A time for everything – A time to move on
By glblguy
Ecclesiastes 3 says:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I’ve been writing here on Gather Little by Little for over two years. I’ve shared my personal journey with you, shared what I’ve learned about personal finance and I’ve written more than 700 articles on various personal finance topics…of course always with a Christian perspective. Gather Little by Little provided me with knowledge and a creative outlet that I desperately needed at the time. I truly never dreamed that Gather Little by Little would grow to be the site it has become. I mean, 3100+ readers??? I remember when I was excited for having 5. Gather Little by Little has taught me so much about my life, my finances, my faith and my family. It has also opened many new opportunities for me. Gather Little by Little has truly been a dream come true for me, as I always wanted to start my own business and help others through ministry.
Over the past few months, I’ve started other blogs and as you are all aware my Empty Cabin Media business as well. At Empty Cabin Media, I help others build blogs and websites and assist them with making their business and web dreams come true. During these past few months, I’ve slowly reached a point where I am not only struggling with what to write about here on GLBL, but also feel the new areas I want to pursue are being held back due to the time GLBL requires. I’ve reached a point where GLBL is no longer the passion it once was, as I have other things I would like to pursue. I feel the pull of and excitement of new things and of a new journey.
After weeks of agonizing, the time has now come for me to move on. With a bizarre combination of both happiness and sadness, I’d like to announce that Gather Little by Little has been sold and effective this weekend will be in the capable hands of it’s new owners. I won’t steal their thunder and will let them introduce themselves as well as share their future plans for Gather Little by Little. I will say though that GLBL is being turned over to a great group of folks who I know will do an awesome job and make Gather Little by Little even better. Stew will continue to write as well, which I am very happy about. Oh, and I’ve pre-written about 2 weeks worth of articles for the new owners, so you’ll still be reading me for the next little bit!
Ironically enough, blogging about my personal finance journey has ended up becoming the end of the current chapter in my personal finance journey. While I can’t disclose the sale price, the sale of Gather Little by Little will make me completely debt free with the exception of my two mortgages!! I expected this particular chapter to take a few more years, but no more. I am now significantly closer to being completely debt free.
I cannot even express in words how wonderful just writing that makes me feel. While I know many of you are shocked, and maybe even upset with this announcement, I want you to be happy for me. I have now reached one of the goals I’ve been encouraging you all to reach. By doing so, I’ve not only become almost debt free, but proved to you that it is truly possibly with dedication and hard work. I worked hard. Each and every weekday morning for the past two years, I’ve risen at 5am. I’d write an article, then do the numerous other duties required of running a blog: email, forum participation, marketing, advertisement management, accounting, etc. Then head to my full-time job. I would then return in the evening only to do many of the same things late in the evening as well. Something I quickly learned about blogging is that it can be a great deal of work. But, as all hard work does, it paid off.
I will miss GLBL though, very much. More than anything, I’ll miss you. I’ve befriended literally hundreds of people over the past 2 years. The good news is you can always catch up with me at Empty Cabin Media where I’ll be posting about my new efforts on the Empty Cabin Media blog and continuing to grow that business.
So, this post ends the current chapter in my personal finance journey and I look forward to beginning the next. I promise I’ll avoid credit cards, continue to budget, continue to save, and hopefully begin a new chapter where I can start investing and growing my wealth rather than making the credit card companies richer!
With that, I’ll say good bye. Stay focused, stay committed and the current chapter in your financial journey will end as well. Thank you for an absolutely wonderful two years. You have all changed my life and made it so much better. I cannot say thank you enough for that. You have all been a true blessing in my life.
Now, why can’t you ever find a tissue when you need one…
July 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Congratulations, Larry! I’m proud to have been associated with you for the last two years, and I’m even more proud to call you a friend. I’m looking forward to continuing working with you through your blog coaching and consulting site. :)
July 17th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Congrats on making the big decision! I know it was the right one – good luck with your future endeavors.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Congrats, Larry! I think it was the right thing to do. As you say, it’s another chapter in your personal finance story and this is a great financial decision. You’ve been doing great things with Empty Cabin Media and I look forward to seeing where that takes you.
You’ve also been astoundingly helpful over the last 2 years in helping me be a better blogger and helping the M-Network grow. It feels silly to write this because I know we’ll keep in touch, but I wanted to get the thank-you out there. :)
July 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Congrats Larry on the sale of your blog – you will definitely be missed in the PF realm – although I know we’ll stay in touch through other media.
You were one of the bloggers I looked to when I first started blogging myself just over a year and a half ago. In a sense you were my blogging Godfather!
Thanks for all your top notch writing over the past 2 years, congrats on becoming debt free except the house, and good luck with emptycabinmedia.com!
July 17th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Congratulations on the beginning of a new chapter in your professional life – may it continue to be a blessing to you and your family! I’ve always enjoyed your writing here, and appreciate your willingness to show me the blogging ropes over the last couple years.
I look forward to reading material from the new author(s)…they have big shoes to fill!
