In an era defined by relentless digital connectivity and the societal pressure to perform, J.D. Roth, the influential voice behind the personal finance platform Get Rich Slowly, has announced a profound shift in his professional and personal philosophy. Two months following the death of his mother, Roth has emerged from a period of deep reflection to declare 2023 as his "Year of Me." This pivot signals a departure from traditional content-creation cycles toward a more intentional, values-driven approach to life and work.
The Catalyst for Change: A Period of Mourning and Reflection
The genesis of Roth’s decision lies in the sobering reality of personal loss. Following his mother’s passing, Roth spent several weeks navigating the "fog" of grief. This period of bereavement served as a catalyst for a broader re-evaluation of his lifestyle, which had frequently prioritized external commitments over personal well-being.
"I’ve spent too long putting myself second, or third, or ninth," Roth notes in his latest update. "Starting yesterday, my aim is to put myself first for the next year."
For many, the concept of a "Year of Me" may be misconstrued as an act of self-indulgence. However, Roth is framing this as a necessary recovery of his own mental and physical autonomy. By consciously stepping back from the pressure of rigid publishing schedules, he intends to cultivate a state of mind that is not merely reactive to external stimuli, but proactive in its pursuit of core values.
Chronology of the Shift: From Theming to Transformation
Roth’s history with personal growth techniques is long-standing. Over a decade ago, he became a proponent of "theming" his life—a method of dedicating specific time blocks to singular pursuits such as physical fitness, writing, or personal relationships. This approach yielded significant successes in the past, yet it was a practice that eventually fell by the wayside as his career and responsibilities expanded.
The chronology of his current transition can be summarized as follows:
- The Period of Grief: Following the death of his mother, Roth entered a two-month hiatus to process the loss.
- The Soul-Searching Phase: During a road trip to California over the Thanksgiving holiday, Roth engaged with literature that challenged his existing worldview, specifically regarding the psychology of individual agency.
- The Implementation Phase: Upon returning, he began actively removing digital distractions—such as high-engagement apps like Reddit and Hearthstone—to clear the mental space required for intentional living.
- The "Year of Me" Commencement: Roth has officially declared that for the remainder of 2023, he will prioritize his own needs above the standard expectations of his audience.
Intellectual Foundations: The Psychology of Agency
Central to Roth’s transformation is his recent engagement with The Courage to Be Disliked, a book by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga that explores the Adlerian psychological perspective. The book, which Roth argues could be more aptly titled The Courage to Be Happy, posits that individuals have the power to define their own happiness independent of the judgments of others.
The Adlerian Influence
Alfred Adler’s philosophy emphasizes that human beings are not driven by past traumas, but by the goals they set for their future. This perspective is vital for Roth, who has spent years feeling compelled to maintain a specific "brand" or output level to satisfy his readership. By adopting the "courage to be disliked," Roth is granting himself the freedom to publish only when he has something meaningful to contribute, rather than adhering to a calendar that may no longer serve his personal growth.
Integrating Values over Impulses
A cornerstone of this transition is the adoption of a "values-driven life," a concept heavily influenced by Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Roth highlights a pivotal insight: "The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of a proactive person."
Roth admits that he had become reactive, driven by the immediate gratification of digital distractions rather than the long-term pursuit of his core values. His commitment to this new year involves a deliberate, ongoing effort to choose his values—carefully thought out and selected—over the fleeting impulses that have dominated his recent history.
Implications for the Audience and the Platform
The immediate question for the Get Rich Slowly readership is how this shift will affect the content. Roth has been transparent: he is intentionally abandoning any semblance of a production schedule.
The Future of Get Rich Slowly
Readers should anticipate a change in both the frequency and format of posts. Rather than lengthy, data-heavy articles produced on a deadline, the site will move toward more conversational, shorter-form updates. Roth believes that this shift, while seemingly a step back in terms of volume, will likely result in higher-quality content.
"I’m giving myself permission to put my needs and desires ahead of everything else," Roth explains. "But I’m almost certain that’ll translate into more fodder for articles around here. And, at long last, completion of the site de-design."
The "Better Person" Paradox
There is a paradoxical element to Roth’s declaration: he believes that by putting himself first, he will ultimately become more valuable to his readers. This is a common theme in high-performance psychology—the idea that personal sustainability is a prerequisite for public contribution. If the creator is not healthy, the content eventually suffers from exhaustion and lack of genuine insight. By prioritizing his own mental and physical health, Roth aims to ensure the long-term longevity of the Get Rich Slowly project.
A Broader Movement: The Rise of Intentional Living
Roth’s public pivot mirrors a broader trend among content creators and knowledge workers who are increasingly pushing back against the "grind culture" that defined the late 2010s. The shift from "productivity at all costs" to "intentionality as a baseline" is gaining traction, particularly as the burnout rate among digital workers continues to climb.
By utilizing resources such as the Designing Your Life methodology, Roth is treating his existence as a project that requires iteration, testing, and periodic redesign. His commitment to "The Year of Me" is not an act of isolation, but an exercise in boundaries.
Conclusion: Defining Success on Personal Terms
As J.D. Roth navigates this transition, the overarching lesson remains that personal growth is rarely a linear path. It is a process that requires the bravery to pause, the wisdom to identify one’s core values, and the discipline to ignore the external noise that often pressures individuals into living lives designed by others.
While the future of Get Rich Slowly may look different, it will likely be more authentic to the man behind the keyboard. By reclaiming his agency, Roth is demonstrating that the most important investment one can make is not in the stock market or a business venture, but in the deliberate cultivation of one’s own life. For those following his journey, the message is clear: if you find yourself lost in the fog, you have the right to clear it—one value-driven decision at a time.
