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It is hard to believe that 4 years and 3 days ago I made the decision to have my website go live on my 47th birthday.
I was completely naive about the world of blogging and had no clue what would spring from that fateful decision.
This past Saturday (April 23) I celebrated my 51st birthday as well as the 4 year anniversary of my blog.
Sadly there will not be a 5th year blogoversary as I have decided to throw in the towel on my blogging days.
This decision was not taken lightly as I weighed multiple factors and did a pro/con list regarding continuing the blog or not.
In the end the biggest deciding factor was the fact that I had lost the passion I had when I first started writing.
Without this passion blogging began to feel like a 2nd job and started making me feel like I was burning out again.
Being in the financial position I am in, I certainly did not need to continue blogging to supplement my income.
In fact IF money was the driving force, I could have easily exceeded what I made from blogging by just working an extra day every other month (which would be far easier than writing 2 months worth of material for my website).
I also feel that there was a shift in how audiences prefer to get their information, with a trend towards podcasts or YouTube videos.
This is completely understandable as it is easier to have a podcast going on in the background during a commute or performing an activity.
Unless you were in the upper echelon of bloggers in my niche (I am not), it was hard to retain traffic, especially since the pandemic started.
With decreased traffic came decreased comments, which for me was the best part of blogging as it allowed me to interact with and feel like I was a part of a like-minded community.
I know I have loyal readers that read my blog posts, as I do have pageview stats available, but sometimes it felt like I was just shouting into the wind when a post I was particular proud of did not generate any interaction at all.
I had struggled in the past with my desire to continue blogging, especially when something I wrote about created a lot of negative backlash.
In the past when I had sunk to new blogging lows there would be some fortuitous comment or email from a reader with a positive message that brought me back from the depths in the nick of time.
However this time felt different and I do not think anything could sway me from my decision to quit, which actually occurred in early February.
Because I was so close to reaching the 4 year anniversary, I decided that I would push on writing enough material to get me to that milestone.
The typical course of a blog dying is when the blogger starts posting less frequently and eventually stops altogether without letting his or her readers know that it is the end.
I did not want to take that route because I felt that it would not give my audience closure.
I know what it is like to invest time into something and it just ends abruptly with no real resolution.
I touched upon this situation earlier this year in the post, “Fade to Black: When Your Loyalty Goes Unrewarded.”
Hence I felt it necessary to write this “Goodbye” post.
What blogging has taught me.
After 4 years of blogging I have learned a lot of things about myself, both good and bad and thought that, in my final post, I should share them with you.
Still waters run deep.
The first nugget I gleamed about myself was that I have a pretty deep creative well.
Despite this being my 502nd post, I still had ample material for many more posts.
In February when I made my decision to quit blogging but continue writing till the 4 year anniversary mark, I pulled out all the potential post topics I had saved to determine which topics would make the final cut for my farewell tour.
I had over 35 post titles/topics to choose from.
This meant that there were a lot of great potential posts that found themselves on the cutting room floor.
My biggest hesitation about starting this blog was that I would rapidly run out of material/things to say within the first couple of months.
Nothing could have been further from the truth.
I do not have thick skin.
Putting material out into the blogosphere is like a double-edged sword.
The best part of being a blogger is that you soon find yourself immersed in a like-minded community with a strong support system.
However as your reach spreads, there are bound to be encounters with individuals who have negative things to say.
Just like in real life, I tend to dwell on the negative stuff, which can erase the majority of the positivity that was previously out there.
This is magnified when a post of mine is picked up by a larger website and thus exposed to a far larger audience who may not know about me or my backstory and thus are far more critical about a particular post they read.
This actually was the precipitating factor for me to quit blogging when one such post was featured on a large site and there were more than a few negative comments generated from it.
It truly was the straw that broke the camel’s back and set me on this trajectory.
Global ramifications.
When I first hit publish on my very first post, I could not anticipate the chain of events that subsequently followed.
Most shocking of all was how far-reaching my posts were.
Using Google Analytics, a powerful and impressive tool, I slowly saw the vast majority of countries of the world start to fill in on the map, indicating that at least one citizen had visited my site.
In fact, out of a possible 195 countries in the world, at least 1 citizen in 176 countries has visited my website (90.3% world domination, LOL).
It would have been quite the achievement to have every country filled in, but alas that was not in the cards for me.
Even so, it gave me great pleasure that words that sprung from my mind were read by people from all over the world, including countries I frankly have never heard of.
