I get questions all the time about how I got to be where I am today (and it’s really hard for me to think of it in those terms, because I don’t feel like I’ve “arrived”. I think I’m still somewhere in the middle of my path). 🙂
When I sit down and really think about the answer to that question, the simple answer is steps.
I’m huge on goals and taking steps toward toward goals.
My first big goal when I got out of the homeless shelter was that I just wanted to be able to stay home with my kids. My ex-husband had just abandoned us and I felt like the kids already lost HIM, I didn’t want them to lose me too. So, I took steps toward that goal.
Worked day and night reselling on ebay to make money, and eventually started making enough money to survive, $700/month.
My ex-husband came back. I forgave him. We moved as he was famous for always doing, and not long after, I knew he was ready to leave again.
This time, I could tell the signs.
Not wanting to be homeless again, I started buying heavy furniture. After all, unless he was ready to tell me he was leaving, why WOULDN’T he help me buy and move furniture? And, I knew I could easily sell the furniture if he DID leave and get thousands of dollars collectively. If he did leave, he would pack a car, not a uhaul. The furniture would stay and so it was my “savings account” to protect myself in case he left.
He did leave, as I knew he would. Left on Easter morning. Later I asked him why he left on Easter. Easter is after all, my favorite holiday. He said he really wanted to hurt me. He did.
This time though, I knew how sustainable selling on ebay was. So, my goal wasn’t to just make money and survive. It was to create a life for me and my kids.
I was doing pretty well when he came around again. Yes, I forgave him yet again. I’m a very forgiving person (to a fault). And he moved us to another state. It was about a year, and I could feel the tides turning. I could tell he was considering leaving. I knew. I had given my life to God. I was a different person now and he didn’t like it.
He asked me to give up God for him and I said, “NO! I won’t give up God for you or anyone else.”
Within a few days, he left. This time, for the last time.
He would go on to try to come back a few more times, but there were too many affairs he had, too much damage, and new babies he created by other (multiple) women involved. I wasn’t willing to play back and forth. I’m not into games.
This started my journey upon making real life-changing goals. I wanted a life he could never provide me. A stable life, not moving around all the time. Not working outside the home, but being with my kids.
I wanted to give my kids a better life then they had ever known and so, I wanted to live in one of the wealthiest subdivisions in my city in a nice home. Not an apartment. Not having roommates. Me on my own. It’s what I wanted. So, I worked hard toward that goal.
Selling on ebay full-time, redoing furniture and selling it on Craigslist. Yes, I was able to have my dream life at that point and have it all on only $18k/year as a single mom.
Friends would visit me. They’d call or email to get my address and ask me for an apartment number.
They knew my situation. I was alone. Abandoned. Why WOULDN’T I live in a small, run down apartment?!
When they’d come to my home, their jaws would literally drop when they visited and saw all I had. Seeing the furniture I never ended up selling…nice stuff.
They told me they were making $60k/year and didn’t have as much as me. How in the world could I do all this on only $18k/year. It’s impossible.
I opened up this little blog, still to this day called SarahTitus.com, and simply started answering their questions in private. The questions were very much a lot of the same and instead of writing emails individually, I started this blog to save me time. Write one post, refer the person to the post, and see if they’d even read it. But at least then, I was saving time answering the same questions over and over.
The blog wasn’t open to the public, it was password protected and just available to my close friends in whom I gave the password to.
They started sharing the password, unbeknownst to me, and I started getting quite a lot of traffic. I couldn’t figure it out, until they mentioned it. Uhm…password means private guys! But here I was getting 100 pageviews a day from just that, and many people were spending an HOUR on my blog, reading, absorbing my posts.
I didn’t want the world to know my story. How I was abandoned, lost, and alone. And yet, here they were, strangers reading my private “emails”.
I prayed a lot about it. Scared to death to show my story to the world.
God was showing me I could monetize my blog and make money from it. “What’s the harm?” I thought to myself. If no one reads my blog and it goes no where, at least I can try it. Put myself out there a little bit and try…see what the Lord decides to do.
