Unless you are brand new to Leaving Work Behind, you will know that my aim is to help you establish and grow an online business so that you can quit your job and work on your own terms.
In December 2011, after working at it for seven months, I was able to do just that. I want to help all of you do the same.
One thing is for sure – I wouldn’t be sitting in my home office on a Monday morning, sweatpants and all, without having gleaned invaluable advice from numerous blogs. And I am not going to be so proud as to tell you that everything you possibly need to know can be found on this blog. Whilst Leaving Work Behind is quickly turning into a top resource (if I do say so myself), there is a whole world of useful information out there – and I want to help you find it.
Introducing the LWB 100
And that is where the Leaving Work Behind 100 comes in. I am going to compile a league table of 100 blogs that can help you to leave work behind. The rankings will be based upon an objective analysis of publicly-available data (such as PageRank, inbound links, and comments).
In order for a blog to be considered, the majority of its content (i.e. >50%) must be actionable advice than can help you leave work behind (as I define it in my New? Start Here! page). So the topics could be far ranging – from freelance writing, to SEO, to niche site building, to affiliate marketing. As long as the blog in question can help you leave work behind, it will be accepted for consideration.
In order for me to compile this table, I need your help. If you want to see a blog in the top 100, it needs to be submitted for consideration. You can do so via the comments section in this post, the appropriate status update on my Facebook page, or by using the #LWB100 hashtag on Twitter. You are more than welcome to submit your own blog for consideration.
Voting will close at midnight on Sunday 5th February, and the table will be published on Monday 6th Wednesday 8th.
Good luck to all participants!
Creative Commons image courtesy of Don Denver
Jeffrey says
SeanOgle.com is the first the comes to mind for this list. Sean is really focused leaving your job about doing it himself, so I think his blog is a perfect addition.
I’ll think about it a bit more and see if I come up with others!
Jeffrey says
I meant to say “after doing it himself” 🙂
Tom Ewer says
Thanks Jeff – now he’s on the list! 🙂
Duy says
Thanks Tom for bringing up such a great party 😀 I’ve some of my favorite blogs on my hand. And it’s not because they’re famous among bloggers, but they offer their readers actionable content as well. And here is my list (in no particular order):
– Steve Scott from SteveScottSite.com
– Ana Hoffman from TrafficGenerationCafe.com
– Spencer Haws from NichePursuits.com
– Shane Melaugh from IMImpact.com
– Alex Whalley from AlexWhalley.com
And of course, Thomas Ewer from LeavingWorkBehind.com 😉
I tend to visit many more blogs but recently, I decrease the number to only a few. And the ones that I keep are really helpful to me (and to other people I believe). That’s what I have now. If I remember any other blog, I will add it here.
Thanks again for this post Tom. All the best!
Tom Ewer says
Hi Duy,
Some great suggestions there – they all go on the list! I’m glad I’m still on yours 🙂
Cheers,
Tom
stevewyman says
HI
My entries
Spencer Haws from NichePursuits.com
Pat Flynn – SmartPassiveIncome.com
Chris Ducker – VirtualBusinessLifeStyle.com
Jo & Justn – AdsenseFlippers.com
Tom Ewer says
All excellent suggestions Steve – thanks!
Cordelia says
I’m going to be that person and throw my own blog into the mix:
Cordelia Calls It Quits.com
I also highly recommend Amanda Abella’s site–she is very focused on freelancing on the side while holding down a full-time job (for now):
http://www.GradMeetsWorld.org
Tom Ewer says
Cordelia! I did not know you were a reader 🙂 but then again, you probably didn’t know I was a reader of your blog 😉
You’re on the list, as is Amanda!
Cordelia says
Awesome!
Yes, one of my goals for 2012 is to be a more active commenter on the blogs I follow. As a blogger myself, I know I’m always curious to know what the “lurkers” are thinking, so why not follow my own feelings and stop lurking myself? 🙂
I’ve been following you here and over in Steve’s mastermind group at Ending the Grind–tons of great stuff in store for this year!
Tom Ewer says
Well I am glad you’re along for the ride! 🙂
Adem says
This is a great idea and my long term plan is to ‘leave work behind’ too. If you’re looking for a few fillers for the 100 then you could always stick me in there!
I know some people will be going down the same route that I am and would like to see how things work with earning from Adsense and Amazon niche sites.
Tom Ewer says
Hi Adem,
You’re on the list 🙂
Cheers,
Tom
Adrian says
Jennifer Ledbetter, a.k.a Pot Pie Girl of http://www.potpiegirl.com/ gets my vote. She’s helped me and many others with her detailed blog posts on a wide variety of subjects related to IM.
Looking forward to seeing the final LWB 100 Tom! Great idea.
Adrian
Charles says
Do you think my website is a good fit for the list?
It doesn’t have a pagerank or a lot of incoming links yet, but I hope that it helps people to leave work behind, for ex. by outsourcing tasks for which they don’t have the skills and might be scared of, and, by reviewing companies like BMR, SubmitEdge, PSD2HTML, etc. that provide those skills / services along the way.
Tom Ewer says
Hey Charles,
Outsourcing is a key part of online business for many, so I certainly think that your site is relevant!
Cheers,
Tom
Bon Crowder says
I would say sites like http://www.problogger.net/ and http://www.bloggingteacher.com/ should be considered.
I also like Chris Cobb (her blog here: http://mybonusblog.com/). I haven’t read it a lot, but Chris and I get together every now and then for coffee. She’s brilliant, inspirational and has done it!
Tom Ewer says
Anyone who has done it goes on the list!
Jason says
My favorites:
illuminatedmind.net
liveyourlegend.net
freelanceswitch.com
If you have enough submissions I would like to see the ‘blogging resource niche’ separate from your list of ‘Leaving work behind niche’
My own flagship content (a term from the seminal ebook 279 days to overnight success) includes freelancing which is an overlap with you. But I don’t plan on teaching people to blog, no break free from the 9-5. But I will talk about self employment.
quick tip: deciding what you are not going to cover helps build the brand of your site too.
Tom Ewer says
Hi Jason,
Thanks for some great suggestions. I am planning on categorizing the blogs so that people can pick and choose as they see fit.
Cheers,
Tom