As I sit down to write my 100th blog post, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia, mixed emotions and reflection on this journey. This journey has been incredible, filled with creativity, learning, and the satisfaction of sharing my insights.
However, the time has come for me to make a difficult decision. In this blog, I want to share my compelling reasons for this choice, discuss my plans for what’s next, and express my heartfelt gratitude to many who have supported me throughout this journey. (Feature image credits: https://www.elmhurst.edu/blog/100-blog-posts/)
Hi, This is Venkatesh. I write on Personal Finance, Stock Investing, Productivity and Time Management. You will be interested to read more about me and the purpose of my website.
If you are interested in these topics do subscribe to my blogs. You would maximum receive 4 to 5 emails a month. Do check my Blog Index for all my blogs.
The Evolution of My Blog
I’ve been actively writing content on three topics that pique my interest:
- Personal Finance,
- Stock Investing, and
- Productivity and Time Management.
Prior to 2022, I predominantly shared my content through Twitter and YouTube videos. As my content gained traction, friends and colleagues offered multiple suggestions for expanding its reach. Two prominent options emerged:
- To write my articles on another reputable website.
- To establish my own website.
Writing for Other Websites
My initial preference was to share my works through other websites dedicated to personal finance and stock investing. I proactively reached out to several websites with my proposal. Unfortunately, they did not even respond. While one person did agree to publish one of my works, they stipulated the need for a website as a prerequisite. Faced with no other viable options, I had no choice but to abandon this idea and begin the pursuit of creating my own website. Few of those conversations is shared below.
My Own Website
Over time, I received numerous requests from my audience to establish a dedicated website where I could present my content in a more structured manner. Two renowned finfluencers emphasized the importance of having a web presence for my content. They highlighted that a website would provide a lasting space for my friends and followers to revisit my articles, unlike tweets that tend to get buried as new ones surface.
Copyright Infringement
To my disappointment, I discovered that nearly all my works shared as PDF files on Twitter had been uploaded to Scribd, and they were inaccessible behind a paywall. I couldn’t understand why my freely shared work would end up hidden behind a paywall without my knowledge. It felt incredibly unjust for someone who had uploaded my works to Scribd.
If others wanted to share my work, they could have simply reposted my tweets or shared the files with their contacts through platforms like WhatsApp or email. I found myself in the position of having to engage with Scribd, prove that I was the rightful developer and writer of those contents and also get it removed.
Few things are more disheartening than having to vouch for the credibility of your own work. This experience served as the most compelling catalyst for my decision to create my own website.
The Time Came
I deliberated over the idea of having a website nearly for a year. This is primarily because I wanted to ensure that if I started something new, I could effectively manage it and fulfil its intended purpose. Finally, in December 2021, I the decided to launch a website. I acquired the necessary hosting and domain in January 2022. I dedicated two full months to learning WordPress, equipping myself with the skills required to create and maintain a website. This journey culminated in the launch of my website in April 2022.
Throughout these 17 months, I’ve diligently posted 100 blogs. Undoubtedly, I take great pride in both the quality and quantity of the content I’ve created.
Lack of Engagements
While this 17-month journey has brought fulfilment in many ways, I cannot overlook the harsh reality: my blogs have consistently struggled to achieve even the bare minimum level of engagement. It’s not easy for me to admit, but it’s essential to acknowledge the truth. Despite my relentless efforts, my blogs’ reach, reader engagement, the number of comments, shares, and interactions fell short significantly of my initial expectations. I’ve invested numerous hours into researching, writing, and publishing each blog. From drafting to creating images and finally posting on the website, each blog consumes somewhere between 3 to 4 hours of my time.
Some blogs demanded even more effort. Take a few instances.
List of 250+ companies in Tamil Nadu
This blog is an extensive list of 250+ listed companies in Tamil Nadu. The simple task of providing hyperlinks to over 200 company websites consumed around 3 hours, not to mention the countless hours spent identifying these companies, their respective industries, and other details. My efforts in creating this database could be anywhere between 30 to 40 hours. Yet, the engagement for this particular blog was disheartening. Below is the image from the website dashboard.
On average, more than ~150 users had brief views in less than a minute! While I invested countless hours into crafting this blog, it appears that readers couldn’t spare even a minute of their time on this blog!
Blog on TVS Group
Another recent project I shared focused on the TVS group. It involved the creation of two images illustrating the group’s holding structure and family tree. To craft these visuals, I had to meticulously review the Annual Reports of over 10 group companies to grasp the intricacies of their holdings, cross-holdings, and details about promoters and management. Additionally, the process of generating these images demanded a substantial amount of effort. For just these two visuals, I dedicated no less than 8 to 10 hours of my time.
