So much happened in 2011 that it’s tough to cover it all but I’ll briefly go over the major events in this post.
Bidsketch…
Unfortunately, I didn’t write down my 2011 goals but I there were so many things that happened with Bidsketch that were amazing. Some of it was hard work and some of it was luck (you do in fact get luckier the harder you work).
The major highlights:
- Gained enough revenue to support my family and quit my job
- Over 10k in monthly recurring revenue by year end (almost 3x increase over December of 2010)
- Interviews on Mixergy and TechZing
To say it was a good year for me is an understatement. I feel incredibly lucky.
Where could I have improved last year?
More marketing and outsourcing. While I did a fair amount of both throughout the year, I stopped outsourcing and spent more time doing development after I quit my job because I only had one source of income. Thing is, after I had grown revenue to give me a cushion, I waited longer than I should’ve to start outsourcing again. I’ll do better next year.
2012 Bidsketch Goals?
Just one… Double my December, 2011 monthly revenue. Way harder than it sounds. In fact, if I don’t grow much faster than I’m growing now I won’t even come close.
Personal…
Moving out of Florida has been a major goal of ours for a long time. A condo I was underwater on and the day job made it difficult to leave. Plus, with a wife, three properties and 5 pets, it’s not an easy or cheap thing to do.
But last year we were able to move to Washington (state). Spokane to be exact. The main goal was to be in a place where we would easily be able to do the type of outdoor activities we love to do (hike, ski, snowboard, etc). We’re 45mins away from a ski resort and much closer for some great hiking. The move was a big win!
The other goal, one I’ve had for an even longer time, was to gain freedom and control by quitting my day job and never working for another company again. After years of hard work, I was finally able to achieve this goal. Simply put, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Personal goals for 2012?
Become a father for the first time! We’re the middle of the adoption process so that will likely happen in about 6 months. It’s both exciting and scary at the same time 🙂
Final thoughts…
2011 was one of the most productive (and luckiest) years I’ve had. Personally I’m in a good place and professionally I’m very motivated to do better than last year.
Bidsketch has grown past the what I saw it becoming when I launched so I’m not 100% sure where I see things going right now. I’ll have to take some time to set long term goals and decide on which direction to take things.
It’s great to hear about your success so far. It was neat hearing your story on Mixergy. I also just heard Rob mention you on his interview today. Figured I would check out your blog and see how things were. Site looks great. Keep up the good work!
Hi Nathan, thanks for the comment and the kind words 🙂