I didn’t disappear, I just decided to take a break while traveling so that I could give myself a chance to look at my blog with fresh eyes. I truly enjoy blogging, but need to be honest and say that from time to time I like to: take breaks, reimagine why I continue to blog, and connect with the original goals that I set for myself when I first started my blogging journey.
Debt Freedom
And, sadly, I’m not there yet. In fact, I’m not even close to being debt free, and that is something that I’m looking to focus on with crazy intensity beginning…now! I began my current blogging journey after attending an amazing event in 2012 called FinCon it was held in Denver and I accidentally discovered that it would be in town literally 2 weeks before the event. It was a sign and I decided to attend.
What’s FinCon?
Well, it has evolved quite a bit from that small conference being held in Denver during its second year of existence. If you were to ask me what it was then I would have answered that it was a conference for personal finance bloggers.
If you were to ask me now what FinCon is I would currently say that it is a conference for people involved in all aspects of finances.
Below is a list of examples of what I mean.
- Bloggers: Too many to list
- Websites: The Penny Hoarder and Savings.com (just to name a few)
- Banks and Credit Unions: Ally and Penfed (just to name a few)
- FinTech (apps): Tips and Haven (just to name a few)
- Service providers such as: ConvertKit, Sumome, and CJ Affiliates (just to name a few)
I’m left wondering if this evolution is a good or bad thing? And, I think that in some respects it’s a little of both. I’m very fortunate that I began attending FinCon in its infancy. I have long-standing and deep connections with some amazing people who have worked hard on their financial lives and made it to “the other side.”
I’ve been emotionally inspired and fired up after reading how people dug deep and reached their goals. I’ve also read harsh posts from other people in the community who called people out about the mistakes that they felt those people were making on their personal financial journey.
I’m able to email, call, Facebook message people, and ask them for advice, encouragement, and ideas as I continue my financial journey. It wasn’t until I read my friend Tonya’s post that there was something missing from this year’s FinCon: voice, stories, and geeky money talk.
It’s not that FinCon that has lost its voice it’s the same conference it has just gotten bigger. I’m finding that there are more and more bloggers who’ve entered the space from the angle of making money with their blogs and I found myself missing hearing the stories of the different people who attend the conference.
Where Did Your Stories Go?
I love the stories of people who triumphed over their debt, retired early, became parents and work from home to be with the kiddos. I love the stories of people who saved a ton of money and helped their family or friends overcome a difficult financial situation.
I actually wrote a post about this earlier this year: The Business of Blogging the Muting of Our Creative Voices. I wrote that post because I had noticed a change from the blogging community and how people are blogging about money.
It’s gotten boring.
I don’t care if you: vlog, write, or produce podcasts. I do care that you share YOU. I met a lot of you in person and you’re wonderful! I get that you’ve discovered a potential way to grow income and I don’t blame you for rocking it! I plan on doing that too. But, I would love to see a less clinical and formulaic approach towards blogging. In fact, I find podcasting to be a lot more engaging and enjoy the websites that incorporate both.
The stories were what initially captivated me when I began blogging. I felt like I knew you, your concerns, and your struggles, and recently I find that people are forgetting to include themselves in their blogs.
While I love the business aspects of blogging and want you to make your money…I want to know who you are in the process.
FinCon16
I loved it! But, I did take a look at my email correspondence from the past 5 years before writing this post and I also looked at the FinCon publication to see what the sessions were and what we were doing.
We were doing the same thing! But, we were talking about money all of the time.
- Saving money
- Making money
- How money made us feel
- Mistakes with money
In fact, I didn’t notice the change in conversation until I read my friend Tonya’s (Budget and the Beach) post yesterday recapping her experience. I don’t think FinCon has changed…but the attendees definitely have changed and that is a result of people:
- Paying off debt
- Getting better jobs
- Changing their mindsets
- Making epic money off their blogging efforts
And, new people being attracted to the personal finance space because of the successes that they’ve seen other people experience. The thing is none of those successes are overnight successes.
I’ve watched a number of successful FinConers work like dogs for years to get their 5-year overnight success. There are a lot of newbies who may feel that the story isn’t important. But, it is. Because when the next Pinterest, Twitter, or Instagram algorithm change happens what’s going to get people to keep coming back to you? What will bring them back for more?
Your Story.
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I love this post Michelle. I was not lucky enough to attend FinCon in its infancy, but just in the past two years and even then I have noticed a huge difference, and I definitely see the pros and cons. Thank you for being so honest.
