We’re about to embark upon a bold experiment here at Get Rich Slowly. For 6-1/2 years (with one small exception), I’ve been the sole editorial voice here at Get Rich Slowly. Even though Quinstreet bought the blog 3-1/2 years ago, I’ve remained the one controlling the content and directing the writers. (The exception? April Dykman took over for a couple of weeks while I was in South America last February.)
Well, I’ve now launched on another long trip. Right now, I’m in Denver for the second annual Financial Blogger Conference. On Monday, I fly to Istanbul. I’ll spend three weeks vacationing with my cousin in Turkey. And for the first time in years, I’ll completely disconnect myself from the internet.
There’s no April Dykman around to act as assistant editor this time. Instead, Ellen the editorial elf will act as editor. Because we have a good staff of writers in place, things should run smoothly. Still, there may be an occasional glitch. Please be patient!
I’ll return to the U.S. at the end of September. I’ll spend a few days in New York City (during which time I’ll visit Ramit from I Will Teach You to Be Rich) before flying to Atlanta to speak at the third annual Savvy Blogging Summit. Before returning home, I’ll spend a week in San Francisco and the Yosemite area, where I’ll meet my girlfriend’s family.
As I travel, I’ll check in as often as I can. But I’m not sure what that means. I’ll update Facebook with photos, of course, and I’ll also try to post a couple of stories at my travel blog. In the meantime, keep saving and investing. Be well, my friends.
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JD, I think you should really consider whether or not you should come back at all. Having a long, slow break with it has been painful for the site and your readers – the content has gone steadily downhill, the overall quality of the site has gotten worse (pop-up ads, really?), and the revolving door of “staff writers” has made the site lose the continuous narrative thread that made it special in the first place. If you want the site to be just another finance portal, that’s your choice (or really, I guess Quinstreet’s choice), but my recommendation would be not to drag it out – make a clean break.
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I agree with Wes. I think I am going to take a vacation from this website. It may be permanent vacation.
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Those of you encouraging me to move on may be interested to see More Than Money, where I’ll be writing much more in the future…
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I look forward to following you on the new blog!!!!
I do think you have out grown this blog and as such, so have some of your followers like myself.
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Dude, I won’t encourage you to move on, or ponder your future, or tear yourself, or your robes, or anything dramatic of any sort, only to TAKE A GOOD VACATION AND HAVE FUN AWAY FROM THE INTERNETS.
I’m serious, if you send anyone any work emails from your phone you’ll have to reboot & start your vacation all over. As the Winnebago Man would say: “NO MORE!!!” And don’t forget to eat the Turkish Delight. Oh yeah, that stuff is great.
PS – Nice new blog! But get off the internet and enjoy your trip
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I just checked out the new blog. I think it is a great idea! I will definitely read it. I have made a few comments lately about GRS not being the same and seeming to have lost its way. In no way have I meant to be critical. It is just the way things have developed over time. I think that’s why several of the commenters have stated that maybe you should make a clean break from GRS and move on. You are what made GRS unique. When you post occasionally now it’s a reminder of what once was and what is now missing. Have a wonderful vacation and I look forward to following your future adventures.
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I hate to say it, but I agree with Wes. The quality has gone downhill and it feels as though your heart isn’t really in it anymore. Many of your posts over the last year or so seem to imply you want to step back more than get more involved.
The rotating wheel of staff writers has also been very inconsistent on quality. A few are good, but most are not. The site is starting to feel more like a generic revenue stream than a true finance blog following someone’s narrative.
You’ve had a huge amount of change in your life recently and I am sure that has made you reexamine some areas of your life. Maybe this site is one of those areas to look at closely as well?
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A new girlfriend? That didn’t take long.
I’m with Wes and Robert: as much as I liked the site a couple of years ago, I’m no longer interested in following it any longer.
Too incohesive.
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Speaking of your travel blog, it doesn’t seem to be working. I can access the front page, but all other pages deliver an internal server error. :-/
Hope Istanbul’s fun! I’d love to go there, for the food alone.
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JD,
Have fun in Istanbul! I was there last October and I hope you can eat the best baklava and visit the Doumabacie (sp?) palace!
Please ping me when you are in SF if you have time!
Best,
Sam
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I have to agree with all the above statements. The ads have really turned me off! Safe travels, my friend.
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What is up with the invasive screen blocking adds? I’ll be honest as well there has been less and less worth reading on the site.
It seems to have gone to more of a forum for ideas and Q&A than a informative blog.
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Are there really pop-up screen-blocking ads? For what? I don’t see them on the Mac. To be honest, I cannot imagine that anyone would run such ads in 2012. But I have no control over that aspect of the site.
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I, too, have a MAC and have never encountered pop up ads of any kind.
Have an amazing time in Istanbul…it’s a magical place. It’s a place that you just have to soak into your soul…and there are cats EVERYWHERE-LOL I just LOVE a Turkish breakfast of apple tea, hard boiled eggs, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers with a really good slice of feta.
And the first time you hear the call to prayer…..the hairs will stand up on the back of your neck…it’s an amazing experience. And make sure to check out the spice bazaar…mmmm……
The only down side….lots and lots and lots of hustlers. I don’t really shop…so it got kind of bothersome.
Safe and adventuresome travels to you!
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I think the popup is chrome related? I also have a mac and is starting to see the popup.
Have a great vacation!
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Yes on windows you see a 15 second advertisement that you cant close
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I was on Windows XP Professional until a few weeks ago and am now on Windows 7 — have never seen any pop-up ads ever from this site.
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That’s what I saw too. I’m on Win7+ firefox.
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JD,
I wish you all of the best in your future enterprises. I discovered GRS back during Thanksgiving Week in 2007. Being deeply in debt and extrmely unhappy with the way things were going, your blog struck a chord with me. I followed it religiously and have eliminated the vast majority of my debt, save for my mortgage.
You have helped me immensely and I do thank you. That said, I have to agree that the site is not the same as it was back then. I am glad that I found it when I did, because it just doesn’t have the same resonance it did then. We all reach a time where we must move on and I feel it may be time.
I do wish you all the best and a safe journey.
Now if I could just get “Istanbul not Constantinople” out of my head so I can get to work.
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Maybe some people should realize that they may have changed as well as JD and the site. If you still need the site as much as you did 3 years ago, you haven’t learned much.
A loyal reader might have offered constive criticism rather than just criticism.
Enjoy your vacation.
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Where has April been? Did I miss a post saying she was leaving GRS?
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Yes, she left back in July as a staff writer (but may still post from time to time). See here: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/05/24/work-life-balance-new-challenges-and-thanks/
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Great….start up a blog, sell it, hire staff writers but refuse guest posts, divorce your wife, give Spanish lessons, find a girlfriend, travel the world…and preach to the financially independent?! Is this site losing touch with ordinary folk who have real responsibilities?
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