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Full time blogging

When I started blogging back in 2003 I really didn’t want to do it. My friend proposed the idea and I told him I thought blogging was stupid but I’d try it just for fun. Now, a decade later I’ve left my full time job at an ad agency to blog for a living instead.

Some people saw this coming, others are a bit surprised and many don’t really understand how blogging can be a job. Honestly even I’m having difficulties grasping that concept even though it’s a really simple idea.

I used to work from 9 in the morning till 7 in the evening and three times a week I had gym from 8 to 9 so I never had time for anything else. I never had time to go meet with people, pass by art exhibitions or even see my friends. Now that blogging will be my full time job I should have a lot more time to do all the things I wanted to but never had time for.

Things aren’t that simple since without a “real” job I can’t get my residency renewed and banks also don’t seem to like me unless I have a salary coming in every month. But I’m working on it.

Other than that issue I’m looking forward to this since I’ll have so much more free time on my hands to do whatever I want. I might help Nat out with her work, I’m thinking of maybe doing my Masters, taking one hour Muay Thai sessions at Core, signing up again at Sidekick for some Jujitsu and maybe even take Scuba diving lessons or some other activity I previously never had time for. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is ditch work and drive to Entertainment City instead. I can’t ditch work anymore since I no longer have a job but maybe I can wake up in the morning and pretend I’m going to work and then go to Entertainment City? I don’t know I’ll have to see how I can get that idea working right.

But, more importantly, I will now have a lot more time to focus on this blog, I have a couple of projects that have been pending for ages which I want to get a move on, I also have the Kuwait Blogs app I need to fix because right now it keeps crashing and even my 248AM iPhone app needs an update as well. I’ve even handed over my blog’s media to a media company called Dot Backspace so they could take care of the blog’s advertising while I focus all my attention on the content.

I’m excited (and a bit worried) about blogging fulltime but I’m also looking forward to it. I’m currently in Lebanon for the next 10 days on my summer break so I won’t really notice anything different until I get back to Kuwait and realize I don’t have to wake up at 7:30 the next day to go to work. We’ll see how things will pan out.

120 replies on “Full time blogging”

Mark, that’s a pretty bold move but then again you’re a pretty distinguished individual.

All the best,

Joe

All the best! You definitely will succeed 🙂

I’d love to kno how will the residency thing work out?

Mabrook!

Perhaps start 2:48AM corp./ltd. turn into your own co. with a partner(s).
For all you know, one of the business’ practice could be selling 2:48AM merchandise 😛

When you think of the success of infomercials on TV, 2:48AM merchandise should be a no-brainer. If you don’t do it, maybe I will! #justjoking. But, it’s given me an idea…. for my own blogging. Thanks, ArabianFox!

Chris and Mark..I would love to know that too. Coz there are a lot of enterprising individuals like Mark, who are bound by the residency laws here…preventing them from being self-employed.

All the best Mark. Maybe you can pave the way for more pro bloggers in Kuwait and live life like an online mogul 😀

KCCO

Good luck Mark, blogging or anything else could be a full time job, its all about what u want to do about it that makes a difference. Also, look at Mashable for inspiration, is it any less of a full time job for the 50 employees that work for it today? as for the residency and bank, everything works around here :-)last, take it as an advantage to branch out of Kuwait, the world is much bigger and reward-full on the other side.

Good luck

Greats man. Takes time and effort to get where you are now.

Being your own boss is something i hope to strive in the future!

Congratulations Brother, You are living the dream. Go for it! Good luck and now that you will be dedicating more time to your blog we can expect you to continue keeping us info-tained. Keep it up!

I’m Jealous but happy for you 😉

hope your sought out the residency issues soon 🙂

all the best!!!

Hi 5 Bro !! 😉

I think thats a bold step .. no one has to work from the morning till 7 … you will not have time for yourself + your family

I hope things turn out well for you .. and loving the appartment in Beirut .. Hot stuff

Hey Mark,

You got me excited for you haha

Well done !

Also, what does the ad agency do to your blog exactly? I looked at there website bout dont know what service (or good) they provide for a blog? and how much do they cost? (like how do they quote their service?)

all the best!

I’m guessing you mean the media company (not ad agency) Dot Backspace. Basically right now it’s a lot of work managing the ads on the blog, finding new advertisers, invoicing, collecting payment etc.. What Dot Backspace will do is take care of all that for me for a percentage.