Thanks Doria! I spent a lot of time thinking about this and continue to love FinCon. I just think that sometimes it’s good to reflect on “the why.”
Agreed. I’m currently trying to juggle the “oh woah I’m making money by not reinventing the wheel” with my own stories and experiences. It’s definitely a balancing act. It’s why I’ve actually enjoyed podcasting and live video because I can show more of myself. Now if only I were more organized with it! Ha!
It’s definitely a balancing act. I mean how many times do we have to say “save more, spend less?” LOL! But, there were stories that truly, truly resonated with me and got me to thinking about how I live my LIFE and the connection between my money habits/etc. and the life I was living. I really like the addition of podcasts/video because I feel like I’m getting to know people better. Basically, I see their face and hear their voices!
It seems that when all you do is live, breathe, eat and write personal finance, it’s so easy to get caught up in all the “to dos”. I love reading other people’s stories of how they conquered their debt (I’ve shared my story in my link to this comment) and have tried to encourage others to share their stories with me as well! It’s so motivating to see someone’s struggles and how they became successful too. I hear you in that it’s become so much more about the how to’s rather than just stories people are telling the world about their own experiences. Great insight! I’ve signed up to go to FinCon next year and it will be my first!
Thanks for stopping by Steve! Also, the “how to’s/to do’s” are great in terms of converting traffic via SEO vs. a more emotional post about feelings and your story. On my blog I do a personal post on Mondays, an informative post typically on Wednesday, and then I will now be sharing podcast episodes on Fridays. It’s a nice balance. I do add additional posts occasionally through out the week but that’s typically how I share. I’m very excited about next year and FinCon continues to be one of my favorite events each year. I find the FinCon local connections to be a great way to balance out what I can’t get at the conference. See you in Dallas.
Happy to see you at FinCon! It’s definitely gotten bigger and a little crazier. Like you said, there are pros and cons. I think the small meetups and private events are so important.
I love the small meetups! Part of why I make a point of arriving early is to get that one on one time. I also prioritize FinCon local for the same reason.
Even though last year was just my first FinCon, I definitely noticed a difference and that’s not to say it was good or bad. Just the vibe was different to me. Now that I’m working for myself, it’s definitely a balance for me to continue sharing my story and monetize. But my story is what kept people on my blog in the first place and it’s a great differentiator.
Exactly! You are what’s special about your blog. You and your story. There are a billion posts about how to do everything but what makes your story special? That’s something that I’m really trying to be aware of as I move forward on my blogging journey.
Looking forward to seeing you in Dallas!!!!
Looking forward to it!
Love your recap. FinCon definitely seems different from the beginning years – but it was still a lot of fun.
I love FinCon! I just enjoy reading about people’s actual lives on their actual blogs LOL!
I’m still working on my “overnight success”. :/
Truth.
AMEN. I don’t want to monetize my blog simply because I dont want to have to compromise my voice. This was my first FinCon but I definitely noticed there were a lot of sessions on getting your image out there, optimizing your blog and how to make money. I don’t mind those things but I like the personal finance aspect better.
I would love to monetize my site and use that money to pay off my debts. BUT, I’ve struggled with this because I don’t want to lose my voice.
Curious, what specific sessions would you like to see? Would love for you to submit some this Spring.
I absolutely love the unbanked experience. Other sessions I would love:
-When You’re The Blogger Who STILL Hasn’t Paid Off Your Debt (oh wait..I might propose that one LOL!)
-Sharing Your Money Story Authentically
-Meeting with different banks to discuss trends that they are noticing. It could be a small group of people vs. a large group
-Or, a “fireside” conversation with people who became debt free after blogging. Learn their tips and tricks
-Debt freedom mentor program. There are a lot of bloggers still working on their debt. It would be cool to have a sit down with a non-judgemental person who could encourage their mentee (no financial advice) just encouragement and share their story.
-A panel onFIRE!
I learned blogging from scratch vs. being taught by an expert so I think that’s why I prefer personal stories. When I started blogging I had no interest in monetizing. I just was reading about what other people were doing. Now, people are entering into blogging with more technical awareness and a level of sophistication about the business of blogging that I learned over 5 years as it evolved vs. coming in now with all of the ins and outs of how to be successful at blogging. As for signs and coincidences I think that it’s up to you to decide which one is which. I just know when something is a sign vs. a coincidence depending on the situation.
