Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I want to start a blog. What is Urgen’s advice?
A: If you have a passion for writing, go ahead. I believe everyone should have their own blog or website. Your blog or website will be your online resume/portfolio. Life is short, take risks. I started with WordPress. You should do the same. It is not easy as some may think it is. However, if you believe you have something to share, do it. Write interesting things and share them publicly. Like-minded people will come to you. I am speaking from experience. Starting a blog has been one of the best decision I have made in my life. Use the internet as your leverage and reach millions of people.
Q: Blogging looks easy. Do you just write what comes to your mind and post it online?
A: I respectfully disagree with the notion that blogging is easy work. You have to do immense research to back up your arguments for your blog post. Plus, you will have multiple rough drafts before you publish your blog online. Rough drafts are usually ugly as fuck. Ask any good writers. Lots of editing work as well. You will probably spend only about five minutes reading a blog post. But, remember it took the writer/blogger 5-6 hours to produce the blog post. Before you trash someone’s work remember that it takes much longer to create than consume.
Q: Is Urgen looking to hire an intern or an assistant?
A: I could use one but unfortunately at this time I am not looking for an intern or an assistant. Perhaps in the near future.
Q: How long has UrgenKuyee.com been online?
A: Since April, 2016.
Q: How does Urgen make money from the blog?
A: I get this question a lot. I make money from the blog by collaborations and campaigns mainly via sponsored posts and through affiliate programs. Sponsored posts are when clients pay me to write a blog post and within the post, have some links back to their site. Affiliate programs are simple. If you click a link on my site and make a purchase through one of those links, I may make a commission from that purchase. Additionally, I will say my blog has turned out to be my online portfolio/ resume and has opened multiple doors for me. In other words, my blog has led to more paid writing gigs , I have successfully interviewed Canada’s top personal finance authors and experts, like-minded people have approached me, et cetera.
Q: Can I republish or translate content from UrgenKuyee.com in my own book, web site, newsletter, etc?
A: Sure, you can. Feel free to share them with others. I only ask to make sure to give credit where it is due 🙂
Q: How can I interview Urgen for my blog, podcast, radio show, etc?
A: Please use the contact form to share what you have in mind.
Q: Does UrgenKuyee.com accept blog swaps?
A: Nope.
Q: Can I request Urgen to do editing and proofreading for free?
A: Nope.
Q: Can I take Urgen out for coffee and spend two hours with him? I want to pick his brain. I will pay for coffee.
A: LMAO. Nope. If you are this person, I hope you fall off a sea cliff and become shark food.
Q: May I link to UrgenKuyee.com from my site?
A: Yes. Links are appreciated.
Q: Why does Urgen accept donations?
A: Because Urgen is a huge fan of money and does not have any kind of allergy to money. More importantly, UrgenKuyee.com is a freemium site. 100% of content is free in this site. So, if you would like to make a donation to support Urgen’s work, please visit the Donation page.
Q: Did Urgen take any creative writing course? Does Urgen have an English degree? Has Urgen ever been enrolled in a professional writing program? What about a master’s in Literature?
A: Nope. I am self taught. My dirty little secret is that I got a D in grade 12 U English and I had to retake the course to get a better grade. True Story. That was many years ago. Today, I have realized that the market does not care about your grade 12 English grade, your Diploma, Degree, Master’s or PHD. As long as you provide what the market demands, you will be fine. A caveat: You have to be good at what you do and you must enjoy it. For instance, writing looks like hard work for others. For me, writing is play. I don’t consider writing to be work because I deeply enjoy it.
Q: I want to take a creative writing course. I learn better from a teacher and need guidance. Should I?
A: Absolutely. All of us learn differently. Bonus: You will make friends and find it easier to motivate yourself when you surround yourself with writers. However, again, I repeat, the market does not care if you took a course or not. Plus, I would build an online portfolio where people a.k.a. “the market” can see your work and give you real world feedback.
Q: How can I be a better writer?
A: Read and Write. Read more and write more. Rinse and repeat. Consume books like you consume pizza. Take notes as you read. While reading a book, if you see a great analogy, a great joke or a delicious sentence, write it down. I do this all the time. It will come in handy for sure. I don’t know who said this but this is gold. “Reading is not a chore. Reading is theft. It is a robbery. Someone smarter than you has spent 20 years beating their head against the wall trying to solve the problem you are dealing with. You can steal that hard won knowledge and make it yours. That is power”. Charlie Munger said it better – “In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time – none, zero”. Charlie is Warren Buffett’s BFF and was 92 years old when he said it.
Q: Can I be a better writer in 2 minutes?
A: You sure can. You are welcome.
Q: Does Urgen believe life is fair?
A: Nope. Fuck no. There are two rules in life. Rule # 1 – Life is not fair. Rule # 2 – Read rule # 1 but quit complaining. Some create outer enemies and are always at war with the world. Don’t be that petty guy or gal. Instead, you play the game as well. Hack the system. Guys, seriously life is not fair. Accept it.
Q: What is the goal of this blog?
A: To help people understand more about personal finance and investing in the stock market. It is not as hard as you think. All of us can do it. Use the stock market as your leverage to reach retirement sooner than later. The market is rigged in a way that if you own stocks, your wealth will increase long term. In sharp contrast, the value of cash goes down every single year. Lastly, don’t forget to use the internet as your leverage to publish interesting content online.
Q: Can Urgen help me to pick individual stocks? Can Urgen predict the stock market?
A: Nope and Nope. No one can predict the stock market. If your financial advisor says he/she can predict the stock market, produce a skeptical smile and move on. My advice would be to work with a fee-only financial planner instead of a commission-based financial planner. Also, read a personal finance book and educate yourself. Here’s the truth: Nobody cares more about your money than you do.
Q: What about Bitcoin? Should I buy bitcoin?
A: This is not financial advice but my opinion is bitcoin is a belief system. Money is a belief system. The US Dollar is a belief system. The Canadian Dollar is a belief system. Bitcoin is ALSO a belief system. Bitcoin is digital money. More importantly, bitcoin is new technology. I believe in science and technology. Naval Ravikant rightly said, society follows technology. Society does not control technology.
Should you buy bitcoin? I don’t know. Personally, I have bought bitcoin. When my friends and co-workers ask me, I tell them have one percent of your net worth in bitcoin. If your net worth is 100K, have 1K in bitcoin. Again, nobody cares more about your money than you do.
Last Update: March 4, 2020