The End of an Era - WickedFire - Affiliate Marketing Forum

Jon · 08-01-2008, 03:10 PM

I figured posting this note on WickedFire would be the appropriate place. The place where I started the second part of my career, and now, the place where I'm going to be ending it.

I've decided to finally do what's in my best interest for my personal, social, and business life, and let everyone know that I am leaving the affiliate marketing industry.

This is something I've spent a long time mulling over. When times were good, I would stuff it away or shrug it off. When times were bad, it would resurface it's ugly face.

Most of all, I am just tired.
Tired of the drama.
Tired of the rumors.
Tired of the fake people.
Tired of the lies.
Tired of being the only one fighting.
Just tired of all the bullshit and bad stuff.

There is a quote from the movie "American History X" in which the main character was asked a simple yet life changing question during a time when he was feeling hurt and confused for the first time in his life about something he was taught and told was the right way to go. After focusing on it, he realized fairly quickly that the answer really was just that simple. And he changed his ways and everyone lived happily ever after... Well sorta. But without being overdramatic, that question is something I thought long and hard about, and the answer was right there in front of me.

"Has anything you've done, made your life better?" -- My answer is no.

Sure, its been one hell of an experience. I've learned SO much about people and politics over the last two years. I've seen friends come and go. I feel as if I've made both a positive and negative impact on an industry I have been involved with for fourteen long years now. But at the end of the day... has any of this truly made MY life better? Not at all. If anything, it made it more complicated. I'm now more paranoid and cautious than ever. I have more stress in my life than ever before. I stopped focusing on what I had spent years being so good at doing, and started to do this thing called "caring for others" in which as strange as it sounds, I'm not cut out for!

So with this letter to everyone. I bid you all farewell.

Its still likely that I will show up for these last two conferences (Denver and Boston) to sort of say my goodbyes. I'm forgiving everyone right now.

All I ask is that in return, that none of you question my decision, but respect it. No advice, no "what do you think of.." questions. No phone calls, IM's or emails of any sort.

I love WickedFire, and its people and what it stands for, so by leaving it in the hands of a very few bunch of trusted and loyal friends, I think it will truly be destined for the greatness it deserves. I hope that they continue to run it with the same goals and plans that I had evinisioned for it two years ago, and stayed true to it's cause.

And with that.. I say farewell my friends. Its been an honor and a pleasure to have spent this time meeting and getting to know all of you, and I will cherish it forever..

-- In true Jon spirit...
Have a great fucking time, and don't take shit from anyone!

ChrisS · 08-01-2008, 03:14 PM

I totally respect your decision. But are you really sure you don't just need a good long vacation?

Jon · 08-01-2008, 03:16 PM

Yep. Its final.

Dullspace · 08-01-2008, 03:17 PM

Domainers.

-Matt- · 08-01-2008, 03:20 PM

Sorry to hear that you're leaving the industry.

Does this mean that you're going to leave WF, too? I know you said you were going to leave WF in the hands of some trusted people, but are you going to post here anymore?

nachoninja · 08-01-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dullspace

Domainers.

lolz

and good luck with everything else!

elime · 08-01-2008, 03:26 PM

I think you made a bigger, better impact than you give yourself credit for, Jon. Hell, look at this place! Thanks for everything. Do what's right for yourself and good luck.

turbolapp · 08-01-2008, 03:27 PM

Whatever you need to do, you gotta do.

So what are you going to be doing now?

Bofu2U · 08-01-2008, 03:35 PM

Oh fuck.

Well.. Jon I hope you find what you're after man, even if it's just peace and quiet!

GL bro.

m0rtal · 08-01-2008, 03:49 PM

All the best man, gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for a great forum and everything else you've done for the industry.

engaged · 08-01-2008, 03:52 PM

What happens to domains.org?

coglethorpe · 08-01-2008, 03:54 PM

I can't say I know you or anyone on this board very well, but I do appreciate this board a hell of a lot. Thanks for what you've done here and best wishes.

ConceptualMind · 08-01-2008, 04:01 PM

Does this mean someone bought WF for $16MM and you're stepping out?

nachoninja · 08-01-2008, 04:04 PM

I'm still waiting for someone to call out linkbait....

Jizzlobber · 08-01-2008, 04:06 PM

Can I have your parking spot?

Jon · 08-01-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbolapp

Whatever you need to do, you gotta do.

So what are you going to be doing now?

I agreed to finish my consulting gig to a gov agency and a security contractor firm.

I'm absolutely fascinated by the power of psychology on a large scale. I'm even more drawn in by harnessing those powers and applying them through unchartered channels on the internet.

The overall result is that I want to apply my more radical theories of longterm and larger scale "thinking/idea branding" via the internet.

I'm staying with the internet because its what I know best and the stuff I'm working on for it has never been done by anyone before. The challenge of being able to accomplish something on such a broad spectrum before anyone else has been a real dream of mine since. It just took a while to realize WHAT I wanted to do with myself that would make ME happy.

This industry is a polar opposite of what I'd like to do in the next chapter of my career. All of the internet marketing that everyone here focuses on is too short lived. Its more "quick flip/short sale" friendly. There's far too much "footprinting and in-depth tracking" going on. Sometimes trying to track everything and keep score on every cent spent and earned will do more harm in the longrun than good. I'd like to be the one to prove that with my ideas and plans.

Bofu2U · 08-01-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

I agreed to finish my consulting gig to a gov agency and a security contractor firm.

I'm absolutely fascinated by the power of psychology on a large scale. I'm even more drawn in by harnessing those powers and applying them through unchartered channels on the internet.