It just goes to show how interconnected we are with others across the globe and how we all are really striving for the same thing.
Un-businesslike.
One thing I have quickly found out running my own website is that I am sorely lacking in business skills.
I never mastered promoting the blog to gain sponsorships like some of the juggernauts in this niche.
Even when I managed to get a sponsor, I really had no idea what the value of my site was and often low-balled myself when asking for advertising dollars.
Even asking for sponsorship renewals was an activity I did not really care for.
The size of my website put me in “no-man’s land” where I was not big enough to justify outsourcing these activities like the larger sites often do.
This was basically a one man show and, because I much rather write material than self-promote, I let the business aspect of this website fall by the wayside.
NONtrepreneur.
I also soon discovered that I did not have the killer entrepreneurial instinct that a lot of bloggers in this niche have.
It amazes me how many fellow bloggers have written books, created masterclass courses, conducted webinars or even create full-blown week long conferences in addition to regular blogging.
I am sure these revenue streams are quite lucrative for those individuals.
It takes a lot of work to get these products out to the masses and these bloggers definitely demonstrated that they have the grit to do so.
I am downright lazy by comparison.
A glimpse of the retirement countdown.
When I made the decision to quit blogging, a strange phenomenon happened.
I quickly counted how many posts were needed to get me to the 4 year anniversary mark and it was like a light switch was flipped.
I again became quite prolific in writing and over a 2-wk period spanning late February to early March I wrote every post required to fill the schedule except the one you are currently reading.
Prior to this I would often delay writing that week’s post until the week before, often procrastinating till the last minute.
But now I was filled with a new energy, perhaps motivated by the fact that if I got these posts written I would finally be done with it all.
As the number of posts required slowly dwindled my mood improved.
This was not possible prior to quitting because as soon as I finished one post I knew that I had to start the never-ending process of writing one for the following week.
At the time of me writing this post, it has been over 4 weeks since I last wrote material for the blog and it really feels like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.
I believe I will have a similar feeling at my job when I finally give notice, knowing that the end of the tunnel is finally in sight.
Parting words.
It truly has been an honor to be a part of the blogging community and have incredible readers such as yourself.
I am thankful for the big-time bloggers in this niche who helped me through the years (special thanks to Physician On Fire, White Coat Investor, and Passive Income MD who were instrumental in helping me get on my feet during the early years. It was a thrill to meet all of you in person).
For the past 4 years I have grown tremendously in all aspects of my life.
I am in a great place physically, emotionally, and financially and truly feel that I am starting to live my best life.
I have found a woman that has brought me great joy and renewed my hope for having a happy married life.
My daughter will soon embark on her own life journey, starting her senior year of high school this fall.
She still is on the trajectory to become a physician, but no matter what she ends up achieving, I know she will be successful and happy.
I know I am leaving everyone in great hands as there are still incredible bloggers, both physician and non-physician, that are more than capable of carrying the torch I am about to pass.
This website will live on for a bit as I have already paid for web hosting until Dec 31, 2024 which allows you to still visit The Hospital page I have created showcasing the latest offerings from all the physician finance bloggers out there.
I wish you all nothing but the best.
Remember we are only here on this planet for a short time and it is therefore imperative to enjoy the ride as much as we can.
A final request.
I am sort of treating this last post as my “yearbook/memory page” and hoping that you will “sign it.”
If you have ever gained any value over the years from this website, I would love for you to write a comment (and that especially goes to those readers who have read my posts but never commented in the past (referred to as “lurkers” in the blogging community (LOL)).
It really would make my day to end this experience on a great note.
Knowing that my words have somehow touched you in a positive way would mean the world to me.
This is Xrayvsn, signing off.
Note:
If you are in search of financial help, please consider enlisting the service of any of the sponsors of this blog who I feel are part of the “good guys and gals of finance.”
Even a steadfast DIY’er can sometimes gain benefit from the occasional professional input.
-Xrayvsn
NOTE: The website XRAYVSN contains affiliate links and thus receives compensation whenever a purchase through these links is made (at no further cost to you). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Although these proceeds help keep this site going they do not have any bearing on the reviews of any products I endorse which are from my own honest experiences. Thank you- XRAYVSN
Hi. I’m Ryan from the UK.
I just wanted to pop in and say all the best. I’ve enjoyed your work a lot and I can see this is a great end to your journey.