Maybe He will provide financially some money through this. And I started to see that I could make a little money from it. My eyes were being opened to the potential of what a blog could do.
And so, I made a goal to make $1k/month within 12 months blogging.
At this time, no one believed I could do it. Not my friends, not my church, not the judge in my divorce hearing.
My mom and pastor said I was fooling myself trying to work from home. That I was being irresponsible for not getting a job outside the home.
The judge told me to get a job outside the home “or else”. I naively asked what “or else” meant. He said, “you risk losing everything in the divorce”. Child support, alimony, even my kids.
I told him with great fervency, “NO!” He said something to the effect of, “Excuse me?” I said I wasn’t willing to leave my kids with a babysitter. I wanted to be with them more than life itself. I told him that I could DO this. I can make $1k/month blogging to survive. He asked me how long it would take me to accomplish this. I told him it would take 1 year. He set the divorce hearing out, 1 year.
He was very kind to me in giving me that time.
What happened was very different than what I told everyone though. I started making $10k/month within 12 months blogging!!! Ten times the amount I prayed for!
Year by year, I stayed in the same living conditions. Same car. Same great home. And made a new goal. I wanted to have my dream house. I wanted to rent it first with the intention of buying it later on, when I could afford to do so.
I moved into my dream house and accomplished my goal. I was now renting my dream house. Several months later, my car died, and this time, I bought a brand new car and paid cash, my awesome Honda CR-V.
Then, my next goal was BUYING this dream house I was renting. And, 3 years later, I did. I’m now a proud owner of my dream house, having stability, having roots, I’ve lived here now 3 1/2 years.
But…truth be told, I had been working 80-120 hours a week (not a typo) for 3 years and I was tired. Drained. Exhausted. I wanted to be able to sustain my current level of living all the while, getting my hours down to full-time work. 40 hours a week.
I wanted to spend time with my kids. After all, what’s the point of having a good life if you can’t ENJOY IT?!?!
What I did was much more than that. Not only was I able to get my assistants hours down from around 240 hours a month to 63 hours a month (saving me bookooo money!), I was able to get my OWN hours down to part-time.
With much joy I tell you, that I now work part-time and make almost $2.5 million dollars a year. I’m now able to invest much more time in my kids lives.
Now, my next goal is to pay OFF this dream house of mine. So that I don’t have rent, don’t have a mortgage, and I can live comfortably on $1k/month.
Since my mortgage/insurance/taxes payment is a little less than $2k/month, right now, all my living expenses are $3k/month total. If I can pay off my home, I’ll only have to pay $1k/month living expenses, which is not bad at all. Not for all that I have. A beautiful 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage 2 story home with gorgeous granite countertops in the kitchen and a garden and pergola out back.
That’s my next dream. That’s what I work toward now.
So, when I’m asked how did I get to where I am today, it’s a long, drawn-out story, but it all comes down to steps. Goals.
I make a goal of what I want, I take the steps to get to my goal. When I reach my goal, I make a new goal and take new steps to reach that goal.
For me, paying off my house means, I need to spend 5 hours a week on top of my part-time blogging and Shopify store work to make a thousand dollars in order to put on my house fund…to pay that puppy off. Yes, it’s a lot less pay than I’m used to, for sure, BUT, it’s extra money. And I’m not above making extra money. 🙂
In those 5 hours a week, I’ve been selling on ebay and I’ve been creating and designing printables to sell to others to put in their shops (includes resell rights). I sell them in my Facebook group.
Here’s what I want to say, if you have a big dream, that’s awesome, you need one, but you need to break DOWN your dream into bite-sized pieces. All of that took me 9 1/2 years.
Step by step, one foot in front of the other.
You can HAVE your dreams, no matter how big they are. But you need to make them. And it’s okay if your dreams change and even get bigger.
Mine certainly did!
If you would ask me the day I was in the homeless shelter if you thought I could ever make over $2 million dollars a year, I would have thought you were completely insane. And yet, here I am, standing right here in front of you doing it.
I’m living my dream life and you can too.
