2024 Content Challenge

Wow, feels like Déjà vu.

I started last year’s version of this post like this:

It’s nearly two months into 2023 and I’m finally getting this party started. 😅

But hey, better late than never. 🤷‍♂️

As you can see, I could have started this one the same way.

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Once again, it is now impossible to complete a full 365-day content challenge in 2024.

But once again, that won’t stop me from trying to carry a content streak through the rest of the year.

After another period of abysmal productivity for the second time in two years, I’m finally back to creating more content for My Brands. They’ve been neglected far too often over the last two years. I am going to put an end to that now.

I get things done when I’m pissed. And boy oh boy, am I annoyed with myself!

🤬🤬🤬

There is something about the beginning of a new year that relights my fire. It’s been a life saver two years back to back.

Last year, I got off to one of the worst starts possible, not really even getting out of the blocks until Week 8. Unfortunately, I haven’t actually faired that much better this year. It’s been a lot more like starting an old lawn mower. I had to keep pulling my starter over and over before I actually turned over.

I’ve produced a bit more, on a few more days than I did last year—but not by much.

I’m also on track to publish this year’s version of this post earlier than I did last year—but not by much.

On the flip side, I had a longer content-producing streak at the same time last year—but not by much.

When I restart after a long time away from producing content, I always feel like I’m going to go the fnck off. It’s about the same now, only tempered by looking at the stats and last year’s version of post.

😭😭😭

Humbling.

That’s a good word for it.

I’ve been at my Content Challenges since 2018. For the first one, all I had to do was produce a blog post every month. I succeeded with relative ease. Then I got more ambitious. Since 2019, the objective has been to publish new content and/or update existing content every single day.

The results so far:

Daily Content Challenge – Produced content at least 301 out of 411 days (73%). Longest content streak: 97 days. Longest no-content streak: Unknown; 13 days max.
2020 Content Challenge – Produced content 300 out of 366 days (82%). Longest content streak: 157 days. Longest no-content streak: 6 days.
2021 Content Challenge – Produced content 332 out of 365 days (91%). Longest content streak: 67 days. Longest no-content streak: 4 days.
2022 Content Challenge – Produced content 195 out of 365 days (53%). Longest content streak: 217 days (cont’d from 2021). Longest no-content streak: 76 days.
2023 Content Challenge – Produced content 94 out of 365 days (26%). Longest content streak: 62 days. Longest no-content streak: 73 days. (cont’d into 2024)

Just like last year, my late start has cost me the opportunity to produce content everyday of 2024. Nor can I get anywhere near 2021’s lofty 91%. 😭

However, I can still break 2022’s record for longest-ever continuous content streak. And I will definitely put up a better total percentage than I have each of the last two years.

Writing this, I know I can do it. So now I just have to.

💪💪💪

Taking a New Road

Thank God for quarter 1!

🙌🙏🙌

Whether ignition is immediate or I take some revving, I always get my horsepower back when the new year rolls around.

My beginning of the year routine isn’t as tight as my Morning Routine, but it still pretty snug.

I always:

Tally and tie up my loose ends from the prior year.
Spend a copious amount of time Journaling.
Reestablish my Keystone Habits.
Get stuck in on my Favorites.

I almost always do some deep Goal Setting.

It’s pretty much inevitable at this point.

Every year, I post a few content challenge updates (like this one).

Then, the real fun begins.

Writing for my own sites is easier to make myself do than anything else I could classify as “work.” There’s rarely any Procrastination because I have a genuine desire to learn about and produce content around these topics. That makes sense because I choose them myself.

Especially when it comes to the Achievement category, I basically can’t help but to work on it. Not to mention, writing about success characteristics helps me increase my overall Productivity. Makes sense. It’s almost like a self-inflicted guilt trip. That’s partly how it is intended. And there is something about it that provides a unique type of relief.

Every time I come back to my own work, it’s like riding a bike. I’m able to jump right back in and pick up like I never left off.

Perfectionism is the only thing that really slows down my productivity on This Site (It has my name on it, after all.)

Nonetheless, I can work harder and longer on any of My Brands than anything else.

That’s why I am considering taking a new road.

I might just drop Greensboro SEO Pro as my main focus and divert my energy to working on my other sites full time. Compared to client SEO, managing Niche Websites sounds like a dream.

Plus, the timing just feels right.

It’s almost spring. That means Gardening season is upon us. And I’m already on track to grow my best garden yet. See: My Raggedy Patch.
The Trading and Investing landscape is getting volatile, especially Cryptocurrency. Sounds like the right time to start Playing Markets again. 🤑
I need to fix my Credit (once more). It was soooooo good two years ago. I need to get that back. Sounds like a job for Insider’s Guide to Credit.
I’ve become somewhat obsessed with Storytelling over the last few months. It’s only a matter of time before I create a new website for it.