With little time you have, you are doing an amazing job already. I can’t wait to see what you can do with this being your full time job. I wish you all the best and I’m sure you will do extremely good.

Second, I don’t think Americans need a citizenship permit in Kuwait.

1. He is not American
2. He is not trying for a Kuwaiti Citizenship – if that’s what you meant
3. Even Americans need to have a valid residency aka iqama to live in Kuwait

sorry, I meant visa and i though americans didn’t need a visa to enter kuwait?
and i think he does have an american citizenship

@myk and Kuwait. Myk is correct there are Americans living in Kuwait without a residency stamp. In the UAE for example, after 8 months a Command-sponsored individual must have an iqama. The Kuwait government used to let all the Americans working on the base to stay in Kuwait without a visa until so many of them went to jail, so they changed the law for contractors. This is irresponsible. No country in the world would allow this.

Best of luck to you my friend!

You’re blog is one of a kind. And Successful.

If it wasn’t for you, I would have never even started to write independently. And ever since I started writing, I’ve been achieving things I always thought It was impossible for a guy like me.

Thank you, and good luck.

– Sincerely, Sulaiman G. AlOmar

Ur living the modern life dream… getting rid of that morning job and doing your own thing, free like a bird, be your own boss!

I’m just worried about your residency… won’t anyone make u leave beacause you don’t have a job to support you? This is your home after all!

Best of luck! Now we can see more of the uniqe 248am posts of the old times and its been a long time indeed!

Good luck mate. I do have a pop at you from time to time for stuff that goes on the blog but its a great blog nonetheless providing a good service to a lot of people.

And anyone who stands up for the rights of animals is alright in my book.

You should establish a company with a local partner under any permit! Just to make it easier for you…

Dude one question only:

How does one get a residency when he is not ‘officially’ working or is a salaried employee?

Good luck mate. How about celebrating by having a ‘daily give-away’ for your oldest readers and forum members 😉

wish you all the best of luck and success
your blog is wonderful and with your full time dedication I am sure it well be even better.

is it a better move or not! but at least you made your mind regarding your job
wish you all the best with blogging (again)

i am facing the same issues of not attending all kind of invitations due to my lovely work (cough) and i cant manage it at all

wish you all the best again .. and WELCOME BACK 248AM to the real world of blogging 🙂

Congratulations mate. Being on my own for about a year now, I know the feeling of not having anywhere to go to the following day, especially after you’ve worked for a living at a 9 to 5 job for over a decade. But I think in the end, it is much more rewarding working for yourself.

Besides, if a talentless hack like Perez Hilton can make a living out of writing trashy stuff about celebrities et al, I don’t see why someone as intelligent and cultivated as yourself can’t do it! Good luck!

Wishing you all the best. Now that you are working full time on it, the blog can only get better. Hopefully, the forum too.

Mabrook Mark! Allah ywafgik man, I really do wish you all the best. When I check out blogs, yours is the first one go to, everyday! I became conditioned to check your blog first, which is great.

I’ve been a reader of your blog for around 4 years now and I am happy & glad to that our media company handles your blog
“in blog we trust” 😀

You can even become a social media free lancer/consultant now that this is the hype. Many companies would love to have you on board part-time to develop an app for them, or run their social media marketing

Best of luck!

qhate was the 1st Kuwaiti blog I’ve ever read, I was a fan of your Miskan project as well and moblogging was fun too… I think with more time on your hands one can only expect more awesomeness.

It’s nice to do something you enjoy (and good at) for a living, good luck!

Wishing you the best of luck Mark! If I’ll ever become a full-time blogger one day, please know that you’re my inspiration!

Congratulations!

All that ‘hard work’ paid off. You get to eat, play with toys and practice your figure four leg locks for a living now. 🙂

Enjoy!

Please let me know how you manage the whole residence scene. With that out of the way, I would love to concentrate on my writing and masters too.

Good luck Mark ;

all those who quit their day job to find time for their selves will find that freelancing is much more time consuming but rewarding .

Blogs are disappearing because people have moved to tiwtter and facebook which are trendy but not that detailed .sticking with Blogging is best for you on revenue basis , but you are a PR indusrty veteran so i am sure you that already .

But now you must reply to all comments to keep your clients (readers) happy.

