Take That Risk (#1)

2008 was a transformational year in my life. That was the year when I took the biggest risk I had ever taken. 

I was working in a call center, living paycheck to paycheck. My family was dependent on me and we didn’t have enough money. 

I had been researching on this new thing called blogging and making money on the internet. 

Mind you, it was 2008. The phrase ‘making money online’ didn’t exist. iPhone hadn’t arrived in India, smartphones didn’t exist, high-speed internet at low prices didn’t exist … the world was very different, at least for us here in India. 

I had this belief that I could do something on my own if I had the time. I could start a blog and make money in one way or another, or do something else, but it had to be online. 

But how do I get the ‘time’? 

I was able to research and learn while taking calls, but creating something requires more time. And call center hours plus the long cab drives were very very exhausting. 

Also, not to forget the graveyard shifts. From 10 PM to 10 AM, it was just crazy. 

In April 2008, with the encouragement from my mother, I decided to take the plunge. She told me that if you want to do it then do it, don’t overthink it, we’ll manage.  

I quit my job. 

It was a risk. Our savings were minimal. And jobs don’t come easy. 

It was beyond my comfort zone. 

But leap of faith is what you need to take sometimes. That’s what brings about the transformation that you so hope for in your life. 

I started a blog, it worked out okay initially but didn’t make enough money. I immediately decided to approach big websites around the world for content writing. I was hired as a freelance writer and for 2 years I did that before starting my own site called Guiding Tech. And then, for the next decade I built it out into a site that attracted millions of visitors, plus Youtube channels with millions of subscribers. The GT brand became a hallmark of authentic and high-quality tech content in India and around the world. 

In 2020, I sold Guiding Tech to a US-based media company for an amount that made sure that I don’t have to worry about money for a long long time. 

Sometimes, you just need to believe in yourself and take that risk. The path may have obstacles and it may not work out exactly as you imagine, but you will figure it out.