Whatever your dream is, you CAN do it, if you stay the course and put one foot in front of the other. That’s the key. That’s the whole secret right there. The whole enchilada. Take one step at a time. Things will come up along the way and make you feel like you’re crazy and you’ll never reach your dream. But you will. If you stay consistent with each step working toward it.
Because even a little progress is better than no progress.
I once heard a statement somewhere along the lines that changed my life forever. It went something like this…
We never truly stay in the same place. We always are either moving backwards or moving forwards.
My question to you is, are you moving backwards or are you moving forward?
Even a tiny step toward your dream COUNTS and let me tell you, ain’t no one else in this world gonna go after YOUR dreams for you! Not your husband, not your kids, not your friends, not your parents, not your staff if you have people under you, no one.
YOU ALONE go after your dreams.
You alone choose your dreams and whether or not you’re gonna reach them.
Yes, God’s sovereignty plays a massive part in it; it’s all encompassing. But you need to do your part too. You need to take those steps toward your dream, and trust the results up to Him.
I wouldn’t be where I am without God. I wouldn’t be where I am without you…my friends, my audience. <3 But I did the work. Tears. And you have to do the work too.
It won’t always be easy. Sometimes, it’ll be downright hard.
But you just keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep your eyes on the ball…on your dream. You’ll get there someday.
If I can accomplish all this, as a single mom with no outside family (other than my two kids), imagine what YOU can do, you have help! You have a spouse. You have family. I have nothing like that.
I know you can do this. I know it in my gut and you should know it in your gut too.
Dina-Marie says
Sarah, what an inspiration! Thanks for sharing you story and the importance of goals and steps to reach those goals.
Sarah Titus says
Absolutely Dina-Marie! So glad it’s helpful! <3
Holly says
This is the first I have heard your story from start to (current). I know you are not finished yet. Amazing!
George says
Yours is a very inspirational story of resilience, hard work, and perseverance. Setting achievable goals surely do pay as long as we are willing to work towards meeting those goals.
Arlin Cuncic says
Your story is very inspiring. As they say, a dream without a plan is just a wish. I was wondering why you would focus on earning extra money in a way that seems to depend on your time invested instead of increasing your passive streams that are already doing so well?
Sarah Titus says
I loved this question, and created a full post to answer it more in detail! 🙂 You can check it out here.
Liberty says
Hi Sarah!
I’m glad to see this update! I read your blog for several months before deciding to start my own blog a year ago. I used your Bluehost and Restored 316 links. Will you link up to our Link Party so that I can feature you this coming Friday? https://www.b4andafters.com/the-best-of-the-weekend-link-party/
Sarah Titus says
Thank you for using my links. That is very kind of you. <3 Yep, absolutely. Just linked up! 🙂
Jennifer says
Very inspiring! Thank you for sharing. I hope to be as much of a go-getter as you are one day! God bless ✨.
Sarah Titus says
So glad I can inspire you Jennifer. <3
Nicole Mouchka says
Sarah, thank you so much for sharing your story! Years ago, I left an abusive marriage. I was broke, in debt and had a three year old daughter. God got me through and has kept me going ever since. My one regret is not being able to stay home with my child when she was little. I just didn’t know how to generate income by any other means than working outside the home. I wish I had known you then, but I am so happy for all the women you are encouraging now to follow their hearts and dreams and stay home with their children! I also have some big dreams of helping women and replacing my income at the same time. I can only accomplish these goals by God’s grace and through hard work on my part, but I am ready for the challenge. Sometimes I feel like giving up but I know that’s not an option. You are an inspiration to me and I appreciate you more than you know!