We expect more new cars stuff on your blog

I’m sure you will be great whatever your next venture is! Like most people here I too have followed your blogs since the early days. Maybe you should write a book or publish a series of books, one on preserving Kuwait’s modern history would be great as you feature so many articles about it.

Reminds me of another blogger who I read daily called Leo Babauta. He left his job, followed his dream and tripled his income writing about what he was passionate about and became one of the worlds top 25 blogs in 1 year!. Check out his blog here… https://zenhabits.net/archives/

Although I always visits Mark’s first!

Some ideas seem surprisingly stupid at first but turnout to be well worth it. In your case it was definitely worth it. Your blog is very informative. Best of luck for the future.

Congratulations for leaving work, that new freedom is worth it. Good luck with everything else, though you shouldn’t worry at all. You’ve always been very professional blogger, so it’s about time you really turned into a profession.

Good luck with everything 🙂

Don’t say you are jobless…you just don’t have a day job anymore. You have the luxury of doing what you please and in the process, liking what you do. How many of us can truly say that, hand on heart ?

You can live in Kuwait on a dependent spouse visa I suppose, no ? Actually, I am bit surprised you didn’t think of moving to Dubai, Beirut or even Qatar where there is today far more creative space than what Kuwait can offer you in this climate of regression, de-motivation and stagnation.
Says something about your moral fibre!

Bravo Mark !

They say the first leap is the hardest.

I’m new to your blog, but have been reading up.

And just the other day , i was just thinking to myself , how does Mark manage his blog , his professional life & personal life, all at the same time.

Does he blog for a living ? Was really about to ask you for pointers.

And then thanks to this update, i got my reply.

Wishing you and your family all the success and the very best in life.

All the best Mark 🙂

I for one am confident you’ll do well .

Apart from the logistics hassles of residency and stuff (which is a pain in the ass any which way being in Kuwait) , the blog itself will thrive now that you’ll be able to focus on it.

Good luck!
Caesar

Good luck buddy. Always follow your heart. wish you all the best.
looking forward now to a new and improved blog 🙂

Hi Mark,
I’m a person who doesn’t like to read a lot so your blog is perfect for me, Its become like a ritual now, I start my day reading your blog everyday. Become a real fan. You’ve done the right thing, don’t look back, full speed ahead. 🙂

Hi Mark
I think your strategy or vision is successful. Working full-time and blogging and be socialized is too hard for humans and me as well.
But rather than blogging, and having your own business and project is much better and worth it to give your full energy to your own business.

Waiting in companies feels like we are waiting like slaves.

All the best Mark!! Can you PLEASE create an ANDROID app for Kuwait Blogs since u have all this free time 🙂 ….u can use it on ur new Tab too!!Btw wheres the Galaxy Tab review??

Good luck. Now that yoy have more free time make sure not to over-blog. Keep the same rate if not a little more blogs daily. Quality blogs like the usual maybe more effort also into 248pm.

Just out of curiosity, it would be informative to know how much do you expect to make out of your blog. I hope you do not mind sharing the figures with public. No need to exact numbers, but a ballpark indicative figure might help others make a decision as well.

Thank you and all the best!!

It’s really different for every person on how much they think is enough to quit their job and blog for a living. I don’t think there is a set figure.

Way to go Mark, I’ve been a fan of yours since 2006 or 2007 ??
I’ve moved out of Kuwait to Sin City ( Dubai) but I still check your blog daily since I still consider Kuwait as hometown, its a good place to check on the changes happening in Kuwait as well as your life (*Totally not a stalker* :3 ).

Good luck, Mark!

Loyal follower since Miskan project, I have you to thank for being the most informed chick at my work place, trying new restaurants, reading about latest on Kuwait life, then getting to read some of the most interesting/crazy/awesome/obnoxious comments.

Looking forward to hear/read from you

The best thing to happen in Kuwait since…..
Mabrook Mark. Well deserved. Bloody brilliant.

Congrats thats awsome news! Ur on the best track escaping from the 9-5 working hours! I recommend you check out a book that is #1 New York Times bestseller and International Phenomenon ” The 4-Hour Workweek” – I feel it suits your Life style Mark and could help u stay on this track and Progress really quick! Congrats again and wish you the best!

