For long-time followers of the personal finance blog Get Rich Slowly, the site has long been a pillar of structured, actionable advice. However, its founder, J.D., recently announced a significant pivot in both his professional output and his personal philosophy. Two months after the passing of his mother, the author has declared 2023 to be "The Year of Me," a period dedicated to radical self-prioritization, mental health, and a departure from the traditional pressures of content creation.
This transition is not merely a change in blogging frequency; it is a fundamental shift in how the author intends to balance professional responsibilities with personal well-being. By embracing a philosophy of proactivity over reactivity, the author aims to redefine his relationship with his audience, his work, and himself.
The Genesis of a New Philosophy: 2023 as "The Year of Me"
The decision to designate 2023 as "The Year of Me" did not emerge in a vacuum. It is the culmination of weeks of intense introspection following a period of profound grief. For many years, the author—known for his disciplined approach to financial and personal development—had fallen into a pattern of putting his own needs last.
The Return to Thematic Living
The practice of "theming" years—a habit the author abandoned years ago—has been reinstated as a core pillar of his life management strategy. In previous iterations, these themes allowed for concentrated focus on specific goals, ranging from physical fitness to creative writing. By intentionally dedicating a span of time to a single, primary objective, he found he could achieve significantly better results than when his focus was fractured.
Moving Beyond "Selfishness"
The author acknowledges that the term "selfish" often carries a negative connotation. Yet, he argues that the neglect of his own physical and mental health for the sake of external obligations has become unsustainable. By shifting his focus inward, he intends to align his daily actions with his core values rather than external impulses. The philosophy here is clear: by ensuring his own foundation is solid, he will ultimately become more capable of providing value to others, including his readership.
Chronology: From Grief to Introspection
To understand the current shift, it is necessary to examine the timeline of events that led the author to this inflection point:
- The Period of Bereavement: Following the death of his mother, the author entered a period of emotional "fog," during which his motivation for professional pursuits waned.
- The Thanksgiving Catalyst: During a trip to California, the author and his partner, Kim, engaged with the audiobook The Courage to Be Disliked. This served as a philosophical catalyst for the changes he is now implementing.
- The Commitment to Change: Moving into December, the author began taking concrete steps to reclaim his focus, including the removal of digital distractions such as Reddit and Hearthstone from his personal devices.
- The Public Declaration: The formal announcement of "The Year of Me" serves as the final, public step in this transition, setting the tone for his editorial approach in the coming months.
Theoretical Framework: Insights from Psychological Literature
The author’s pivot is heavily informed by two seminal works that explore the mechanics of human behavior and life design.
The Courage to Be Disliked
Based on the psychology of Alfred Adler, this book argues that many of the stresses individuals face are the result of living to meet the expectations of others. The core thesis—which the author suggests is better understood as "The Courage to be Happy"—posits that one must disentangle their own life tasks from the tasks of others. For the author, this means accepting that his value is not contingent upon constant, rigid production schedules or external validation.
Proactivity vs. Reactivity: The Covey Paradigm
The author draws on Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to explain his current state of mind. Covey notes that "the essence of a proactive person" is the ability to subordinate an impulse to a value.
- Reactive people: Governed by feelings, environmental conditions, and external circumstances.
- Proactive people: Governed by carefully chosen and internalized values.
By moving away from a reactive model, the author is attempting to reclaim his agency. This involves a deliberate audit of his daily habits and the elimination of "impulse-driven" behaviors that have previously derailed his productivity.
Implications for the Audience and the Platform
Readers of Get Rich Slowly may be concerned about the future of the platform, given the author’s stated intention to remove himself from rigid publishing schedules. However, the implications are likely more nuanced than a simple reduction in content.
A New Editorial Strategy
The author has clarified that he is not abandoning long-form or focused articles. Instead, he is abandoning the pressure to produce them on a fixed timeline. He describes this as a move toward a more conversational and organic style of communication. The goal is to ensure that when content is produced, it is the result of genuine reflection rather than a forced obligation.
The "De-Design" of the Site
A long-awaited project, the "site de-design," is now back on the table. By prioritizing his own needs, the author expects to finally find the mental bandwidth to complete these infrastructure improvements. This suggests that while the frequency of posts may fluctuate, the quality and the structural integrity of the platform may actually improve.
The Impact on Quality
There is a prevailing theory in digital media that creators who prioritize their own mental health produce work that is more authentic and durable. By giving himself "permission" to prioritize his needs, the author is effectively insulating the platform against burnout. The implication is that this "Year of Me" will yield more insightful, research-backed content—such as a forthcoming, in-depth review of The Courage to Be Disliked—rather than a steady stream of filler content.
Conclusion: The Path Forward
The "Year of Me" is not an act of abandonment, but rather an act of realignment. For those who follow the author’s journey, this transition offers a template for how to navigate personal loss and professional fatigue.
The author’s commitment to internalizing his values and discarding the impulses that have hindered his growth serves as a powerful case study in personal management. Whether or not the reader agrees with his specific approach, the underlying principle—that sustained contribution to others requires a foundation of self-respect and clear values—is a lesson in leadership and personal efficacy.
As J.D. enters this new chapter, his audience can expect a platform that is less driven by the "tyranny of the calendar" and more driven by the author’s own intellectual and personal discovery. The shift is, as he describes it, an internal change that will ultimately be reflected in the outward expression of his work. For the foreseeable future, the focus remains on the individual, which, paradoxically, may be the most generous gift he can offer his readers.