I’ve lurked without comment but wanted to say you’ve helped me a lot.
Take care and thank you.
That really means the world to me. Thank you for the great parting words. Wishing you the best and hope you achieve everything you set out to do. Have a great one!
Damn dude, sad to read this but glad you know what you need to do to move on and be happy. I’m over 4.5 years into my blog and am also losing audience and reach. I think as you said it’s partly due to the fact that podcasts and video are becoming more popular. Also I think the FIRE movement may have peaked in popularity in 2019 and the pandemic has diverted attention to other areas. And we can’t forget that the FIRE movement had a lot of drama and in-fighting with some horrible cases of online bullying and harassment… Read more »
Really appreciate that Dave. Your blog is one that I am a huge fan of and selfishly hope that you keep going on forever.
I am thankfully I got to meet bloggers like yourself in person and going to Fincon was one of my highlights as a blogger.
Know that while I may not continue on as a blogger I will be a reader of your blog. Continue the great work!
Best wishes, X. I’ve enjoyed your work!
Thank you so much Jim! You have done so much to support this blog (your Twitter promotions are legendary 🙂 ). I wish you continued success with your blog, I do enjoy the material a lot.
It has been an honor getting to know you!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Your blog is definitely one I recommend others to follow because of the incredible information you put out there. Thank you for stopping by and wishing you the best 🙂
Hey brother,
Completely understand. Trading physician burnout for entrepreneur or blogger burnout is not worth the trade.
So glad to have met you in person and in the blogosphere!
Keep us updated from time to time on how you are doing!!
Jimmy / TPP
Thanks Jimmy! It was great to meet you in person as well, really made FinCon special. You are definitely one of the bloggers that has done incredible work including publishing a book (and a 2nd one coming soon I heard). Best of luck and continue to promote financial literacy to your residents and the rest of your readers. Have a great one!
You are very creative and I have enjoyed reading your posts! As you know, I don’t comment much, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t read and had a chuckle or two from reading your content. 😂 I, unlike your readers get to experience your humor firsthand and hopefully will continue on for many years to come. I am very proud of all the work you have put into your posts! 😘
Thank you so much! You have been the inspiration for many a post and I get a kick out of knowing you enjoy the material I put out there. And yes plan on many many more years to come 🙂
I’m Suzanne from North Carolina and just wanted to say I’m sorry to see you go, although I completely understand. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and have gained insight and information from it. Best wishes to you!
Thank you so much Suzanne, means a ton knowing that somehow my words can make an impact. I wish you the best as well and again thank you for being a reader of this website. Have a great one! 🙂
Godspeed, XRay.
Thank you so much! Appreciate you stopping by and sending me off on a positive note 🙂 have a great one!
So sorry to hear you’re ending the blog. When I first found your blog I had just retired from orthopaedics. Your blog as well as all of the FIRE blogs helped with the transition. You’ve been very transparent and that’s very refreshing. I’m sorry that the trolls attacked you. That’s the main reason I don’t post more often but it’s the angry world we live in. Best wishes when you ultimately retire. Since I retired I’ve never been happier
I am glad that you have truly found light at the end of the tunnel and enjoying your retirement. I hope to join your ranks in the next couple of years or so. Thank you for the kind words and glad you found some of my posts useful. Have a great one. 🙂
Thank you for your most insightful and creative posts. I have enjoyed them immensely. Wishing you all the best!
That comment really warmed my heart. Thank you. I wish I could have continued for longer but it was hard to try to keep everything in my life in balance and something had to give. I give mad respect to those bloggers who have lasted far longer than I have. It takes a lot of behind the scenes work to put a post out and it became too much of a time vacuum for me. Wishing you the best as well. Have a great one! 🙂
Very happy for you to know that you are in such a good place personally, and that you can leave your blog knowing that you have reached so many folks in such a positive way. I never missed reading any of your posts since I first found you a couple of years ago, although I have never responded. I guess that makes me a mega-lurker! A very wise person once told me that everything in life has a beginning and an ending. The key is being able to recognize and accept the latter. I would opine that you are going… Read more »
Thank you so much for that amazing comment. Love the mega-lurker tag. That certainly is some great wisdom shared about recognizing beginnings and endings. I definitely wanted to leave blogging if I ever felt like I could no longer put out quality posts and have to “jump the shark” to continue. Glad you feel that way about me leaving at the top of my game. Definitely was a hard decision because part of me loved being part of a community I respected immensely and that has helped me out far more than I could help them. I hope you achieve… Read more »
Thank you for putting yourself out there. Your brutal honesty about your divorce has been a great help to me as we shared many similar experiences and I know of no other physician blogger who addresses that issue with your candor and humility. I will miss your voice and wish you, your daughter and your new partner a peaceful and wealthy future.
