Paving The Way For Online Entrepreneurs: Darren Rowse
August 11, 2008 by Akemi
Today’s guest for the Interview With Successful Entrepreneurs series needs no introduction to bloggers and online entrepreneurs. Darren Rowse, the ProBlogger, has been offering advise to bloggers for years. Check how a true geek (of course this is a compliment) developed his business in an organic way.
1. Tell us a bit about your business and why you started it.
Over the last 6 years I’ve taken blogging from something that was purely a hobby into something that is now quite a large business.
I run two personal blogs (ProBlogger.net and Digital-Photography-School.com), have written a book on blogging (probloggerbook.com) and co-founded a blog network by the name of b5media (b5media.com).
As I said above – blogging started out as a hobby for me and it was something that gradually grew into a part time job and then a full time business (and beyond). I didn’t set out to make money from blogging – in many ways it just happened.
2. What were the three biggest challenges when you were starting off as a new entrepreneur?
There have been many challenges along the way but here are the first three that come to mind:
First of all – as I didn’t set out to do anything entrepreneurial (it was very much an accidental thing) I guess the first challenge for me was simply to recognize the opportunity to take what I was doing as a hobby into something beyond that.
Secondly I found (and still find) it challenging to work out the business side of things. My first love with my business is that I’m a communicator, I’m a creative thinker and I’m a bit of a dreamer. These things certainly help to grow a business but to take it to the next level you also need to be an administrator, strategic thinker and good negotiator. I’m learning these skills but they don’t come naturally for me.
Thirdly, I work in a ‘virtual’ world where I rarely get to meet face to face with most of the people that I work closely with. At b5media it took over a year after starting our business for us to meet as founders as we were living in different parts of the world. Communication, team building, strategic planning etc are all difficult when you’re in different time zones and far away from one another.
3. And how did you work through these challenges?
A lot of it comes down to persistence. Over time I managed to see the opportunity with blogging the more that I did it – as I’ve forced myself to do the things I don’t necessarily have experience in I’ve learned new skills and in time we’ve managed to work out systems and define roles at b5 that don’t need face to face interaction.
4. What is the best part of being an entrepreneur for you?
There’s a real freedom in working for yourself and setting the course for your own work. I love this aspect of what I do.
5. Any advice for people who dream to have their own business and yet find it hard to make the leap?
Three things:
1. Find something that you’d happily do for free and invest into that. That way if it doesn’t turn out at least you’ve been doing something that is meaningful to you.
2. Stick at it and work hard. I’m yet to meet a successful entrepreneur who had everything fall into their lap.
3. Baby steps first – I know some people are wildly successful by giving up everything else to build up a new business but I found that having a backup plan (I worked other jobs while starting out) and other things to fall back on enabled me to take my time and build something of quality over time. Don’t throw everything away when you start out – but build upon what you already have and let it grow naturally.
My takeaway
As a business owner whose clients come mostly through the internet, I just can’t thank enough for the advance of technology – a totally technologically challenged person like myself can have multiple websites and take clients worldwide! Amazing, and quite unimaginable just 15 or even 10 years ago.
The ability to recognize the opportunities is critical. I’m guessing so many people just sleep on their gold mine. As some other interview guests have indicated (like Jason and Laura), realizing your gift and taking it seriously takes courage. Seeing the problems as business opportunities takes proactive thinking. I think Darren’s case is yet another proof for this!
I also want to point out — if you haven’t read the About page of ProBlogger, go check it out. He is spiritual. I’m sure this has been his source of power.
Thank you, Darren.
If you like this article, you might enjoy my eBook on spiritual entrepreneurship. Click here for free, immediate download
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Hey Akemi… Thanks for interviewing Darren. No matter what, I think he is one class act in the blogging world. No BS, no garbage. Darren just sat down and worked is butt off, writing great content, researching his field, and making it work. He’s been at this for a long time by blogging standards, and did what it takes to be a success. Thanks again for getting some more of Darren in front of us.
Thanks for a great interview. I really like the parts about growing your business organicaly and having the patience to stick with a project as it grows over time.
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Tom,
Yep. He worked hard, and time definitely worked for him.
FS,
I agree. We tend to be quite impatient online, but it’s no different from offline business — it takes patience and persistence to succeed.
Another wonderful interview, Akemi, thank you! Darren is definitely an inspiration – he’s passionate about blogging, takes action and has been persistent, provides great value for the world, and as you mentioned, he’s spiritually grounded.
Mags | Woo-Woo Wisdoms last blog post..Row, Row, Row Your Boat… But Mind That Obstacle!
Mags,
Thank you. I was impressed with his spirituality, too.
So how did you land Darren as an interview guest, Akemi? Was it just a matter of having the courage to ask?
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..Don’t Label Me!
Hi Akemi – I love this interview. Darren has helped so many bloggers, me included. I didn’t even know what a blog was when I first found Problogger.
The point he makes about doing something you would happily do for free is so important. I never grasped that until recently and my mistake cost me a lot of time and money.
Hunter,
I’m glad you asked this.
Yes, it’s the art of asking. I explained the intention of this interview series and asked him to join.
Cath,
I read your post on your blogging “mistakes” and thought it was brilliant. It’s hard to honestly discuss our own mistakes. Kudos to you.
As everyone has said – great interview. I especially like Darren’s advice near the end – there are no get rich quick schemes. Success comes from consistent work over a long period of time.
Of course that’s incredibly irritating to hear because people tend to be instant gratification-oriented, but as Darren says, if you love what you do the work is enjoyable.
Cheers,
Alex
Alex Fayles last blog post..Commitment to Growth: Tina Su Interview
Hi Akemi,
What a wonderful interview. Darren’s is a blog I’ve read for a long time. I like how he turned a hobby into a business. He followed his passion, and it’s been successful for him. Others can easily do the same if they set their mind to it.
Alex,
Absolutely. What he had to say may sound like a common sense, but when it comes from someone who we know has succeeded wildly, it’s powerful, isn’t it?
Barbara,
I agree. And I like your success mindset.
Hi Akemi: I think Darren’s appeal is that he knows what he’s talking about, and at the same time he comes across as being a genuine, caring person. What a great interview!
Marelisa,
You are right! I’m glad I did this interview.
Darren is an inspiration to us all. He’s one individual that knows what he’s talking about.
[...] was interesting to learn that the famous Mr. ProBlogger started as a humble amateur geek. Of course, we all start from zero, but when we see someone successful, we often forget that. His [...]