Blog Chain on Retirement Planning
Just recently, I published a 4-part blog series on retirement planning. It was far more than just regurgitating information I found online. I engaged in in-depth conversations with no less than 10 retirees who are presently l retirement. The content in those blogs was directly derived from their experiences. Unfortunately, even these blogs yielded disappointing levels of engagement.
The above are not just one odd blogs that took more effort. Every other blog on my website has its own story of hard work and dedication behind it.
Farewell to Blogging
It became abundantly clear that my blog had failed to resonate with the readers. I dedicated considerable time to introspection, attempting to uncover the underlying reasons. Regrettably, no clear answers or discernible patterns emerged. One potential factor I considered was the SEO compliance of my blog, consistently scoring above 90 (out of 100) across all my posts. This was aimed at improving organic search visibility, but the discouraging fact remained that the tweets where I shared my blog posts also received limited engagement. This translated to minimal views from my Twitter friends as well.
A few of the reasons that I could think of were:
- Readers’ Preference for Shorter Content: People were generally less inclined to read lengthy articles.
- Bite-sized Threads: There seemed to be a preference for easily digestible content in the form of Twitter threads rather than comprehensive blog posts.
- Immediate Stock Investment Ideas: Many readers seemed to be more interested in direct stock names rather than engaging in discussions about the process of identifying stocks for investment, which was the primary focus of my blogs.
- Timing: It could have been a matter of timing, with my content not aligning with the immediate interests of my audience.
- Long Term Investing: The practice of individually selecting, evaluating, and investing in stocks for long-term purposes is not common among many investors.
Whatever the underlying reason may be, I strongly feel that my valuable time could be put to better use elsewhere.
I have decided to stop my blogging activities; however, this website and its existing content will remain intact.
Not a Hurried Decision
Somewhere around the 10th or 15th blog, I came to the realization that things weren’t unfolding as I had originally envisioned. However, I am acutely aware that such endeavours often require time to gain traction. Initially, I had intended to share this decision around the 50th blog post, but then I pushed myself to wait until the 75th blog. Ultimately, I set the 100th blog as the definitive point at which I would make this decision.
You will see that this decision was not made hastily. I allocated ample time for repeated attempts, and with each try, I invested even more effort than before. Only after exhaustively exploring all avenues and dedicating extensive time to introspection did I arrive at this decision.
If, after 17 months of unwavering dedication, a goal remains elusive, it becomes evident that I may be scaling the wrong wall. After careful contemplation, I am convinced that making this decision is the best course of action.
Will I not again share Blogs?
I really don’t have a clear answer. I’ve spent several weeks before arriving at this decision. So I’ve decided to stick with my current choice for at least a few months. So, for the immediate future, the answer is a definite “yes.”
Nevertheless, I’ve encountered failures and moments of giving up in the past, only to return to those pursuits with newfound determination after a few months. One notable instance that significantly impacted me was my experience in the stock market during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. I lost all my investments and vowed to never venture into stock market investments again. I perceived investing in the stock market as akin to gambling, reliant solely on luck. For several years, I remained on the sidelines as a mere spectator.
However, in mid-2012, I stumbled upon some articles about long-term investing. Gradually, my perspective began to shift, and I realized that investing didn’t have to resemble a gamble or depend entirely on luck. Armed with the right knowledge, anyone could thrive as an investor. It was in 2014 that I decided to rekindle my investment journey, driven by the wisdom gained from reading and implementing a multitude of books on investing. My comeback was robust, and it greatly enriched my financial journey.
Perhaps, in the future, circumstances may arise that lead me to resume sharing blogs once more. May be I get a new way of sharing contents over the website or readers find it useful and are interested in my blogs.
But I continue my Passion
I have a deep passion for learning and disseminating knowledge. This passion drives me to:
- Research new ideas: I proactively seek out fresh concepts and insights.
- Take concise notes: I diligently distill valuable information from my learning and reading materials.
- Share knowledge: I actively disseminate knowledge to others by either sharing my notes or delivering presentations, as I did through my YouTube videos and blogs.
- Embrace new challenges: I’m unafraid of trying new endeavours, even when there’s a risk of failure. Examples of this include my book and the creation of this website.
