Well, I guess most here know me already, but I'll add to the thread anyway.
And Nate, my records are amended, if I email you and call you Jayden again you have permission to bitch-slap me. :yes:

I'm Conran, I live and work in the UK.
I spent ten years in the security industry, but wanted out due to the unsociable hours, lack of future career options and general environment. I didn't find it very challenging or stimulating any more.
So in late 2009 I started BlokeToys.co.uk with a friend in an attempt to kick start a part-time business while I continued working full-time.
This also took me into investigating affiliate blogging, and being the sponge of information I tend to be I found myself picking up a whole lot of information rather quickly.

In late 2010 I collapsed due to a heart condition. Due to my young age it was taking months to investigate with tests, but it was established early on that I had a heart condition, a blood pressure problem and an overly-responsive nervous system. Therefore I was no longer suitable for the position I had.
While I was off work I decided that claiming disability would not be an option for me if it was decided that I couldn't return to work at all, and due to my extreme boredom I began blogging full-time and soon considered how this could lead to an income in other ways while I waited for the traffic and sales to escalate.

Because of my love of writing (writing creatively from the age of fifteen), I considered that I could combine the two and be a paid writer for other affiliates and site owners. My friend helped me out again and pushed me in the right direction and I started GayContentWriter without really knowing if it would work or not. But I could see that there was a gap in the market, and that no others were actively filling it in the communities I had found.
I figured that all I needed was to cover my bills and then I'd at least have a chance to consider my next move or wait for a health solution to allow me to return to work.

That was (almost) a year ago, and since then I have built up a healthy client list and replaced my income completely. I've built many friendships and business relationships, my own affiliate sales are increasing to provide a secondary income, and BlokeToys is growing also (extremely slowly).
I've cut my hours in half, I feel healthier, I enjoy what I'm doing... generally life is good.

I'm now looking at developing BlokeRetail to encompass everything I do, and bringing in the friend who kicked it all off for me as a partner.

It's very odd that something you think could be the end of you suddenly becomes the start of a completely new life.