Episode•October 26, 2023•22 min

From Numbers to Narratives: Pete McPherson's Leap from Corporate Ladder to Blogging Stardom | Ep. 274

In this episode, join us live from FinCon 2023 as we delve into the fascinating journey of Pete McPherson, the brain behind 'Do You Even Blog'. Once a dedicated CPA/Accountant, Pete swapped spreadsheets for the written word, transforming his passion for blogging into a full-time career. From his initial plunge into the blogging world in 2010 to eventually leaving his well-paid corporate job, Pete's journey is a testament to following one's heart and defying conventional norms. Listen as Pete candidly shares the trials and triumphs of his blogging journey, including the daunting challenge of starting over 40 businesses before finding his true calling. Learn how he managed to build an engaged community around his blog, turning his idealistic entrepreneurial dreams into a reality. Connect with Tiffany Visit our site: https://moneytalkwitht.com Facebook: Money Talk With Tiff Twitter: @moneytalkwitht Instagram: @moneytalkwitht LinkedIn: Tiffany Grant This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Overcast Amazon Music

Key Takeaways

1
Build a financial safety net before making the leap to full-time entrepreneurship
Pete had an emergency fund and was able to live rent-free in his grandmother's house after being laid off
Tiffany quit without enough savings the first time and had to return to corporate work temporarily
Having less financial stress allows for better creative thinking and decision-making in business
2
Expect entrepreneurship to require more time initially than a traditional job
Pete notes entrepreneurs often quit a 40-hour job only to work 80 hours building their business
There are constantly new skills to learn: social media, SEO, WordPress plugins, and more
Tiffany emphasizes using income from your current job to build your business before quitting
3
Identify your core values to guide business decisions and avoid burnout
Pete's primary value is freedom, not maximizing revenue
After hiring a business coach, he shifted from pursuing revenue to protecting his time
He now works about 20 hours per week and stops by 1 p.m. daily to prioritize family
4
Choose projects with defined endpoints to maintain momentum and avoid overwhelm
Pete discovered he dislikes open-ended projects without clear completion dates
He and his friend committed to recording exactly 12 episodes of their podcast in one month, then stopping
Having an end date provides a sense of accomplishment and prevents the feeling of 'falling behind'

Intro

Recorded live at FinCon 2023, this episode features Pete McPherson, founder of Do You Even Blog, sharing his journey from corporate accountant to full-time entrepreneur and content creator.
Pete McPherson is the creator behind 'Do You Even Blog.' After earning degrees in sociology and accounting, he worked as a CPA before transitioning to entrepreneurship. He has started over 70 websites and online businesses over 15 years and now runs multiple sites, podcasts, and products while prioritizing time freedom.

Do You Even Blog

– Pete's Unconventional Path to Accounting

Pete never knew what he wanted to be. He went through five majors, was kicked out of school temporarily, and eventually earned a sociology degree right before the 2008-2009 recession made it nearly useless.

A family friend suggested accounting because 'there are jobs in accounting.' Pete got a degree and master's in 1.5 years and landed a corporate accounting role in Atlanta.

I hated it. I hated it. I hated it. I hated it.
– Pete McPherson

– The Side Hustle Years and the Layoff

Pete started 70-80 websites and side businesses over 15 years while still employed. None made significant money initially.

He took a lower-paying startup job to free up time for entrepreneurship. After one paycheck, he was laid off.

Pro tip, if you're going to go work for a startup, make sure they have enough money to pay you for...
– Pete McPherson

– Turning Interviews into Income

Do You Even Blog began as Pete recording interviews with people making money online to learn from them. He was smart enough to record the conversations.

The podcast wasn't an overnight success but provided enough income and hope to keep him going full-time.

– The Importance of an Emergency Fund

Pete emphasizes reducing stress and anxiety during the transition by having financial buffers: emergency funds, paid-off debt, or opportunities to cut expenses dramatically.

I don't encourage anybody to quit their job at this point without like a rock solid plan. But even if you don't have a rock solid plan, having extra money... I think that's absolutely key.
– Pete McPherson

– The Time Commitment Reality Check

Entrepreneurs often underestimate the learning curve. After quitting, Pete realized he had to master social media, SEO, WordPress plugins, and countless other skills he hadn't anticipated.

Entrepreneurs are the only ones that will quit a 40-hour-a-week job to work 80.
– Tiffany Grant

– Defining Your Values: Freedom Over Revenue

Pete worked with a business coach to identify his core value: freedom. It took him 5.5 years to match his accounting salary, but he quit for autonomy, not money.

I work like 20 hours a week now. Like, that's it. And I stop work usually at like 1 p.m. every day.
– Pete McPherson

– Projects with End Dates

Pete discovered he performs better with projects that have clear endpoints. He and his friend committed to a one-month podcast season (12 episodes) with no ongoing promotion afterward.

Start projects that have an end date.
– Pete McPherson

Resources

The Unbusy Podcast

Topics

EntrepreneurshipCareer TransitionFinancial IndependenceTime ManagementSide HustlesBloggingPodcastPersonal FinanceWork-Life BalanceFinCon