Morning Folks!!
I have been saying since the spring when things were the darkest that 2014 was going to be a great year. I think most can see that we have turned the corner in the economy. Not for the average man on the street. But business is back and it is only a matter of time before things improve for those that know what opportunity looks like and doesn't look like.
It was 30 years ago, in 1984 that I went into business for the first time by myself. This after being fired from the job I loved and had been doing for over 10 years. That was a very hard breakup. Took me a while to get over it. I told them, "I could follow a leader but I could not follow an asshole." Termination letter to follow.
See they hired some pipe smoking know-it-all after I took them from obscurity to $12 Million/year with warehouses in key regions, showrooms at the major markets and growing at a rapid pace. But they wanted even more even tho they were doing so well.
Something I brought to the attention of the owners before he was even hired was the fact that here is a guy 55 with a great resume that never held a job more than 2-3 years. I saw it as a red flag. They just laughed at me. Bad move guys. That moron led them right out of business in less than 2 years. A rapid pace in the wrong direction.
So April 1984 was the last time I worked for anyone else but myself. And by May 1984 I was in business. I still remember my first trip to Asia by myself several years later. I was second guessing my decision even driving to the airport. $10,000 was the cost of that trip. $10,000 that I did not have. 8 mortgage payments. All on a credit card.
And then something quite miraculous happened. As I got off the exit to the airport I found myself sitting right next to a truck from that company that fired me. The company's name was faded away as they went out of business a while before that. But like an old u-haul now being used privately, that baby was there and it was like a guiding light. What were the chances?
That doubt left my body and was replaced with something quite euphoric and I have never looked back since then. My life completely changed after that moment. To this moment and beyond. I went from being timid and scared to being Rocky on top of those steps during that 2 week trip.
I learned about business from going to 55 different industry tradeshow. Different industries, different, people, different companies, but almost all the same. But it has been 25 years since I stopped doing the "Show circuit" until......2004. Shortly after my sale of men.com for $1.32 million that helped give some credibility to domains and their resale values and TRAFFIC was born.
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. will turn 10 years old in October. Guess we have to have a HUGE party at the Fontainebleau to celebrate! Come one, come all.
Next Thursday begins year #19 for me doing this. Quite a ride! And there is not a doubt in my mind that the best is yet to come. Not a one. So 2014 will also be the eve of my 20th year since registering my first domain. It just gets more exciting each and every day from here as whatever I saw then is still fully on track for that specific time and date.
The 5 year anniversary of the stock market lows of 2009 and we open 2014, at a record high. 2014 is set to be a stunner of a year. Easily the best year since 2007. Not for all regions. Folks are on the move. It is visible down here in Florida. I have never seen so many people fleeing the high tax states and relocating to Florida and making it their primary residence. They did the math. They can live GOOD here for FREE just with the tax money they save. They have no choice.
I think there are one or 2 more Anniversary's but not for today.
So as we all wind down for the year, just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year's and the most wonderful 2014 you can possibly imagine, create and have.
To your Health!! Cheers!
Rick Schwartz
Donna Mahony
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you and your family Rick.
Rick Schwartz
Thanks Donna. You and yours too!!
Merry Christmas!!
BullS
As I said in my previous posts, the Market hits the 16K and it is a great $$$$$$ year for ME and best of all, more $$$$$$$ to come.
With $$$$$ I can buy any damn domain I want and live anywhere I want.
Cheers to you all!!!.
I have been traveling for the last 2 wks and I can see people are spending money, more cheerful and the aroma of confidence.
Harry L Shields
Have a glorious holiday and a happy new year! Onward and upward in 2014!
Anthony
Rick, Hollywood calling? …. your story should be on the Big Screen… now, whom shall be cast as The Domain King?
Jeff Schneider
Hello Rick,
It has been quite a journey for us all. Congratulations on manifesting the life you deserve. Its comforting to be on the right side of the equation. Cheers, Good Health and Peace on Earth.
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
leon
“I took them from obscurity to $12 Million/year.”
That’s like $50 Million in 2013 money. WOW!
Happy Holidays.
Jeff Schneider
Hello Rick,
You in our opinion have earned the #1 Marketing Strategist Award year over year since our team has followed you. For close to a decade you have not missed a single years Top Spot by recommending :
The Worlds #1 performing Asset Class Group = (.COM Franchise Addresses )
Congratulations on your truly Visionary Successes !