Wow. Thank you so much for conveying those incredibly kind and powerful words to me. You have no idea how great that made me feel reading it. I’m sorry you had to go through a similar experience and hope that you have come out of it stronger and happier like I have. I wish you nothing but the best as well. Thanks again for that comment. Have a great day. 🙂
I will miss your content but totally understand and support your decision. Your support as I have started out has meant the world!
Thank you so much for those words. You are definitely one of those bloggers that has the incredible grit I have spoken of. You are taking the blogging world by storm and I have no doubt you are a worthy person to pass the torch to. Have a great one!
I have followed you from your earliest posts and have enjoyed your writing and the honesty and sharing of the challenges as well as successes in your financial journey. I am so happy for you to embark on the next chapter of your life. The greatest gift to yourself is being honest with yourself about what makes you happy. You have this. Wishing you and your family success, fulfillment, and love!
Thank you so much for saying that! I am glad I started this blogging journey because it made me look at the past and some dark chapters in my life and gave me motivation to put those where they belong (in the rearview mirror). Thanks for being a longtime reader. I appreciate that immensely. Have a great one!
I hear on on the bummer of the negativity. A lot of critics and sometimes some very hateful words. I’ve tried to use the negativity as motivation and for new topic ideas in a “comment commentary” style. Maybe if you just take this summer off you’ll come back feeling refreshed. Who knows. Since you have paid for your hosting for another year, it’s good to keep the door open. At the end of the day, I just like to write and now record. Too much of the business aspect bums me out. I think about my young children a lot,… Read more »
Thanks Sam. Your blog is on another level than mine and I know you have been subject to negative comments as well. I truly envy your ability to use that as motivation and not dwell on the negativity (that unfortunately I tend to do). For me those comments serve more as de-motivation (i.e. why should I bother and subject myself to this when I can just walk away and be done with it). Not sure I am going to pull a Tom Brady and come out of retirement, lol, but yes the door remains open I guess. What you are… Read more »
Thank you so much for your contributions to our personal finance community and our healthcare community at large! I especially appreciated your kind words and frequent comments on my blog. Thank you again for all the positive words and encouragement! I hope to see you at future wcicon’s!
Disha
Thanks Disha for the kind words. I definitely need to attend one of those conferences. Congrats on becoming a WCI ambassador. Heard you were amazing at the last one 🙂
Another Mega-Lurker here!!! You have helped me so much over the years and I bet there are many more like me. I loved your posts, always went to them first on my email. You taught me a lot and I enjoyed your honesty and your very creative way of imparting financial information.
I know you are in a great place and I wish you the best as you go forward. I will miss you!
Thank you so much for those incredibly kind words. Sorry I made you come out from lurking, lol, but it really means a lot when I hear that I had even a little impact on someone’s life. Been a pretty emotional day, kind of like losing a loved one, and these comments really make me feel like I made a difference.
Have a wonderful day and again thank you so much!
As a fellow radiologist (retired) I have been reading your blog daily for many years now. I will miss your commentary, useful advice, interesting asides and sense of humor. Thanks for four years of daily stimulation!
You are entitled to a peaceful retirement, enjoy it. Goodbye!
Thank you so much. I hope you are enjoying retired life and I hope to one day enjoy it myself. Appreciate you being a long-time reader, means a lot. Have a wonderful day and wish you much happiness.
XRAYVSN
There is a time for everything under the sun. Now it’s time for you to enjoy spending more time with your new sweetheart and your daughter before she leaves for college. Best of luck to you.
Dr. Cory S. Fawcett
Financial Success MD
Thank you so much Cory. Was an honor to meet you at FinCon and you have always impressed me with the material you put out for fellow physicians, etc (including your amazing book series). Time is a precious limited resource and I agree that spending it with my daughter and fiancee trumps pretty much everything else. Have a great one and keep putting out amazing content.
I’m a lurker and have appreciated your physician viewpoint on financial topics. You will be missed
Thanks Bev for the kind comment. Truly appreciate that. Have a great day 🙂