Sarah Titus says
Nicole, thank you for sharing! I’ve seen your blog and at the time, wondered your story. It’s really awesome to hear it now and I’m so glad to be able to help inspire you. Yes, I want every mom in America to know that she doesn’t HAVE to work outside the home. There are so many options available to us that the masses don’t know and I want to shed tons of light on that. I respect your passion for helping others as well. So awesome! Keep me updated on your journey. <3
Joyce says
Sarah, thanks for the encouragement…I love your posts…but , I have a question (and please understand.. I’m not being sarcastic…just wondering if “I missed something”) — You said you make 2 plus “million” a year and your living expenses are 3K so why not pay off your house now? Is it because you have chosen to ‘limit’ your spending? I guess (deep down) I’m wondering if it actually cost’s that much to have a successful blog –is the ‘overhead’ once you get to your level of blogging that much? To me (a struggling newbie blogger) 2 million seems like ‘more than enough’ to pay off the house now…. Just Curious 🙂
Sarah Titus says
Great question Joyce. I created a post that answered your question in full here. Check it out. 🙂
Kacey says
I love this story. I am so impressed how you never gave up despite what others thought and the hardships you had to go through. So happy you found Jesus. God is so good. I also like your idea of just taking those steps and being consistent and making a goal, working towards it and then making new goals after each goal is reached. That definitely helps with motivation.
I just started my blog and I have a long way to go. I am about to have a baby and I am leaving my full time job as a horse barn manager to be a stay at home mom.
My first goal is to create helpful content and make my first $1. Lol! God Bless. 🙂
Sarah Titus says
Hi Kacey. 🙂 Your blog is UBER cute!!! I think you’ll do well b/c you’re very relateable (pictures of you). You also have your own STYLE (fonts), which will set you apart immediately. Keep doing those things for SURE. 🙂 I was a stay at home mom as a single mom, so it’s definitely possible. I am SO happy that you’ve decided to stay home with your little one coming. SO happy for you!!! <3
Heidi says
Thank you for sharing your story, Sarah! I too have suffered through painful relationships so it’s encouraging you’ve come to the other side. Did you use the printables included in your blogging bundle you sell as you grew your blog in the beginning? Do you think someone with only 1,000 page views could benefit from it?
Sarah Titus says
Heidi, I’m sorry to hear you’ve suffered through painful relationships as well. Praying for you right now. <3 🙂
I'm not sure exactly what you mean about the Blogging Bundle. Have I used it? Yes, I've written it. 🙂 So it's what I've done and what I still use today, so I think I'm misunderstanding your question. Yes, someone with 1,000 page views can most definitely benefit greatly from the Blogging Bundle. Lemme know if you meant something else. <3
Heidi says
Yes, I meant to ask if as you were growing your blog if you used what you include in the blogging bundle. Sorry for not being too clear. 🙂
Sarah Titus says
Oh no need to apologize. <3 I wasn't sure. Yes, it's all about what I've used to get to where I am. All the things I've figured out along the way, what I've done, etc. For the Blogging Binder (included in the bundle), I use that very often. Especially with tracking things, which is VITAL to growth!!! 🙂
Denise says
Hi Sarah!
Thank you so much for this post. I have just started blogging and am looking forward to the opportunities (I hope) it gives me. You truly are an inspiration.
Sarah Titus says
Congratulations on your new blog! *yay* 🙂 So glad I can inspire. <3
Shari Lynne says
Beautiful story Sarah. God is amazing and so are you ❤
Sarah Titus says
Thank you Shari Lynne. <3 🙂
Oby says
Amazing story, Sarah! You’re a true inspiration.
Sarah Titus says
Thank you Oby. 🙂
Claudia says
Hi Sarah
I loved your inspiring story, but may I please ask something that is confusing me a little? Why don’t you pay your house off if you are already earning enough money? Why do you need to earn extra money? I really don’t mean anything bad with these questions, but I just want to understand a bit better. Your story certainly is very inspiring.
Sarah Titus says
Absolutely Claudia. I created a post to answer that question in full here. Check it out. 🙂
Lisa says
Sarah, your story and blogging success is extremely inspirational! You’re the reason I’m eager to get started with my blog soon. But I’m a little confused about something…you make more than 2 million dollars a year and your goal is that you want to live off of a mere $1,000 a month? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for living below your means but really? Why so little?
