dutchie said:
Go JoeBlow
(No bias here)
Any thoughts how long your going to do this Forum thing?
In the future you may look back at 1000 posts as chicken feed.
Hi Dutchie,
It's difficult to say but I'd like to think that I'll be doing it as long as I can. ASF certainly has changed quite a bit since I first started it in May 2004. Back then I was lucky to get 10 or 15 visitors a day, while these days ASF gets about 1000 visitors a day, most of them unregistered. As the costs of running ASF have increased I have tried to generate revenue by various means to keep the site afloat and just recently ASF has turned from a loss making enterprise into one that can pay its bills.
However, the real issue these days is time. As the member base has increased and the amount of posts per day has increased I have been finding that the amount of time I spend overseeing the forums (and with administrative tasks) has dramatically increased. It's a delicate balance and I am hopeful that one day soon I may be able to derive a part-time income from ASF and downsize my other commitments (the ones that generate me a full-time income).
As you (and others) may have noticed I have now partnered with Moneybags and have an online investment shop where ASF visitors can now purchase stockmarket related books and software. Any purchase made through the links on ASF will help to support the site, and possibly create part-time employment for me. I can't imagine how busy this place is going to be in another 12 months, so I am really trying to prepare for ASF's future and ensure that I can make it a long term proposition. I like what we've all created here and I want to keep it running... and I am grateful for any support members and visitors can offer.
So yes, hopefully 1000 posts will be chicken feed... as I'm certainly not going to give up without a fight. I like running ASF. Seeing it grow and mature gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I am quite proud of what it has become and in a sense it is my greatest accomplishment. The positive feedback from members keeps me motivated and focused. It is a lot of work but I am hopeful that ASF has a bright future... and I'd like to think that all of you out there will come along for the ride.
P.S. Thanks again for the birthday beers... they went down nicely in this hot Queensland weather! :drink: