As I begin writing this post, I’m sitting here on the couch in my family room. Macbook Pro on my lap. Spongebob Squarepants playing on the TV. And, a kid sitting on either side of me watching it. 
Not a bad way to kick things off. And, in a way, it is fairly representative of what my 2012 has looked like. Family and business. There hasn’t been a lot of room for much else.
A few highlights of 2012 include:
- I re-branded DavidRisley.com as the Blog Marketing Academy.
- The Inner Circle became the Academy.
- I closed down Blog Masters Club.
- I hired a new full-time VA.
- Privately, my family moved out of a 3500 sq. ft. home we were renting – one we realized was far too large for a family of 4 people – and reduced our footprint into a smaller home which we own. Something to be said about not getting more “stuff” just because you can.
- Did some reorganization over at PCMech.com.
- Began some reorganization within my business. (more on that in a bit)
So, its been a good year. Nothing ground-breaking or earth shattering, but I’m cool with that.
I have a more thorough private analysis of 2012 and 2013 goals sitting inside of Evernote. I intend to digest it down into a blog post and publish it soon – as much for my own benefit as for your’s.
But, for now, here’s a quick summary of what’s on the docket as the calendar flips into 2013 later tonight:
- I’m almost wrapped up with the conversion from Aweber to Office Autopilot. In fact, if you came to this post from an email, there’s a good chance that email came to you from OAP.
- I’m early in the process of changing my web hosting for all sites. Simply put, my needs have changed. And, while Pair Networks (my current host) is awesome, I’m overpaying for resources I don’t need right now. So, this is simply an expense reduction.
- Continuing to make my business systems more efficient. Historically, my biz expenses have been high, considering this is an online business. I’ve already made several changes that will reduce expenses substantially. But, aside from money, it is also about time. The end goal of a business like mine is LIFESTYLE. So, I’m spending a lot of attention on systems which create and deliver the core products of my business with as little time and expense as necessary. The new VA hire, the change to OAP… these are all part of this larger effort.
- In a few days, I’m flying out to Las Vegas for New Media Expo. I’ll be speaking on Sunday morning about the topic of blog monetization options.
- A few days after returning from Vegas, my wife and I are going on a cruise. Believe it or not, this is actually a business cruise. There will be a bunch of online marketers on this one. This year, I figured I’d give it a go and see what I think of the crowd and what I learn. Will report.
All that said…
I want to end off by wishing YOU the best in 2013.
I appreciate the HELL out of the fact that you’re here and that you’re a reader and/or subscriber to the Academy blog. Without you guys, I’d be another geek in a cubicle somewhere pushing code… rather than being able to sit here with my kids while I write a blog post.
Means alot. And, I love you all.
David has been blogging for 15 years, and generating a six-figure income at it for the last 12. He is the founder of Blog Marketing Academy. 
David Risley has been building and operating authority blogs for 15 years, and operating a six-figure business doing it for a decade.
Looking forward to the coming year with the Academy. While I signed up in November, I knew I wouldn’t be able to take action until 2013. Like you, ending the year with evaluations e.g. finances, finishing my year end tax calculations EARLY for submission to the accountant and basically positioning myself for 2013 feels real good.
The Academy plays an important role in getting my blog started from the ground up. I believe I may be the most junior in the group, with regards to even having a blog started, but you and the group seem to be a tolerant bunch of people. I’m thankful for that!
Happy New Year to everyone in the Academy . Especially to our faithful, geeky, non-cubicle bound, pushing code kind of family man and leader David Risley!
Hehe, you make the Academy seem like some kind of cult.
j/k
Anyway, thanks for being in there, and I look forward to working with you in 2013.
It’s been a busy and productive year for you, no doubt. Here’s wishing you an even better 2013!
Likewise, Michael.
As always Dave you’re working like a true business professional. : I wasn’t that far wrong when I described you as the God of Blogging.
Have a great New Year. Many blessings for 2013.
Haha…. thanks.
Hi David
Thanks for everything you’ve done this year for the rest of us, and I wish you and your family all the very best for a safe, fun, and happy New Year!
The Academy is my number one resource for helping me to sort out all the things I need to do to make my membership site a success, and I’m loving the 30-day blog transformation challenge as well. The effort you put into everything you do, and the sincerity behind it, is amazing – you are one of the “real” guys out there, and thank you for being such a great teacher with authenticity.
I’m looking forward to learning more in 2013, and especially enjoy the mastermind calls. So much so, that I’ve decided to implement something similar for my own members, so we’ll see how that goes.
Once again, thank you, have a great New Year, and here’s to a spectacular 2013!
You da best, man. Thanks.
Dear David,
You are one of the significant blessings of my 2012.
Thank you for your authenticity, passion and openness to take newbies like me where we dream of going.
I am IN for making 2013 a banner year of giving and growing professionally and personally.
Lots of love from my family to yours,
William
Thanks so much, William.
All the best to your family as well.
Glad I discovered you this year. You’re teaching me a lot of real information not just about blogging but about business and marketing too (which most courses and bloggers miss out).
One lesson your openess about your business does is to teach that business is not static, it runs along the course that best fits with its customers and with our strengths as business people to provide answers.
Your insights are useful and what you have to say about the different aspects of business is thought-provoking and often stretches minds to embrace real world truths rather than flimsy fads and copycat mantras.
You give solid foundation to beginners and those looking to grow further. In short, you really deliver on your tagline: “blogging for business simplified”.
Thanks David. All the best for 2013 to you and your family.
Tom
Thanks, Tom. And, awesome to see you say I deliver on the tagline. There was a lot of thought put into that tagline.
Way to go, David!
I’m so glad being here, being a part of it!
I was never wrong!
For 2013, I’m wishing you and everyone of us everything that spells S U C C E S S ! ! !
Always have enjoyed your unique, blunt, and straight forward approach to online business. I’ve enjoyed following your work for some while now and having gotten to know you personally through our many email conversations. Thanks for all you do. Hopefully we cross paths one of these days. All the best in the new year!
David – I’ve been following you since about ’09 and have learned a lot from you. I have also bought many courses and love your style. I return here regularly to learn and grow from what you share with everyone and from my family to yours I wish your 2013 is the best year for both blogging and business being simplified ever.
That tagline is damn good!
Keep rockin’ the blog!
As a content writer at a software company, I’ve been looking to your blog and email updates for blogging inspiration since I started working here. Now that software company is ONTRAPORT, or Office Autopilot’s parent company. So, how excited was I when my email that day said you were switching from AWeber to us? (You may have seen some excited Tweets to that effect.) Thanks for all you do for the blogging community, and I hope you find that our service systemizes your business so you can spend more time blogging with the kids.
Thanks so much.