Sarah Titus says
Not sure I follow what you mean. Are our lives solely about money and comfort? Is that what makes us truly happy? Is this the reason God put us here on Earth? Make money and die? The common problem with America is that they spend every penny (and more!) than they earn. If I have a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 3 car garage, 2 story gorgeous home, and a brand new car that I don’t owe any money on, is that not enough, or do I need more? I’m set. I’m happy. And I give more of my money AWAY than I keep. Whether I make $18k/year or $2.4M/year, nothing changes…only the amount of my givings. *big hugs* <3 🙂
Candra says
Sarah…You always seem to come in my inbox with encouragement at the right time. I have been following you for about 3 to 4 years now and am always inspired by your story. Thanks for the renewed hope. I am a wofe and mother of 3…my youngest child is 10 months and I have been trying to stay at home with him since I became pregnant. But sadly my husbands income is less than mine. I even went as far to give my job my resignation when I got back from maternity leave, but had to rescind it. I feel like I am stuck. I know of the many great opportunities that exist to work at home, but every time I start a venture, I can never seem to follow through. All the while, my infant son gets older and my desire to leave the 9 – 5 rat race increases. I am 40 now and feel like life is passing me by. But your encouragement always renew my energy. I have some fasting and praying to do because I have been stuck for too long. Thank you for sharing your story.
Sarah Titus says
It definitely sounds like you’ve been stuck way too long and you need to know the direction God wants you to go. I’m praying for you right now, that He will show you the way He wants you to go. <3 <3 <3
Mona says
Sarah, your story is very inspirational. What a blessing you are to share it with us. Thank you. I am wondering whether I can translate what you’ve shared into my experience. I’m not a mom or a wife. I am a retired legal secretary — worked with crazy lawyers for 43 years! Now I am “living” on SS, which is not even enough for a 70-year-old to manage on. Often, I think of starting a blog, but I really don’t have any “specializations.” Guess I’m disgracefully average. Even though the owner of the apartment where I live won’t let me have one, I love, love, love dogs. Not a specialist, just a lover. Got any ideas an “old lady” can use to get a blog up and running? $1,000 a month would be like winning the lottery! Thanks so much for all you do and the example you set!
Lisa says
I guess that is my point. You have a measure of self discipline not often seen in people with your level of income. I agree that our lives are not just about money, but most of us live trying to get more. But as Christ followers we must be careful to not conform to that mindset. I applaud you for that and I hope and pray that when I’m a successful blogger I’m rooted in Christ and not hung upon wealth. Blessings, Sarah!
Sarah Titus says
You’re so right…we can’t conform to the world as Christians. We are here for a higher purpose and none of that involves money. I’m happy so long as my bills are paid. 🙂 That’s all I really need. I’ve not changed anything since increasing my income to millions, with the exception that I bought the house I’m renting (and only b/c I had to; God’s plan). lol. I will pray that you are rooted in Christ if He blesses you with great wealth…keep in mind, that’s the only way to get it. He only gives us exactly what we CAN handle as Christians. That applies to wealth too. 🙂 <3
Emily says
Thank you for sharing this, you are an amazing woman. I started my blog several years ago as a way to keep track of all the ideas I had before going back to a “real job.” Then I lost steam when the medical conditions of all 3 of my children took over my life. While I now have a part-time job outside of the home (which I love, it’s renovation kitchens and bathrooms, which gives me the skills to do my own!). I started back up again about 2 years ago now with the goal to keep me out of a traditional job allowing me to be flexible. My husband is a wonderful partner and provider and knows that we need me to have the flexibility to handle their medical conditions (I have a limit of 12 appointments a week, it’s the most I can handle!). But, I sometimes think it would take some stress off of him if he felt my income was more stable. Every time I get focused and on track with blogging, we end up with another ER visit or hospital stay and I end up derailed!
Sarah Titus says
Praying for you Emily. Definitely sounds like a lot to handle, but keep your chin up. You can get ahead…it may not seem like it. But over time, even one step forward is progress. *hugs*
Sarah Belanger says
God knew I needed to read this. I thought I had goals, but they’re really just dreams until I make a plan and put that plan into action.
