Dropping Adsense - Saying Goodbye to $100K Per Year in Easy Income (Blog)

[Tim White]

I hadn't noticed the Page Rank drop, but checked it out and, yep, it's a 3. Really, really strange that it would drop from a 6 all the way that far.

There's still a lot of high PR sites linking:
http://www.seotoolset.com/cgi-bin/li...evepavlina.com

@Steve - One of my favorite things about you (and Erin) in your blogs is that you are transparent. It's so refreshing.

One suggestion on being even more transparent if I may...

You might mention to the reader in your blog posts that you are affiliating and get paid when someone makes a purchase. Like in your most recent posting:

Raw Food Weight Loss Program

It might be overkill for people like me who have read your other posts about how you make money with your site (minus Adsense), but IMHO it would give you 100% transparency.

Just a thought.

Best,
Tim

[A.K.Light]

I can totally see why making a move like this would be stimulating and fun. I do the same thing, just on a much...MUCH... smaller scale financially.

Keep it up, Steve. Keep showing people that we don't have to pursue everyone else's dreams.

[DAveNJ]

Steve,

I really loved your recent blog post. Thank you for taking the courage to fly in the face of the daily pressures from everywhere that we all need more money. I am surprised adsense generates that much income too. I never ever click on those things on any site I visit.

You are a great inspiration to us and it now makes the messages on this site and in your book even stronger to me. With this move, you are a "made" man with me.

I loved your book, but I was not sure I believed some of the text where you wrote that specific amounts of money goals were now boring to you. Now you are really "walking the talk". Now I am studying your book like a textbook.

All the best to you. Thanks for your great example.

Dave

[Sam988]

Wow i'm impressed. Congrats for the courage, if nothing else (from my POV i would never do this).

[missing]

another thing separating Steve from the PD pack; he puts his money where his mouth is. Or maybe you could say he puts his money in his mouth and gobbles it up into nothingness, hoping to learn from the new digestive process swallowing money entails. As long as it's eaten raw, it should be ok.

[Erin Pavlina]

Erin is okay with the income downturn.

Neither Steve nor I are motivated by money, though we are open to receiving the flow of money to compensate us for the value of our work. But before we consider the monetary aspect we always check to see if something we do is in alignment with our goals, our purpose, mission, etc. Like Steve has mentioned before on his blogs, he could have thrown up all kinds of product recommendations (he gets so many in the mail) but he only recommends the ones he truly believes in. So right there we've been "denying" ourselves income because the source of that income would violate a higher value, that of integrity, honor, purpose, etc.

It's also true that when you remove something old, you make way for something new. Instead of relying on, and falling back on, this income, new income streams will fill the gap. Which is great, because if our income goes back up again it means we're offering something of value to others.

[ellie]

I think it's wonderful! I know you wont have to worry about the drop $$$ because now a new and better door will open for sure, that aligns more with your principles.

I tell you what the more you talk about raw Steve the more I am thinking about it. I can really see it's making a difference with your alignment or "oneness" and it gets me really excited. It seems like a really great shift.

[catalyst]

Hi Steve,

I admire that you walk the talk. It's refreshing to see people in the personal development space that are so genuine.

ps. I was browsing the local bookstore today and saw your book. Of course, I picked it up.

[Amalgam]

I envy you. I make $60 a fortnight and here you are willingly throwing away thousands of dollars... You're crazy I'll give you that. Well Steve, I guess I'll take my time to thankyou and let you know that you've propbably changed my life forever in more ways then you can imagine. Who knows, maybe In a few years I'll be in a position to willingly let go of thousands of dollars.










..... I still think you're absolutely insane.

[Scorpio]

Steve;

You said one of the benefits of getting rid of the ads was that it made the site look cleaner and less cluttered.

Another way you could tidy it up a bit would be to replace all those RSS subscription buttons with a single neat one. A lot of blogs just use that graphic of an orange square with the wi-fi signal symbol inside it.

[24evita]

My first thought about Steve and this article was wow that money could have been given away to charity or something.

