In a candid and reflective update to his long-standing audience, J.D. Roth, the influential voice behind Get Rich Slowly, has announced a profound shift in his personal and professional trajectory. Following a period of intense grief—specifically, the loss of his mother two months ago—Roth has declared 2023 to be his "Year of Me." This initiative represents a departure from the external, output-driven focus that has defined his career, signaling a pivot toward prioritizing personal well-being, internal alignment, and the deliberate pursuit of a values-driven life.
The Turning Point: Grief and the Search for Meaning
For many, the aftermath of a major loss is a period of stagnation. For Roth, the last two months have been a crucible of introspection. After spending weeks shrouded in the "fog" of mourning, he has finally emerged with a renewed sense of clarity.
"It’s clear to me—and to my partner, Kim—that above all else, I need to make 2023 the year of me," Roth wrote. This declaration is not merely a New Year’s resolution; it is a fundamental restructuring of his daily priorities. Historically, Roth has utilized "theming" his years to achieve specific outcomes—such as fitness goals, writing projects, or personal development milestones. However, this iteration of self-theming carries a heavier weight: it is a corrective measure against a decade of habit where his own needs were consistently pushed to the periphery.
A Chronology of Self-Neglect and Recovery
To understand the necessity of this shift, one must look at the timeline of Roth’s professional and personal life over the last decade.
- The Early Years (Pre-2015): During this period, Roth successfully employed the strategy of "theming" his months and years. By focusing his energy on a singular objective, he found high success rates in projects ranging from physical health to financial discipline.
- The Period of Dilution (2015–2022): As Get Rich Slowly scaled and his professional commitments grew, the habit of personal focus fell by the wayside. Roth notes that he became accustomed to putting himself "second, third, or even ninth." This gradual erosion of personal boundaries, coupled with the recent emotional toll of his mother’s passing, left him at a breaking point.
- The Current Moment (Late 2022): Following a period of deep soul-searching, Roth has begun the process of "de-prioritizing" external demands to focus on his internal health. He has already begun clearing the "digital clutter" from his life, including the removal of time-sink applications like Reddit and Hearthstone from his personal devices.
- The Roadmap for 2023: Looking ahead, the year is defined by an absence of rigid scheduling. Roth is intentionally moving away from a strict editorial calendar for his website, opting for a more fluid, conversational, and authentic approach to content creation.
Supporting Data: The Philosophy of Adlerian Psychology
The impetus for this change is not arbitrary; it is rooted in intellectual engagement with psychological frameworks. During a recent trip to California, Roth and his partner explored The Courage to Be Disliked, a seminal work by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. The book, which translates the complex concepts of psychologist Alfred Adler into a Socratic dialogue, has become a cornerstone of Roth’s new philosophy.
Adlerian psychology posits that humans are not determined by their past, but by their current choices and the goals they set for their future. The central tenet that resonated with Roth is the "courage to be disliked"—the realization that one’s pursuit of happiness is independent of the validation of others. By accepting that others’ opinions are outside of his control, Roth is attempting to shed the "reactive" patterns that have kept him from his own goals.
"The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of a proactive person," Roth noted, citing Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This concept of "proactivity vs. reactivity" serves as the analytical foundation for his current state. By identifying his core values, he aims to replace the impulsive, comfort-seeking behaviors that characterized his recent period of burnout with a more intentional, values-driven framework.
Implications for the Get Rich Slowly Community
The most common question following a creator’s shift toward self-care is: "What does this mean for the audience?" For the readers of Get Rich Slowly, the answer is both paradoxical and encouraging.
The Shift in Content Strategy
Roth has explicitly stated that he is abandoning any rigid publishing schedule. While this might signal a reduction in quantity, he argues it will likely lead to an increase in quality and depth. By giving himself permission to write only when he has something meaningful to contribute, he hopes to avoid the "forced" content that often plagues long-running blogs.
The "De-Design" Project
One of the most anticipated outcomes of this "Year of Me" is the long-awaited "de-design" of the Get Rich Slowly website. The site, which has undergone various iterations over the years, is slated for a streamlined overhaul. This reflects the broader, minimalist philosophy Roth is adopting: stripping away the excess to focus on the essential.
The Paradox of Self-Interest
There is a common misconception that prioritizing one’s self is inherently selfish or detrimental to the community. Roth addresses this head-on, noting that by putting himself first, he is almost certain to become a more effective and authentic resource for his readers. "The truth is, by putting myself first, I’m almost certain to become a better person for others," he wrote. This aligns with the "oxygen mask" principle: one must ensure their own internal resources are stable before they can effectively contribute to the stability of others.
The Path Forward: A Call for Authenticity
As Roth moves into this new phase, the tone of his work is shifting. The previously fragmented sections of his updates—ranging from personal life hacks to deep philosophical reviews of literature—are becoming the new standard.
The "Year of Me" is not an abdication of responsibility; it is a reclaiming of autonomy. For a writer who has spent years guiding others through the complexities of financial independence and life design, this shift toward radical self-honesty is perhaps his most valuable contribution yet.
By modeling what it looks like to pause, re-evaluate, and align one’s life with personal values rather than external metrics, Roth is inviting his audience to consider their own "Years of Me." Whether this results in a complete overhaul of his platform or simply a more authentic, less frequent voice, the implications for his followers are clear: the most important investment an individual can make is not in a portfolio, but in the integrity of their own character and the clarity of their purpose.
As Roth continues to implement his new strategy, the Get Rich Slowly community can expect a more sporadic, yet perhaps more profound, series of insights. The "Year of Me" is officially underway, and if early indicators are any guide, it is a masterclass in the courage required to live a life governed by values rather than impulses.