I want to make it clear that I have no intention of discontinuing these pursuits. I will persist in reading, writing about my discoveries, and sharing my notes with a select, focused group of friends and colleagues who share similar interests. This approach enables me to effectively convey my knowledge and, in return, receive valuable feedback on my ideas and readings. Such feedback is an invaluable tool for my ongoing learning and personal growth.
What is Next?
On average, I’ve maintained a pace of sharing one blog every 5 to 6 days. This means that I’ve been dedicating 3 to 4 hours of my time every 5 days to create these blogs. Now, these hours are at my disposal, and I’m determined to make the best use of them. So, what are my plans moving forward?
- Firstly, I intend to expand my knowledge and expertise in various industries and sectors. A significant portion of this time will be dedicated to reading Annual Reports and engaging with professionals from different fields.
- Secondly, I plan to continue my previous practice (which I had before I started blogging) of engaging with a focused group of friends and colleagues. Our discussions revolve around topics related to Personal Finance and Stock Investing.
- Thirdly, I will revise these existing 100 blogs to enhance their SEO, a suggestion offered by an online friend.
- Additionally, I aspire to connect with students in their final year of studies, with the aim of raising awareness about Personal Finance and soft skills. I strongly believe that this stage of their education is ideal for them to gain essential knowledge before they begin their careers. Although I don’t have a clear roadmap for this endeavor at the moment, I will certainly share updates as plans take shape.
It is time to say THANK YOU
I owe a heartfelt thank you to many of them, who have been integral to this journey.
Personal Friends / Colleagues
Though many of them were sceptical about this initiative, they set aside their reservations and encouraged me to persevere, recognizing the importance of our relationships. A few of them in the initial days supported with review of the contents, suggesting blog structure and so on.
Online Friends
What’s intriguing is that after the launch of my website, several friends who were previously active in engaging and cheering me became suddenly disconnected. However, despite this, two cherished friends remained connected and continued to support my blogs and tweets on various occasions. Their suggestions spanned various aspects, from enhancing engagement, improving SEO scores, to suggesting potential topics for exploration.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to these two and other supportive friends. Your unwavering gestures have meant the world to me, and I truly appreciate your support and encouragement.
Readers
This website exists primarily for your benefit. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the readers who have diligently followed my blogs throughout this period. Your trust and the time you have invested in my work are greatly appreciated. A special salute to those dedicated individuals who have read all 100 of my blogs.
I want to take this moment to convey my best wishes to each and every one of you, no matter where you are or what endeavors you are pursuing.
A Big Thanks to All – Venkatesh Jayaraman
Conclusion
My journey through the world of blogging has truly been remarkable, marked by a wealth of invaluable lessons, a deeper understanding of others, and most importantly, profound self-discovery. While this path has not been without its fair share of challenges and setbacks, it has also been a journey characterized by significant personal growth, a continuous quest for knowledge, and unwavering support from friends and colleagues.
As I now bid farewell to this chapter of my life, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have played a pivotal role in this incredible journey. Your unwavering support, invaluable feedback, and constant encouragement have meant more to me than words can aptly convey.
Although my decision to step away from this endeavor is undeniably a difficult one, it is a choice I have made after careful deliberation, driven by a belief that new adventures and opportunities await on the horizon. I am wholeheartedly committed to continuing my pursuit of knowledge, sharing my insights, and maintaining connections with my close-knit circle of friends and colleagues who share my passions.
I also want to emphasize that while my decision stands today, the future holds the potential for change based on unforeseen developments. Life, as we understand it, is brimming with unexpected twists and turns, frequently reshaping what might seem like a conclusion into a potential fresh start. I have personally experienced this on numerous occasions in the past.
With profound gratitude and warm regards, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to each and every one of you. Thank you for being an integral part of this extraordinary journey.
Hi Venkatesh,
Thanks for blogs and it really informative & helpful for new investor to learn alot.
Recently joined your mailing list and started reading your article.All are really helpful and are indepth analysis.
After reading your blog i came to know there are 250+ stocks companies are listed in tamilnadu.Those are in my current watchlist.
Soon you gonna write new blogs.
Thanks advance.
Dear Venkatesh sir,
I am following you since 2019. I have read your tweets, PPTs, Mental Model, blogs & also watched your YT videos.
Your work is treasure for us which give us valuable knowledge.
I am thankful to you for sharing your valuable knowledge & teaching us.
I will wait for new learning which you will bring for us.
Thank you once again. 😊🙏🏽
Pritesh K. Gada
I have enjoyed reading your blogs and would request you to continue.
Wishing you the very best venkatesh..
Nice one… don’t stop your writings…keep it up