July 17th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Wow I didn’t expect to read this so soon. Congrats on the sale and the growth of your financial journey. Thanks so much for helping me with my blog from the very start, I really appreciate it.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Wow! I’ll certainly miss your blog posts, but I understand that it’s time for you to move on to other pursuits. Congrats on the sale of your blog! That’s pretty amazing, indeed.
Good luck with the sale of your old house, too.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Larry, yours is one of the first blog I read when I started Moolanomy. You were also one of the first person I approached to help me get the M-network going. In short, I attributed significant portion of my success to you, in particular, your leadership and friendship.
Thank you for everything, good luck on your journey, and let’s stay in touch.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Wow… first of all, a hearty congratulations. This really is one of the best PF blogs I read, and it’s purely because of you. Thanks for that. I’ll miss your voice.
Thanks, also, for hosting my only guest post anywhere (so far)!
July 17th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Congrats on the big sale, Larry. Like the others above, you’ve been a great inspiration and guide in my success. I really owe you a ton, friend. Thanks so much for your blog and best of luck on the next journey. I’ll be following at Empty Cabin.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Even though I have known about this for a couple of weeks – let me offer my public congratulations. Thanks for giving me this opportunity and I glad that I will be able to continue writing here.
I have grown to greatly appreciate the GLBL readers that you have cultivated over the years. They are a loyal group and their collective wisdom is priceless. I hope all of you stick around!
July 17th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Congratulation for the sale. I am glad to see that the money received will be used to free you from debts. This is quite an achievement!
July 17th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Larry,
Congrats. Like many of the bloggers above, you were not only an inspiration but someone who took time out of their very busy schedule to help my blog get off the ground.
I am not a religious guy, but but your generousity is the very defition of being a great Christian.
Good luck with your next step…
July 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
More like the sale of faithful readers.
After the comment you will be deleted from favorite places.
Thanks alot.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Congratulations and best of luck. I’ve enjoyed your blog. I’m so happy for you that it’s allowed you to speed up your goal of being debt free.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Congratulations on this blessing in your life! I have learned so much from you over the past several months and you have been a great help to me in grasping a firm hold on my finances both now and in the future. I wish you all the best!!
July 17th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
While you’ll be missed a lot here, I’m so happy that the sale of GLBL will allow you to pay off your debt! Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us over the last couple of years! And I pray God richly blesses all your new endeavors! Can’t wait to hear more about them!
July 17th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Congratulations on your new opportunity! I will definitely miss your inspiring posts, but find it so fitting that you have been able to do something that will allow yourself to be in a better financial position. Thanks for being such an inspiration.
Many blessings to you and your family!
July 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Congratulations on the sale, and best of luck in your new endeavors! I hope that your newly found focus will be beneficial in what’s next in your plan.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Gotta say, this one really took me by surprise. I figured I could always count on good ol’ gibble to crank out some great PF advice. Congrats on the sale bud, and I hope that the new direction in your business works out for the best for you and your family.
July 17th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Congrats on your sale and the new chapter in your life. It’s sad to see you leaving the PF world but now we get to see you develop new projects. Your site has been one of those that helped keep me going. Thanks for all of the great articles you’ve produced. Can’t wait to see where you take Empty Cabin Media!
July 18th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Congratulations! I know you will enjoy the new challenges with Empty Cabin Media.
July 18th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Well congrats – but geesh – I just found you and now you’ll be gone:-(
July 18th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I suppose I should say congratulations like everyone else. Congratulations. Sorry I’m not thrilled. I REALLY identified with your posts. Wish you well.
July 18th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I’m sure gonna miss your posts, but it’s amazing the roads the Lord’s leading you down. You’ve been a blessing. Just as long as you’re somewhere online, and we can find you to read, I’m good.
See you.
July 19th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
you will be gorn but not forgotten i must say this was an experience thanks for all the great info.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Good luck with whatever your future holds!
July 20th, 2009 at 2:10 am
Wow, didn’t see that coming – but congratulations! That’s a good move, and even though we’ll miss seeing you here I doubt anyone could blame you in the least for taking such a positive step for yourself and your family. Kudos!
July 20th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Congrats and good luck in your other ventures! I have enjoyed your work.
July 20th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Congrats Gibble guy! It has been fun to follow you from start to finish on your debt journey. I too have enjoyed your writings. I wish many of God’s blessings on you and your family. We’ll miss you. Keep in touch!
July 20th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Congrats on your success which has paid off for you. Congrats also for recognizing when it was time to move on. Change is a part of life and when you can take advantage of that change, all the better.
July 20th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Larry, I am so happy for you, congrats and good luck in your future endeavors. You were one of the very first blogs I started reading and I thank you for all your insight & help. I will miss your gardening and home updates. Bless you and yours.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:22 am
I don’t read for a few weeks and then come back and find you’re “gone” :( Sounds like it is a good change for you though – that’s great! I’ll miss your writing, but I am happy for you. Best wishes for your future projects.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I was out of country when this happened, just learned. Ditto most of the above comments. Exciting to see progress in action! Our goals are all possible – though it must have been a hard decision, it’s nice to have that option available. Testifies to your success. See you around at ECM!