About Matt Jones
Wow, I have my very own website! Admittedly it is just a blog at the moment but hopefully there is a lot more to come!
I am far from the stereotypical internet entrepreneur. I used to be in the Royal Navy, and after leaving, was made redundant in December 2008. As I write this in June 2009, I am still out of work. I came across Nicola Cairncross of the Money Gym a few months ago after watching her presentation at a ‘wealth creation’ seminar. There were a lot of speakers there, all covering different subjects such as property and the stock market. Nicola’s subject was generating an income online. Her argument was that anyone could do it, and with a subject that they love! She offered teaching and support in getting a website up and running, at a price.
I certainly didn’t rush to put the money in her hand. I didn’t really have it, for a start. But I wasn’t having any luck in the job market, and I had a mortgage and a family which was due a new member in a month’s time! As I thought about the position in which I found myself and my family, I began to believe that there had to be something more to life. That the opportunity to be my own boss and shape my own destiny was one that I must take seriously. Of course, there is no way that this was ever going to happen overnight, and there were certainly no guarantees on offer that day, but nevertheless I felt that I had to do something to take the first step along that road.
I discussed it with my wife and she agreed. Desperate times called for desperate measures! We agreed that I had to pick one thing and focus on it as much as possible. Why did I choose Nicola’s path first? I suppose I just liked her presentation, but I also thought that it would be easiest to find that focus with something that I already knew about and was passionate about, although I didn’t know what that was going to be yet. I’m still not even halfway there yet, but you’ve got to try haven’t you?
The decision on the subject came about very simply during our first conversation as Nicola explained that the first step in building a website is usually a blog. Was there anything that I could think of that I was passionate about, and wouldn’t run out of enthusiasm for? I answered, almost jokingly, ‘Portsmouth Football Club’ and waited for her to laugh but she merely remarked that it seemed like a good idea.
So, here I am working away at it! I have really enjoyed writing the blog so far, and the idea is that after it is established, I gradually add more and more content to the site so that eventually the content becomes worth a monthly subscription, and I can also generate income by selling merchandise. I have found it difficult at times so far to distinguish between work and what I would normally do for fun!
The feedback I have had from other football loving friends and family is that they would be willing to pay a monthly subscription for the right site and content, but I would love to receive other comments on any aspect of the project from interested observers and visitors to my site!
I will keep you up to date with my progress here, as well as the football! Play Up Pompey!