After navigating a period of profound personal grief and deep introspection, J.D., the voice behind the personal finance platform Get Rich Slowly, has announced a major shift in focus. Two months after the passing of his mother, the lingering emotional fog has finally begun to lift, leaving him with a renewed sense of clarity, motivation, and a commitment to prioritize his own well-being.
In a candid update shared with his readers, J.D. explained that after extensive soul-searching alongside his partner, Kim, he has realized that he must make the upcoming year entirely about himself. For too long, physical and mental health have taken a back seat to external pressures, distractions, and excuses. Addressing the potential perception of selfishness, J.D. emphasized that stepping back to prioritize his own needs is ultimately a prerequisite for becoming a better person for others, including his dedicated readership.
2023 — The Year of Me
The concept of dedicating specific periods to intentional focus is not entirely new to J.D. Over a decade ago, he regularly adopted themes for his years and months, a practice that proved both engaging and remarkably fruitful. Whether he directed his energy toward fitness, writing, or dating, setting a singular focus consistently yielded positive results. However, like many lifestyle habits, this practice eventually fell by the wayside.
Reflecting on recent years, J.D. noted that he has spent far too much time placing himself at the bottom of his own priority list. Starting immediately, his aim is to put himself first for the foreseeable future. While acknowledging that prioritizing his own mental and physical health feels uncomfortable and counterintuitive at first glance, he is resolute in breaking the cycle of neglect.
For the readers of Get Rich Slowly, the transition is expected to be largely internal rather than disruptive. J.D. anticipates that this inward shift will naturally generate fresh material and insights for the site, while finally paving the way for the completion of the long-awaited site redesign. At the same time, he is intentionally lifting the pressure of a rigid publishing schedule. Moving away from forced content creation, he plans to write organically—sharing thoughts when inspiration strikes and avoiding artificial constraints. This flexible approach was precisely what prompted his recent personal update, written spontaneously between a self-reflection exercise and a scheduled call with a friend.
The Courage to Be Disliked
A significant catalyst for this shift in perspective came during a Thanksgiving road trip to California with Kim and her family. To pass the hours on the road, the couple listened to The Courage to Be Disliked by authors Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. The book, which explores the foundational psychological principles of Alfred Adler, resonated deeply with J.D., who noted that the work might be more accurately understood as exploring The Courage to Be Happy.
The audiobook presented numerous philosophical concepts that initially required unpacking. Because the text is structured as a Socratic dialogue, J.D. plans to revisit the material in a digital format, skimming specifically for key takeaways and core lessons rather than sitting through the entire conversational narrative. He has also hinted that a formal review or summary of the book could eventually make its way onto Get Rich Slowly.
A Values-Driven Life
The overarching theme of personal realignment was further underscored by a reflection from Stephen R. Covey’s influential work, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Highlighting a passage retrieved through his Readwise digital archive, J.D. zeroed in on the distinction between reactive behavior and proactive living. Covey writes that the ability to subordinate a transient impulse to a deeply considered value forms the core of a proactive individual, whereas reactive people are driven primarily by fleeting feelings, environmental conditions, and external circumstances.
Recognizing that he had drifted away from his core values while losing control over minor impulses, J.D. has already begun taking concrete steps to reclaim his focus. Practical measures have included removing time-consuming distractions, such as Reddit and the digital card game Hearthstone, from his iPad.
While these adjustments mark a departure from traditional, highly structured publishing formats, J.D. remains committed to the core audience and mission of Get Rich Slowly. For the duration of this intentional period of self-renewal, readers can expect content that is direct, conversational, and reflective of a renewed commitment to personal growth.