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
Kevin Davis
Your stories are great and the pick me up I needed today.Peace and kindness and Happy Holidays Rick,K
Martin
2014 is either THE SHOCK POINT in the process for sure Rick. Seems the elites have something big planned. I aint so sure its gunna be good though. All I see is a Hall of Mirrors and no real economy. Lets see how this plays out.
NEIL
King,
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is stronger, every year. Do not give up!
How do I know? eTRAFFIC.me is growing in clicks like a flower in spring…
Kind regards, Neil
NEIL
Rick,
Happy-Holidays.me to You, Family, Friends, and all your exquisite blogs’s clicking Visitors!
Neil
Tony Sheehy
Rick,
All the best to you this holiday season, and good luck in 2014. It will be different this year for you, but I hope you can still enjoy it and have a nice time with your family. Thank you for your inspiring and amusing commentaries all through these years. I still remember coming across your legendary erealestate.com website for the first time in 2003! I can’t say that about too many other websites I’ve visited! You could easily have stayed in the shadows, like others, but you’ve given a lot of hope and pleasure and knowledge to many by sharing your thoughts on this blog and elsewhere.
Thank.You
Tony.
Jeroen
Rick, Happy holidays and all the best for 2014!
UFO
I actually think this industry is going backwards, I see more and more seriously unethical and protentially CRIMMINAL behaviour.
Take the registration of IRACURRY.COM which is based on someones personal name and arises out of public media re some lottery winnings etc.
Well, perhaps someone will contact IRA CURRY and show her the US Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), which makes registrations like this basically criminal with a potential 100k fine per registration.
If I am wrong, please tell me how.
Arnie K.
Have a great holiday Rick. Have been a follower for many years after I found you.
Your advice has always been spot on. keep up the great work.
Lifa Nati
Hi Rick , Since I found interest in your Domainsherpa videos , I have been reading your blogs like my morning drug and I must say, it’s been refreshing. You born to do this. Happy Holidays to you and those who matter .
Jeff Schneider
For those seeking a happy 2014 :
The key to utilizing the gTLDs is to first own a .COM Profit Center for their Traffic to Aggregate to. Those who sense this key nuance will truly profit from their introduction.
Winners in gTLD experiment = Well Branded .COM Franchise owners who leverage traffic to their sites with .brand closed gTLDs
Losers in gTLD experiment = Small businesses and speculators who buy the generic gTLDs
We cannot make this any clearer. JAS 12/22/13
Gratefully, Jeff Schneider (Contact Group) (Metal Tiger)
Dallen
Hi Rick
Your words of wisdom are a true inspiration. Keep up the good work.
Cheers.
Omar
Happy Holidays Rick,
I’m looking forward to 2014…I really appreciate your writings, and your all of your comments on the DomainSherpa show…it’s refreshing to see “Wisdom” in action.
Happy New Year
mike
Thanks a lot, Rick… This is my turn to wish you, and your loved, ones happy holidays and a wonderful New Year 2014. Let’s keep the good work.
Best regards,
Mike
Bill W
@Schneider
Most of the new .gTLDs (keyword in .com) are probably already developed and in use or so far out of price range as most are A list key words. So if you own the .com and you ponied up $175k for the gtld more power to you.
Perhaps the best hope for the gTLDs is to use links that potential customers can “click” on to put them there as they almost certainly will not get type in traffic. The big players like google. amazon, and apple have massive reach to consumers already in place, and may be successful by marketing thru their existing channels again by providing incentives to “click” and not necessarily even telling customers to what url they will end up on. Interesting times ahead, but IMO .com will not be knocked off its thrown any time soon.
Andrea Paladini
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Rick!
Altaf
Hello Rick,
Wish you , Alina & your lovely family and the Rick’s Team a very Happy Holiday, Mary Christmas, Season’s Greeting and lots of wishes for the New & prosperous 2014.
Best Regards,
Altaf & Lucy
Jonathan L
Rick,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas. Your tenacious and astute exchanges are inspirational to many…. on a personal note, I know this is an especially challenging season for you – with the recent loss of your mom….. I wish you peace of mind, enjoyment and a new year that embraces all the things in life that are important to you.
john zhou
Happy new year everyone!
NEIL
DotComKingdom.com to become in 2014 stronger than ever!
I’ve almost forgotten,
HappyBoxingDay.com for Canada!
Happy New Year to everyone!
NEIL
Rick,
A domain name for your former impostor-jerk-boss: fuhgeddaboudit.org
Probably many of your readers invest in domain names to escape from this kind of creatures…
Altaf
@leon: more details,appreciated ps.