I wish you all the best! I think there needs to be a non-sponsored visa who have lived in Kuwait more than 20 years. Zaydoun’s website, I was shocked to understand how many people have lived here for over 40 years and feel somesort of connection to this place. Why should your iqama be tied to a job, you should be able to sponsor yourself, likewise,I think spouses of Kuwaitis whether they are men or women should be able to have a work permit attached to a there iqama to work in the private sector. Why should they have to move their iqama from their spouses when they have children who have ties to this nation. You and your brother are magnificant photographers, why not do a showing? I honestly think you would be better off going to Dubai, where you could be in a more dynamic work environment in an everchanging modern country close to your home in Lebanon. Best Regards.

You’re one tenacious guy, Mark ! Just hang in there and your luck will turn- Kuwait may itself transform into a BEIRUT or CAIRO. How much better can it get for a copywriter by nature?

All the best bro, maybe now we can sit and finally get back to what I previously proposed to you about the rc training.

Wishing You All best Mark!!! Your blog is the first thing I see in my iPhone when I have my breakfast and the last application I see before I sleep. There were days when you don’t post anything I use to wonder why Mark has not posted anything but from now on I hope to see many interesting things.

Definately the best thing to do, if it makes you financially stable.

For work permit,
Why don’t you turn your Classified section into a licensed E-Commerce place, if it’s possible ! In this way, you get Permit for residency and everything is done within your website.

Or join any news company and get a review section, in this way you get a job and as well as post your review in newspaper or maybe you can join a Channel and have your own show “High lIfe Kuwait”, you have got loads of scope in Media Sector !!!

How do you crack the Kuwaiti chimera ? On the one hand here is a city state with an elected parliamentary democracy and more press freedom than any other country in West Asia and yet on the other hand you have draconian music and media censorships and segregation everywhich way you look.
Must be tough for copyrights, writers, musicians, fashion designers, in other words- the
avant garde or just about anyone that’s borderline creative to thrive in such a hostile climate. Run Mark! Run!

Mashallah, start your own bussines takes a lot of effort and talent and you have both, you are responsble and talented, I pray for the best.

All the best for this new phase of your life.

You should watch this award winning bollywood movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011). You’ll connect to it…

Use this opportunity to plan a gap year before settling on something lasting or more permanent. Perhaps a visit to India taking in Khajuraho, Ranthambore tiger sanctuary, the Osho Commune in Pune, Ananda Spa in the Himalayas and the Tea Estates of Darjeeling or Dalhousie will be just the thing to sort you out. Guaranteed to revv up your creative juices, or your dinars back!!

Just a word, Mark, When you say, you do not have a job, that would mean someone is providing you a visa. Probably you could just say that you are working somewhere. To be on the safe side legally!

That is a huge risk, but I have always dreamed of blogging being my real job. I never thought that people actually do that, but since you did it then that means its possible. Please update with your experience because someday I might take that same step.

Good Luck.

This means that either JWT doesn’t pay very well or that this blogs just generates way more than the salary that they were giving you that you didn’t need that job anymore.

Any who this is an interesting turn of events and I can’t wait to see how you cope with it. I hope you all the best.

All the best and keep up the good work. I’m a Kuwaiti living in Ireland and to tell you the truth not a day goes by that I don’t log on, I’ve read posts that made me laugh and post that angered me, you’ve put the longing on me to start up my own blog again.
I’ll keep this short, be good, be careful and be yourself.

Hass

Best of luck dude with everything! And it’s an awesome move being your own boss now and Blogging for a living. For a part time job try to get into a field you love and adore and something that will definitely not make you feel like working (that’s what I did when I started my part time job at a local English Newspaper and now I moved onto Full time) it’ll make a whole difference and your time will be your own.

Seriously sending you all the best thoughts out there and the coolest thing is that my blog was born a year after yours 😛

نحن نتعامل مع شركه غاليه ليش ما رحت معهم؟ كل التوفيق يا رب

And ofcourse if it doesn’t work out, you can end up working for pink coffee and blog for your clients *lol*

enjoy my dear ,this step came late
we are all waiting the jobs u will post and ask for employee to work for 248am Co. 🙂

Say Mark, must be darn tough to wear a double hat of expat blogger and citizen journalist; straddling a fine line between social activism and advertising!
That too based out of an ultra-conservative tribal society such as Kuwait’s where most interactions and/or interfaces with ajnabis are frowned upon at best.
Wishing you loadsa good wishes and all the luck you can get in this world! You are going to need it.

Any change of heart so far? You just hang in there, and all will become alright in the END.

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