The overall result is that I want to apply my more radical theories of longterm and larger scale "thinking/idea branding" via the internet.

I'm staying with the internet because its what I know best and the stuff I'm working on for it has never been done by anyone before. The challenge of being able to accomplish something on such a broad spectrum before anyone else has been a real dream of mine since. It just took a while to realize WHAT I wanted to do with myself that would make ME happy.

This industry is a polar opposite of what I'd like to do in the next chapter of my career. All of the internet marketing that everyone here focuses on is too short lived. Its more "quick flip/short sale" friendly. There's far too much "footprinting and in-depth tracking" going on. Sometimes trying to track everything and keep score on every cent spent and earned will do more harm in the longrun than good. I'd like to be the one to prove that with my ideas and plans.

You do it man.

08-01-2008, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 7,567	The End of an Era I figured posting this note on WickedFire would be the appropriate place. The place where I started the second part of my career, and now, the place where I'm going to be ending it. I've decided to finally do what's in my best interest for my personal, social, and business life, and let everyone know that I am leaving the affiliate marketing industry. This is something I've spent a long time mulling over. When times were good, I would stuff it away or shrug it off. When times were bad, it would resurface it's ugly face. Most of all, I am just tired. Tired of the drama. Tired of the rumors. Tired of the fake people. Tired of the lies. Tired of being the only one fighting. Just tired of all the bullshit and bad stuff. There is a quote from the movie "American History X" in which the main character was asked a simple yet life changing question during a time when he was feeling hurt and confused for the first time in his life about something he was taught and told was the right way to go. After focusing on it, he realized fairly quickly that the answer really was just that simple. And he changed his ways and everyone lived happily ever after... Well sorta. But without being overdramatic, that question is something I thought long and hard about, and the answer was right there in front of me. "Has anything you've done, made your life better?" -- My answer is no. Sure, its been one hell of an experience. I've learned SO much about people and politics over the last two years. I've seen friends come and go. I feel as if I've made both a positive and negative impact on an industry I have been involved with for fourteen long years now. But at the end of the day... has any of this truly made MY life better? Not at all. If anything, it made it more complicated. I'm now more paranoid and cautious than ever. I have more stress in my life than ever before. I stopped focusing on what I had spent years being so good at doing, and started to do this thing called "caring for others" in which as strange as it sounds, I'm not cut out for! So with this letter to everyone. I bid you all farewell. Its still likely that I will show up for these last two conferences (Denver and Boston) to sort of say my goodbyes. I'm forgiving everyone right now. All I ask is that in return, that none of you question my decision, but respect it. No advice, no "what do you think of.." questions. No phone calls, IM's or emails of any sort. I love WickedFire, and its people and what it stands for, so by leaving it in the hands of a very few bunch of trusted and loyal friends, I think it will truly be destined for the greatness it deserves. I hope that they continue to run it with the same goals and plans that I had evinisioned for it two years ago, and stayed true to it's cause. And with that.. I say farewell my friends. Its been an honor and a pleasure to have spent this time meeting and getting to know all of you, and I will cherish it forever.. -- In true Jon spirit... Have a great fucking time, and don't take shit from anyone! __________________ There's someone in my head... but its not me. Skittles - Taste the rainbow... in jail. The Best in shamwow PPC

08-01-2008, 03:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChrisS Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,511	I totally respect your decision. But are you really sure you don't just need a good long vacation? __________________ If you haven’t joined Ads4Dough...Your son may be mentally challenged.

08-01-2008, 03:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 7,567	Yep. Its final. __________________ There's someone in my head... but its not me. Skittles - Taste the rainbow... in jail. The Best in shamwow PPC

08-01-2008, 03:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
elime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 768	I think you made a bigger, better impact than you give yourself credit for, Jon. Hell, look at this place! Thanks for everything. Do what's right for yourself and good luck. __________________ Hosting: Hostgator ¤ Domains: Namecheap \| Moniker

08-01-2008, 03:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
turbolapp Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston, TexASS Posts: 2,932	Whatever you need to do, you gotta do. So what are you going to be doing now? __________________ So your earnings methods are slighty shady. Stop worrying about being dropped from your network and go with a network that's actually owned by a black hat. Makes sense, doesn't it?

08-01-2008, 03:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dullspace Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 331	Domainers.

08-01-2008, 03:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bofu2U if($profit){replicate();} Join Date: May 2007 Location: Towson, MD Posts: 2,166	Oh fuck. Well.. Jon I hope you find what you're after man, even if it's just peace and quiet! GL bro. __________________ Contempt - Where I put my BlackHat Ramblings ... I make residual income from my FAILING CPA Content sites with LinkXL. "i’m peacin out, i hope ya laughin at this rap thing now hook a brother up with a mother fuckin back link!"

08-01-2008, 03:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
m0rtal King of the Jungle Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 796	All the best man, gotta do what you gotta do. Thanks for a great forum and everything else you've done for the industry. __________________ twinkle twinkle little star

08-01-2008, 03:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
engaged I can get it juicy for ya Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,486	What happens to domains.org?

08-01-2008, 03:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
coglethorpe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 330	I can't say I know you or anyone on this board very well, but I do appreciate this board a hell of a lot. Thanks for what you've done here and best wishes.

08-01-2008, 04:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
ConceptualMind Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 369	Does this mean someone bought WF for $16MM and you're stepping out?

08-01-2008, 04:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
nachoninja Love the dog Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fleshlightville Posts: 3,266	I'm still waiting for someone to call out linkbait.... __________________ Copeac is King

08-01-2008, 04:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Jizzlobber Feed me...or eat me! Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 684	Can I have your parking spot? __________________