Sarah Titus says
So glad He brought you to it, Sarah. <3
Barb H. says
Sarah thank you so much for sharing your story. It is truly an inspiration. I’m in that middle phase of blogging where I’m throwing spaghetti at the wall and my growth is so slow. Lately I feel like I’m literally spinning in circles trying to figure where to put my focus. What you said about goals is really helpful. I just need to pick a goal and focus on that, and then when that’s done pick another. I know we’re not supposed to compare ourselves with others, but sometimes it is so hard to put the blinders on. I thank God for putting me on this journey and giving me people like you to get inspired by. Thank you for all you do! God Bless!
Sarah Titus says
Glad to help Barb. 🙂 Yes, just pick 1-2 things to work on at a time. <3
Elena | Latina Wife and Mom Life says
What an inspiring way to start my day! I had always wondered what it cost your children to have you working hours upon hours for years, what the impact on them was, what repercussions (if any) have occured from that and if there is anything you would have done a little differently. I ask because I currently have 2 under 2 and another on the way. And they ARE the reason I am blogging, so I can have a life WITH them. My husband and I have discussed maybe me needing to sacrifice more so I can get my business going and for now not give the babies all the attention. I currently only work in the am ’till they wake up and then again while they nap. That’s it. And when I HAVE tried to sit at my desk during their awake hrs. They LITERALLY stick to me and don’t get off me or let me go! Please let me hear your imput on all this…how have your children handled those early years. Am I worrying too much about my babies?
Sarah Titus says
I think it’s a balance for sure. My kids were very little when my ex-husband originally left and so, I had to pay the bills on my own and worked around their schedules. I found something I could do from home that INCLUDED them. I was reselling on ebay. So, if I drove to pick something up, they went with me. If I was listing something, they watched a movie in the same room as me. I waited until they were in bed at night to do things like shipping/printing labels where it needed my concentration.
As they grew, they were very much a part of the business (BECAUSE I started them at a young age). My daughter loved Littlest Pet Shop toys, so that’s what we sold. It helped her be ever so into it (she’s now quite the entrepreneur!) She’d sort, clean them, play with them, etc. I’d let her have certain ones that didn’t sell well or had ink marks on them. It was a family business. It is no different in the least, now that I’m a blogger. 🙂 My kids are INCREDIBLY involved in my blog.
I now pay my daughter to help (she’s my VA) and does great work! My son helps too, but he’s more happy to play the Wii, although he’s great at helping me do other things like do dishes, so I can work. My daughter will create an entire post, something we do together. Here’s an example of a post. If I’m taking pictures, she’s helping. If I’m recording a video, she’s helping move lights and situate things. Nothing I do is solitary (I’m really big on the idea we are all a team and work together), although, I will say the kids are in school now which makes it much easier. But everything I do, is ALWAYS with my family. This is our life, our livelihood, and I make it a point that they are excited and motivated to help. This has always worked for me. I’m not willing to give up my family. So when I say I worked 80-120 hours a week, I did it with my kids. When I needed to do things they can’t help with (or the boring stuff they don’t enjoy), I did it while they were sleeping at night or now, at school. In fact, I just got online now after playing Monopoly with the kids. I won. 😉 Which is rare. 🙂 And now they are in bed for the night. Time to work on the things I need to concentrate on or things they can’t help with. When I first started down this path, it was a decision our entire family made together. I didn’t say, “Hey, I’m doing this, like it or not.” We ALL chose this, together. No one can be bitter about it (and they aren’t) b/c we all decided as a family. I would encourage you greatly to include your kids in everything you do. Multi-task everything. If you’re making dinner, snap pictures for a post. You’re doing double-duty. Play with them, and create a DIY post. Obviously that doesn’t work for every blog, but it gives you the idea. 🙂 Always include them. <3
Jess says
You are so inspirational- I can’t wait to read more of your posts. Your family looks so happy! All the best from a mama in New Zealand
Sarah Titus says
Thank you Jess. <3 The kids are definitely not happy all the time (lol), but, I sure do love them! 🙂