I love The Frugalwoods 🙂 In real life Mrs. Frugalwoods is a wonderfully kind and generous person!
Great recap, Michelle. Totally on point. I’m thankful the event is filled with friends like yourself who care enough to share their experience, ask questions, and generally seek to make sure we’re headed in the right direction.
I love the idea of (1) more stories being told from our community (when I take a look at the PT Money feed right now it’s pretty short on personal anecdotes…yikes), and (2) more stories being showcased at the event. I feel like when you leave the event you should be able to get a good pulse on what individual stories and story threads are making their way into readers/listeners lives.
I know Joe was trying to incorporate more with his emcee efforts (i.e. bringing folks from the audience up) and Jean showcased some new storytellers. You touched on Podcasting and I agree, it’s a medium that lends itself to storytelling and it’s easy to showcase at the event, which we do (to the tune of ~40 live shows). The tough part is getting attendees to stop jabbering long enough to listen to the conversations being had right there next to them. 🙂
Honestly, I feel like I’ve forced personal finance content into the event each year and it keeps getting rejected by the community – our financial innovation track this year was sparsely attended, I had to personally recruit folks to assemble 2 of the personal finance sessions (Award Travel and FIRE) because all the other rejected submissions just missed the mark and I know from past experience would be poorly attended. It’s tough to strike the right balance, but know that I am pushing it. Maybe I need to do more recruiting.
To the larger point about the expanding scope and largeness, that’s a tough one, and I struggle with it too. The media and financial advice-giving landscapes have just evolved so rapidly over the past 5 years, it’s hard to tell the difference between any discreet element of it anymore. Use to be a “us vs the establishment” thing, I know. But in a way, we are the establishment now. Former journalists now write for NerdWallet (just a blog in 2011) and other sites. ThePennyHoarder was just Kyle and his blog 3 or 4 years ago, now you’re listing it along side Savings.com. In 2011, there were just a few financial advisors with a blog or social media presence, now there are armies of them…and they are pouring into our space. Being at the center of these 2 evolutions (media and financial advice) is what’s driving it. I’ll take the blame for all the podcasters showing up. 🙂
Appreciate ya. Thankful you care so much. Hope to get to Denver this off-season and hang out.
P.T. thanks so much for stopping by! I find it fascinating that you’ve had a hard time recruiting people to attend pf sessions. I think that this is something that people didn’t realize. In fact, I’m completely surprised. I don’t mind that the conference has gotten bigger. Similar to Facebook groups there is a level of energy that has to be replenished and replaced as previous members move on. If FinCon stayed the same size (small)it would eventually wither away into nothingness. That is a reality that long-time attendees seem to resist.
I absolutely loved podcasting at FinCon and am so glad that it’s now such an integral part of the event. We are literally hearing one another’s voices and I love it.
The establishment….wow, I had never even considered that.
I loved the workshop that was held in the beginning of the week where people experienced what it was like to be unbanked. I didn’t attend that because…it hit a little too close to home during my incredibly depressing money years.
I’ve run events and honestly Philip-you’re doing an amazing job of bringing over 1,000 people together. I feel like FinCon is a reflection of you: we’re welcomed, fed, cared for, and in a safe space. As a person who used to produce 60+ events a year on a MUCH smaller scale I am constantly in awe by how well thought out and planned FinCon is. There is a reason why I attend every year.
The fact that you continue to care about our experience and spend a substantial amount of time focused on conference attendee experience speaks volumes.
Finally, I really enjoyed Noah Kagan’s keynote. It was abrasive, somewhat annoying, informative, and encouraging. It was the type of money conversation that creates a reaction. Yes, I ended up with $50-no he didn’t pay me to say this. Keep up the good work-I will continue to support FinCon in any way that I can. Will be there early for volunteering, am in on PF related sessions.
CoFinCon will throw you a big party with good beer…but, we will incorporate hiking/biking/or yoga into any activity that we do.
Warning you now.
Love it. Gotta earn your beer cals.
Tehe!
That’s interesting you’re pushing PF content. I had never been to FinCon so I can’t judge previous editions but from what I gathered from reading the recaps since I started my own blog in 2012, I though it was primarily about bloggers sharing how they do business to help others grow.
When I saw the very two panels you mention, FIRE and Award Travel, I thought like Stefanie, “this is what I do all day, not what I came to learn about”. I am on the other hand interested in learning about the future of money, banking trends and the like (for example I was surprised by the ATM withdrawal fees from the ATM itself and then your bank, which makes using cash increasingly more expensive and complicated). But not what we money nerds discuss day in, day out.