I may even have the opportunity to bring back two of my old content producing systems, one from 2020 and one from 2021. Those were my two most productive years. If I can replicate those systems, it could be awesome. If I can improve upon them, it could be legendary.

Kinda’ like I said last year:

“If I get that right, I might even be able to set 1000-day content challenge goals. 💪”

Weekly Round Ups

As always, my round ups won’t be anything special.

They are basically just lists of what I worked on that week along with what I did that week and what happened in the world. The extra context helps me clarify my production timelines in my memory, especially when I review these posts.

Regardless, the main purpose is to document my progress as a writer (and all-around content producer).

Weekly Round Up Key:

✅ – 7/7 Days New Content
😭 – 0/7 Days New Content
📍 – Content Streak Started
💥 – Content Streak Snapped

Quarter 1

Since it’s already March as I write this, I don’t have much to say.

The quarter is more than two-thirds of the way through and I’m just getting up to speed.

You already know where I’m starting—the same place I do every year. The only thing that is unclear is where (or how) it is going to go.

Best case scenario, I’ll be close to a one-month content streak when April rolls around.

Pretty pathetic, but it will be best I’ve had in nearly a year.

🥴🥴🥴

Week 1 Round Up 😭
Week 2 Round Up 😭
Week 3 Round Up 📍💥
Week 4 Round Up 😭
Week 5 Round Up 📍
Week 6 Round Up 💥📍
Week 7 Round Up 💥
Week 8 Round Up 💥📍
Week 9 Round Up 💥
Week 10 Round Up 📍
Week 11 Round Up ✅
Week 12 Round Up ✅
Week 13 Round Up ✅

Update (4/7/2024)::

Luckily, I was able to keep my streak going. And here I am updating this post (almost) on time. Imagine that!

Overall, quarter one was nothing to write home about. But once I finally got started, finishing the quarter strong was all I could really do. And I did that.

So mission accomplished.

Quarter 2

Now, the second quarter is underway and I know exactly where it is going.

By the end of this quarter, I’m expecting over 50 high-quality posts on Playing Markets. If I really buckle down, I might even be able to push that into the triple digits. As I write this on April 7th, I’m well on my way to 30 or 40 for this month alone.

Plus, I should pick up the small consolation prize of breaking last year’s best content streak. Then we’re also on to a triple-digit content streak.

Oh, la la!

😍😍😍

I can’t wait to see how this quarter ends up!

Update (6/30/2024):

This quarter may go down as one of those real turning points in my life. I finally feel like I have a true Niche Website and legitimate Brand (outside of Greensboro SEO Pro).

I spent at least 90% of my work-hours in the last three months on PlayingMarkets.net and it is on the verge of paying real dividends. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so excited to work on a project. In the last three months, I’ve put out a new post every single weekday.

These are real, MEATY posts that Google is already beginning to fall in love with.

And I think I’m falling in love with them too.

😍😍😍

Quarter 3

So.

After a great quarter of personal content production, I anticipate an even better one beginning.

By week 30, I believe I’ll have a new post scheduled for every week day on Quarter 3. I might even get it done sooner. 🤞 If so, I may use that time to get serious about a second site (My Raggedy Patch, perhaps?). Almost all of my other sites would be easier to produce content and get traction for. They might not quite be as important for my financial future but they would probably be even more fun than Playing Markets.

Plus, I’m definitely getting back to work on This Site—which basically guarantees a big jump in my overall Productivity.

I’m sooooo fncking hype I can barely contain it!

🤩🤩🤩

Update (10/4/2024):

Continuing on from the feeling at the end of last quarter, quarter three also marked a turning point.

I completed my online résumé and started looking for a job. At the same time, I was able to continue pushing out content for Playing Markets, especially Candlestick Pattern breakdowns. I’m now well over 150,000 words produced in the last six months or so.

It feels like I’m going to be rich again soon.

😁😁😁

I’ll come back to this once the third quarter is over.

Quarter 4

Alrighty then.

First half down, second half to go.

This may be the fourth quarter, but I only have two quarters worth of a daily content streak.

That’s fine though, as this looks to be defining quarter for the year. I will get a job and have a Niche Website that is worth something by the time it is all said and done. In fact, I may have more than one. I plan to reorganize all of My Brands in a big big way. No telling which are going to jump out to a lead from here.

To be frank, I can’t wait to come to back 13 weeks from now!

Week 40 Round Up ✅
Week 41 Round Up ✅
Week 42 Round Up ✅
Week 43 Round Up ✅
Week 44:
Week 45:
Week 46:
Week 47:
Week 48:
Week 49:
Week 50:
Week 51:
Week 52:

Update:

I’ll come back to this once the fourth quarter is over.