is Dustin. Pretty damn excited to see who I like to call my first mentor, back in the game. Really sucks when bad times hit good people like yourself. Can’t wait till you start writing again so I can stalk your site again lol. Anyway welcome back again big E!!
Hey Dusty! Maybe it’s your phone playing a mean joke on you. LOL I appreciate the kind words my friend. No one is immune to crap hitting the fan. It’s all about how we handle it. It took me a while to figure that out. But I’m better for it now.
I’m just glad to be back. Thanks again Dusty!
Hi Eddy! So glad you are back and congrats on the little one! I also
feel your pain and I am glad 2013 is over and done with. I used to
believe what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger but having gone through
some financial bad times last year has made me feel weaker. Anyways
you and your job leads have always been like a breath of fresh air to
me. Things are already starting to look up for 2014 now because you are
back! Hope that didn’t sound too corny.
Deb,
Thanks so much. Your words aren’t corny and mean a lot to me. It’s because of that type of love, I decided to come back. So I really appreciate the sentiments.
I’m sorry to hear 2013 was a rough year for you financially as well. Yes money problems can drain you mentally, physically and emotionally. So I can relate to your feeling of weakness. But eventually you just hit a point where you have to say just screw it. I’m in this situation and I’ll just have to manage the best way I can. The worrying doesn’t help bring the money in. When you finally come to peace with the situation, then you’re able to slowly pull yourself out of it. So I’m confident you’ll experience the same thing.
But I’ll do my part by providing you with legitimate options that I find. So you’re right 2014 is looking up and we’ll make it a great year together!
Thanks again for the kind words!!!
Hi Eddy, 🙂
Happy belated New Year! I’m glad to be getting your emails again…I always knew where to go if I had questions if a certain company was for real or not. :p
Yes, like most everyone, my 2013 wasn’t that great! I’m making changes this year and my goals are a bit different than last year. I’m working on an eBook and will finally be getting it done the last part of March, which is not too far down the road. 🙂
Again congrats on your new son!!! 🙂 We’ve spoken some on Facebook about that. However, it’s not like communicating here on your blog. I’m glad you decided to come back online. 🙂
Hey Tammy,
Always good to hear from you. Sorry to hear you had a bad 2013 as well. But it sounds like you’re back on the right foot for 2014!
Thanks for the congrats! It’s great to be back and appreciated here! Thanks for the continued support!