To me FinCon is a way to learn from bigger bloggers how they got there, so we can grow stronger as a niche and have a broader authority in front of media, financial services, and brands.
Anyone coming to FinCon is spending at least $1,000 and hoping to grow their business. Rare are the bloggers coming just to hang out from what I’ve seen, even though connecting in real life with people I had interacted with for years was definitely the highlight of the conference for me.
And I was amazed by how the brands treated us. Between parties, swag, the amount of team members they sent over,… that proves we have some authority. And FinCon growing so much is an excellent indicator.
I had an amazing and productive time, and am in awe of all your efforts to make it happen every year and the flawless organization. Thank you so much for all you do for the PF niche.
Hi Michelle! I’m a new reader to your blog so first off, hello! 🙂
I really enjoyed this post because I recently started to blog again and it’s SO much different than it used to be. I had a blog back around 2005-2009. It feels completely different now. All the advice you read on starting a blog tells you to think about the reader, what’s in it for them, keep personal stories to a minimum. That’s just not my style. Sure I want to make some money at some point if I can, but FIRST (and always) I want to be someone that people can hopefully relate to. I don’t have a lot up on my blog yet by any means, but my goal is to share my personal story, even if it’s not what “pros” tell me to do. When I search for new blogs to read, I want to know about the blogger… what’s their story? What’s their financial journey? I usually can’t find anything to relate to, so I move on.
I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog!
Hi Sarah! I think the problem is that there are years of information that are now available to new bloggers. This information gives people insight and shortcuts that they could possibly use to get to a financial end goal faster. I think what’s forgotten is the value of being unique and sharing your story. I really don’t care if people: vlog, blog, write, or podcast, I just would like to get a feeling of who you are and why I should return to your website, etc. The other reality is that there is a large percentage of people who will just stop by once. My goal is to make the visitor experience good for both types of visitors. While I do write “how to” posts and 25+ ways to do…I always start off the week with a post that is purely about what’s going on with me. No ads, no links, just 100% Michelle
I think stories are INTEGRAL and I would have never started my blog if I wasn’t willing to share my story. Which is why I’m so adamant on my money story series because we as people need to have these conversations. I didn’t realize my interview with Jean Chatzky would be so story focused, but it did good because I had the best conversations of my life as a result of sharing my story so openly.
If you’re interested I’d love to share your story over on my blog.
I really enjoyed your talk with Jean! I had the opportunity to meet with her and she was lovely. I need to check out your money story series. And I would love to share my story with you! I just find that with generic blogs I get turned off and move on. I need the story.
I think you don’t need to lose that even as your site gets bigger. Unfortunately, a lot of people get into that mentality that readers don’t care blah blah blah.
And yes please to your story! Check out http://www.highfivingdollars.com/yourmoneystory
I’m going through a slight rebrand but it’d be lovely to chat with you! I saw you in the hallways but alas I got shy and never approached you.
Hi Sarah,
I really enjoyed listening to you speak with Jean Chatzky and it was really powerful.I wish you had said “hi!” I talk to strangers on the street LOL! Next time, just say “hi” and we’ll end up talking for ages. I just want to share my story and make my money. I feel like it’s possible as long as I’m mindful.
omg so many examples of people who share stories and make money! Fine, I will say hi next time. If not in person, we can sort something out on Skype!
That sounds like a plan! I love meeting new people 🙂 And, you will have an endless supply of stories to tell.
It’s definitely a tough balance and I’m not sure what the answer is. The sessions that were actually on money didn’t interest me because that’s a conversation I have literally every day. That said, I think it might be cool to push past money 101 and talk about the future of things like saving, retirement, debt pay off, etc, considering the implications of present day events and cultural shifts. Though I would want to keep the biz building aspects – the more we all grow, the more people we serve.
I would love to see a session on how FinTech has the potential to disrupt the reality of unbanked and underserved citizens who spend money to get their actual money. I also realize that as people move from their financial low points the more likely they are to NOT want to reflect back on the painful points of their financial past. I actually don’t talk about money daily beyond when I blog, so for me, it would be a great moment to talk about money in depth. I would love a session on the future of money. That would be awesome.