BUT as I read on I realized, no way, what Steve is doing is right, why support people, ads and corporations that do not resonate with oneself or do not make the world a better place - I know that is how I live and will continue to. (although for now I still have and use adsense, I look forward to the day when I can do the same thing Steve did)

Sometimes - money just isn't everything.

As for the site it does look cleaner and neater, but I was wondering too Steve if a new design template is also in the works for your site? I think now, that you are a published author and a respected speaker and consultant, a site look that represents the next or "new" version of you would be a great asset. I and I am sure many others would really look forward to seeing a change like that

[Savage]

Several people suggested keeping Adsense and donating the money to charity. I won't do that. It's an "ends justify the means" mindset and feels totally wrong to me. If I was going to do that, I might as well go all the way and become an eco-terrorist or something along those lines. I want to continue to raise my standards, and restoring Adsense ads would be a step in the wrong direction.

I have to shed this fully in order to create the space for something better.

[cinnabar]

another thing separating Steve from the PD pack; he puts his money where his mouth is. Or maybe you could say he puts his money in his mouth and gobbles it up into nothingness, hoping to learn from the new digestive process swallowing money entails. As long as it's eaten raw, it should be ok.

Missing, that was awesome. I'm just cruising along here, reading... then I come to this bit and bust out laughing so hard I mess up my headphones.

Steve! Awesome move, and I do mean awe-inspiring. Just one more way of being that much more genuine and in alignment with love. er... Love Truth and Power, I mean.

[Trezker]

Actually, by removing the ads he is removing 100k worth of suffering from the world. Those ads were doing harm by leading weak people to bad products. I imagine the ripple effects of this decision is significant too.

[Rudolf]

Great move Steve! One or two years ago I would not understand why you willingly gave up all the money. I would probably argue that money is power and you could use this power to do some good. Since I have been infected, in a very positive way , by your truly inspirational blog and works of other personal development enthusiasts, I see things a bit differently now. By aligning yourself even more with key principles and values you are unleashing potential for much more than $100k a year. The real value doesn't have to necessarily be manifested in lots of zeros.

And another thing.. those big square banner ads were irritating sometimes and in contrast to the great content you provide. Thanks!

[missing]

Originally Posted by cinnabar

Missing, that was awesome. I'm just cruising along here, reading... then I come to this bit and bust out laughing so hard I mess up my headphones.

well i must say, I'm pretty psyched that my attempt to inject a small shot of absurd humor between my normal weightiness got through to somebody.

I guess Steve's decision to drop adsense has already begun to reverberate in unexpected ways!

[spirit4711]

Well, you do put your money where your mouth is. Kudoes! It's one thing to say you let go of money, another to follow through by your behaviour.

Thanks for your inspiration!

[missing]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

Well, you do put your money where your mouth is. Kudoes! It's one thing to say you let go of money, another to follow through by your behaviour.

Thanks for your inspiration!

I agree; actions speak much louder than words. While it's true Steve has some great words, the action of giving up so much easy income in the name of truth is one of the most inspiring things I've seen in a while, particularly coming from a field (personal development) that often leaves me jaded with all price gouging that sometimes occurs (even amongst those who offer quality stuff, like Tony Robbins).

[Rudolf]

Originally Posted by missing

I agree; actions speak much louder than words. While it's true Steve has some great words, the action of giving up so much easy income in the name of truth is one of the most inspiring things I've seen in a while, particularly coming from a field (personal development) that often leaves me jaded with all price gouging that sometimes occurs (even amongst those who offer quality stuff, like Tony Robbins).

Many people out there teach or talk about what is important but when it comes to real life decisions they do not follow. We are only human and sometimes it is hard to do the right thing with our principles in mind. What makes the scales tip in the right direction for me is inspiration from other people (like Steve) who do their best. It definitely helps to see good examples around and I just love the fact that there are so many good role models to pick from.

[tricycle]

Steve,

Out of all the things I have heard you say and do, this is the one that impresses me the most. It shows a real willingness and courage to do what you believe is the right thing.

[eruso]

I really admire you for this.

[Amandaaa]

This was such a ballsy thing to do... but I love how authentic Steve is. He's truer to himself than anyone else I've ever met... which is probably why we all admire him so much.