Time Marches On

After seven years, and with a heavy heart, I’m here to say that life’s path is leading elsewhere. And I feel it’s best to follow that intuition. I can’t say for sure, but this will probably be my last post.

Listen to the Podcast

I’ll begin with a secret: I never cared much about the nuts and bolts of personal finance (the means), but I was rather enamored with the idea of a financially secure life (the ends). In 2018, climbing media was still full of narratives glorifying the poor dirtbag ideal, but that didn’t align with my lived experience. I wanted to climb hard, while also yearning for meaningful work and financial security. That’s the first half of this story.

The other reason I started this project was that I wanted to write, yet I lacked a clear direction or focus. The standard advice is to write about what you know. At the time, those were the subjects of mild to severe obsession, so Clipping Chains was born. My goal? I would build the first (and as far as I know, only) platform bringing concepts of simple wealth creation to a climbing culture that still occasionally honored dumpster diving. What could go wrong?

I was so scared. Honestly. The day I launched the simple blog, I sent an email to friends and family. Some replied with excitement, others were merely polite. Many never responded. Word slowly spread through my feeble attempts at marketing (I’ve wondered for years why I felt the need to reach more people. More on that in a bit).

Early posts—the first eighteen months—detailed plans, methods, and the philosophical underpinnings of (eventually) quitting my corporate job and doing something better for myself and the world—but mostly I just wanted to climb more. By early 2020, I sort of quit said corporate job just as Covid arrived and the world flipped upside down.

I was never an early retirement guy, although that reputation tended to follow me. In truth, I can see why. In the early days, I sold a vision of freedom through financial independence, even if, behind the scenes, I wasn’t living that way myself. After all, I was busy writing and trying to build a platform.

A Slow Realization

I had so much fun in those early years. I started interviewing interesting people, gaining a broader perspective, and received validation from so many of you. Those tedious written interviews spurred readers to request a podcast format—requests I resisted until 2021. 

While I’d started losing interest in the blog, the podcast spurred new life. It turned out I liked interviewing and speaking, and I thought I was decent at it. I could convey a bit more personality through the audio format than in the written word alone. It all felt so important and purposeful to show up and do this each week.

But it also fed something darker. I started performing. I subconsciously built a persona that wasn’t exactly me. More confident. More fun. Probably more empathetic. Maybe every podcaster does this, but I soon felt compelled to offer insight and wisdom each Monday, no matter the reality of my personal life. Ain’t the internet just so funny?

With hindsight, I suspect I was seeking a connection without knowing so. But I’m so torn on this, and I don’t want it to come across in the wrong way. I’m indebted to many of you who have become legitimate friends. I’ve met readers and listeners in my home and thousands of miles away in far-flung locales across the globe. We’ve climbed together, shared food, and constructively disagreed. We’ve traded emails and become pen pals. I’ve enjoyed rich conversations, too many to count. I’ve learned from you.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I don’t think my story is that cool or unique anymore. We’re not traveling much or living a special lifestyle. I’m working again. I will, however, emphasize that building a financial cushion offered much flexibility in finding work that mattered to me. I just don’t want that work to be about me anymore. It feels healthier that way, and I hope you understand.

Talk Soon?

When I started this, I was a 34-year-old smug guy who thought he had the world figured out. I write to you today greatly humbled by what I’ve learned. More than money or work or climbing, I’ve absorbed so much about the great expanse of human experience. Thank you for that.

A Few Clerical Notes:

For email subscribers who saw this post land in their inboxes: I’m going to cancel my newsletter subscription today or soon, as it’s a rather hefty ongoing monthly cost.

I can’t thank contributing members enough, but I will cancel all ongoing payments effective today. I will maintain this website and podcast hosting service so long as funding allows, so you are certainly welcome to make a one-time contribution if you feel compelled. Thank you for your support, no matter how small!

My contact page and email remain active—please stay in touch.

Until next time…

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