Unique perspective Michelle. With this being my 2nd FinCon I don’t know how it was in the beginning. i enjoyed myself more this year than last year. I do like the fireside chat idea and the idea of a session with the blogger who haven’t paid off their debt yet. You may be on to something.
I always love FinCon so I had an awesome time this year! I just noticed a shift in the way the community is talking about what they are doing in regards to their blogging efforts. Personally, I’m 100% ok with people earning money-that’s what I plan to do. I just don’t want you to be boring, formulaic, or cynical as you do it. Just be you, serve others, and the rest will come.
I love this, Michelle. I’m so sorry I only got to see you in passing this year, but I agree with you 100% here. I just wrote a sort-of recap on my FinCon, and I had mixed emotions about it, too. One half was totally my fault for being out of the blogging scene this year, but the other half was because it definitely felt more focused on making money. I love hearing people’s stories as well, and it’s why I continue to read the blogs that I do. Freelance writing definitely muted my creative voice, and that’s why I’m glad to be back to MY blog (which I also don’t think I’ll ever monetize).
This was something I’ve been musing over since Tonya’s post, and I think you hit the nail on the head.
I love FinCon and I want people to make their money. I just would like for people to approach the process of getting themselves out there by understanding that their stories matter! I heard about a girl who received over $500,000 in college scholarships-that’s a story I want to hear. Interestingly enough the FIRE people are currently the best at sharing their stories. I just wish other people would remember that the story is the “hook.”
Love this, Michelle. I had a great time this year, too, but I did miss the money stories. I think one of the struggles is actually attending sessions when I’m up against business meetings while I’m there—and there were far fewer sessions on the topic this year. Will have to improve my pitch for this year. Think I knew income was really front and center, so I unsuccessfully tried to meld the two.
I missed the money stories so much that I found myself taking to people outside of the conference while I was in San Diego about theirs. While income is great, it’s not the why behind my business. Hearing their stories gave me that affirmation around the why, while the conference gave me more of the how to make it profitable side.
P.S. Totally planning on implementing the media kit idea here at FinCon Pittsburgh. Thanks for the great idea!
I’ll let my friends know! It’s their original idea 🙂
One of the ways that I am looking to implement my knowledge is to make money via my niche sites that have nothing to do with personal finance. It’s hard monetizing my money site because it’s so freaking personal. It’s about me and my money mess…but, it would be ridiculous not to earn money to pay off my financial mess. It’s basically a chicken before the egg scenario. Going into this next year I’m going to connect with people via my podcast so that I can have those experiences.
My session may not have been super useful to a veteran like you, but that is exactly what I focused my session on. It was all about my story and journey of going from my first blog post to earning $40,000 on the side last year, then making it my full-time gig this year.
I absolutely hear what you’re saying, but I find that I can still find the stories, I just have to look a little harder than I used to. There is a lot more “noise” out there at FinCon than when it was just a couple hundred people. Those stories and connections are what make FinCon both fun and “real” to me, and not just a business conference.
I find that with any conference, it can be whatever you make it and focus on. Each year before FinCon for the last couple of years, I have tried to make a game plan and a focus. Doing that has helped me find the most success – and fun – from attending.
Thanks Eric for stopping by!! Maybe the key is to filter through the “noise” to get to the stories. I do try to ask people what their story is and that usually works. But, I find that when I’m actually reading people’s blogs…many of them aren’t really including the person’s story. I’ve noticed this for awhile. I actually enjoy most sessions and made a point of attending as many as I could and will be watching the sessions that I missed once they are available (will be watching yours). I continue to have a ton of fun at FinCon (as you know) and I love solidifying the connections that I’ve made with amazing people throughout the years.
It’s really cool to read people’s thoughts on the conference. This was my first one so I didn’t really know what to expect. I LOVEEEEED meeting you and other people who’ve I’ve been following for years. That was a seriously surreal experience. I found some of the most valuable moments were during down time.
I have been struggling at times with where exactly I fit among personal finance bloggers and even have started considering myself a lifestyle blogger who also happens to talk about money. Great thoughts here.
We still need to SKYPE sometime soon! It was awesome meeting you in real life LOL! I’m in the process of looking for a new computer to buy on Cyber Monday. My current computer works…but the sound card only works for incoming audio. When I’m speaking all people hear is static. When I started blogging about money I made a point of being a personal finance and lifestyle blogger because I feel they are all connected. I had an amazing time at FinCon and I’m looking forward to next year’s conference-I just need to push myself to meet some personal goals.