What Do You Call Success?

Life = hard. There are so many freakin’ ups and downs in this gig, it’s crazy. But, there are also so many little bundles of awesomeness that it’s hard to stay too down for too long.

In my blogging experiences, everything is a roller coaster. You create great content, and no one reads. You’re sad because hey, that was a good article. Then, you find that someone pinned your post, tweeted it, or did something else with a weird name, and the traffic is pouring in.

Recently, I gave myself a double high five (looks like clapping) because I earned my very first income on Amazon Associates. I’ve taken advantage of Amazon in many ways over the years, but I was feeling a little dejected and disappointed in their affiliate program. After months, I’d yet to sell a single item. Other bloggers sell all kinds of stuff, but I don’t. What’s wrong with me? Is my website not pretty enough? Is it too fat? Am I too weird?

Then, I opened my Amazon Associates account to find that I’d sold something. People hadn’t just clicked, they’d bought, too.

My jaw dropped. Adrenaline coursed through my body. I got up and galloped around the house. I picked up the cat and made him dance with me.

Somebody bought something.

I made money.

In addition to my Amazon sales, I’d also garnered enough clicks from AdSense to pay my hosting fees for the first time ever. Perhaps you expect this little blog to be making tons of money, but it doesn’t. December 2012 was the first time since I started this blog (technically, March 2012) that I’d earned more than $1-2.

No, I didn’t strike gold. No, I’m not making out with Darren Rowse. But, I achieved two of my first goals: to make money with Amazon Associates and to make enough from my blogs to pay for hosting.

This is not me, but this is a winner.

I feel like a winner.

The only way to feel successful is to define success. You can give yourself painfully high expectations, or you can set small, achievable goals on your path to these greater destinations.

Ask yourself what you want. Draw a map to get there. Include water breaks, time for naps, and anything else to meet your natural pace. When you reach those destinations you have in mind, take a break, enjoy the surroundings, and celebrate!

It might just be $10, but it’s symbolic of something much greater. To me, that $10 is success.

What little things make you feel like your life is on track? Write me a message below!

Rachael is a loud and sometimes goofy blogger and cheesemonger who lives in the DC area with her father and orange scaredy cat. She lives for food, but shares her freelance and blogging stories with people right here. Why? Because she loves you.