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Shout Out To Yakezie

3/22/2012

27 Comments

 
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When I joined the Yakezie Challenge 3 months ago I didn't realize the hidden benefits of just being involved. I am not a member yet because I am in the middle of the challenge but the benefits have been so nice that I sometimes forget I'm a challenger. I want to take a moment and share some of the treasures that I have experienced from just being a part of this amazing community of bloggers.  
You might have read about Yakezie (pronounced YA-KAY-ZEE) or seen their badge plastered all over people's sites and wonder what the hell are they all about. If you are reading this post I never had those thoughts because I joined without knowing much about them. Yep call me a rebel. I read what the Yakezie challenge entailed and said to myself "I can do this" and jumped right in. And guess what? I am glad I did. 

Here are some of the hidden benefits I have found by just being a part of the Yakezie community:

1. I Am Smarter
The people on Yakezie (both members and challengers) have an array of knowledge that has opened me up to a whole new world of intelligence. After 3 months of reading tons of articles, posts, ebooks and newsletters I know more about topics on personal finance, taxes, writing posts, food, dieting, family values, marathons... and the list goes on.

2. I Am Happier
Yakezie is a network of cool people who make you feel included in the conversation which makes you want to help out whenever you can. I feel like I have helped people on topics that I know about and have made a difference in their lives and on their sites... In addition I have made a ton of them laugh at some of the witty and humorous posts I write. Just the other day I got an email from someone who said they were having a really bad day and I have now turned it around. :)
)
3. I Am Saving Money
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't read a post about saving a buck or 2. All I had to do was read and implement the technique. I read a post yesterday by Smart Money Hacks on how to save money on groceries and saved. No joke. I went on google and found a coupon for Staples. I saved $5.00. Hey that's 2 slices and a diet coke. 

4. I Am Making Money
Who would have thunk? My adsense has gone up in the last 3 months and I can only assume that that is from the power of Yakezie. Also I because I am a photographer with designing skills I have been asked by several challengers and members to do header logos for them which has put a few more diapers on my daughter and food in my belly. Here is an example of a logo I designed for Corey over at www.20sfinances.com.

Not bad for just being a challenger. 

If that wasn't cool enough check out the really nice and thoughtful comment Sam Dogen (founder of Yakezie) wrote specifically to me in response to a comment I left on the site after reading his article What Would You Do If A Major Income Source Went To Zero. 

Sam wrote:" I think being able to catch people when they fall, and prop them back up again is one of the most important attributes of the Yakezie Network. It’s something we are most proud of. Let’s say for some reason you lost your photo business and became a Member. You better believe that I, along with many others will send you as many referrals as possible from the friends and family we have in NYC! "

Thanks Sam 

and 

Thanks to everyone on Yakezie

Until Tomorrow, 

Jai
27 Comments
Financial Samurai link
3/22/2012 03:59:13 am

Thanks for the Yakezie Shotout Jai!

We had a couple Members lose their jobs last year due to downsizing and over 20 of us rushed to her aid, and 5 or 6 of us gave her online work so she could stay in her home and pay her bills.

Money is one thing, but knowing you have the community support is something that I think is often times much more powerful than money. It gives you the confidence to keep going, to take some more calculated risks, to not be as afraid.

Best,

Sam

BTW: That graphic is sweeeeeet! The depth is amazing in the logo! Makes me want to produce a large Yakezie coin, or card holder! Damn, that's a great idea!

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Jai Catalano link
3/22/2012 04:03:12 am

There are more benefits than can be described. Between me and you my wife calls my daughter Yakezie and my son Youtube because I am always checking out those 2 accounts. She figures I would pay attention to her more if she refers to them that way. :)

Whatever you need logo wise you just let me know. It's fun and simple for me.

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Dr Dean link
3/22/2012 05:19:31 am

Give Yakezie and Youtube a hug for me, Jai.

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Jai Catalano link
3/22/2012 05:25:01 am

Will do. You are one funny guy. :)

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Karunesh @ chase-a-dream.com link
3/22/2012 06:16:35 am

good to hear about your progress Jai. I too joined Yakezie 2 weeks ago and since then my rank is improving every day

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Jai Catalano link
3/22/2012 06:21:56 am

That's amazing. The benefits are well beyond that though. You will soon see. Congrats.

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Newlyweds on a Budget link
3/22/2012 06:40:02 am

I've definitely learned a lot about finances thanks to yakezie :)

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Jai Catalano link
3/22/2012 06:56:15 am

It's the whole community that is great. Even when we all don"t agree.

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Invest It Wisely link
3/22/2012 08:42:54 am

I'm happy to have you as a fellow challenger, soon to be member :)

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Jai Catalano link
3/22/2012 08:47:56 am

Now that is the coolness I am talking about. I am equally happy to be challenging with you and look forward to being members.

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Daisy @ add-vodka.com link
3/22/2012 12:19:33 pm

I do love Yakezie. It's incredibly helpful in knowledge sharing, website promotion, referalls.. knowledge gaining, networking.. it's just an awesome network.

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Jai Catalano link
3/22/2012 11:20:25 pm

Yes it's life changing.

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SB @ One Cent at a Time link
3/23/2012 05:30:21 am

so happy for you Jai. Yakezie definitely helped me in many way, my member post was all about that.

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Jai Catalano link
3/23/2012 08:15:26 am

Thank you.

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Lisa @ Cents To Save link
3/23/2012 01:24:47 pm

Jai,
Love the graphics and the article. The Yakezie truly rocks!!

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Jai Catalano link
3/23/2012 02:19:38 pm

You are not the only one... It might be making an appearance in some form sometime soon. :)

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Van Beek - Trend Investing link
3/23/2012 04:03:50 pm

Smart, happy and rich and almost in the top 100k websites. Great Yakezie Rocks banner. It is the first pin on my new Pinterest board "Great Websites". Who knows if it attracts more admirers to here.

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Jai Catalano link
3/24/2012 12:09:31 am

Thank you. How do I get to see it on your pinterest?

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Van Beek - Stock Trend Investing link
3/24/2012 04:32:47 am

Here: http://pinterest.com/vanbeek101/great-websites/

I just started with it.

maria@moneyprinciple link
3/24/2012 12:47:50 am

Good morning, Jai! This is a touching post and a really cool graphic. As to the rest, you already know how much I love the logo you designed for The Money Principle, that you always brighten my day irrespective of whether I stop by here or you at mine, and that I'll be proud and honoured to stand up next to you in the next Yakezie class.

And do you know, reading this post was a great birthday present for us at TMP - we are 1 today, just a bit younger than you daughter Yakezie.

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Jai Catalano link
3/24/2012 01:55:54 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TMP. I am looking forward to standing next to you in the next round.

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Ted Jenkin - Your Smart Money Moves link
3/24/2012 05:26:54 am

Great article and GREAT work as always!

Yes Yakezie is so full of benefits as well as unspoken gems! I.E the community members and finding a slew of GREAT sites and resources we would otherwise most likely never see!

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Jai Catalano link
3/24/2012 07:08:31 am

So absolutely true. I didn't even think of those gems.

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Kay Lynn @ Bucksome Boomer link
3/28/2012 02:42:31 pm

Sometimes when I'm feeling overwhelmed I feel like leaving it all behind but I would miss my Yakezie friends too much! I'm so glad I've gotten to know you.

P.S. I'll be in NYC for BlogHer and hope to see you.

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Jai Catalano link
3/28/2012 11:08:17 pm

It's great to know you too. I would be sad if you left.

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Kari @Small Budget Big Dreams link
3/31/2012 04:21:42 am

Yakezie (and all the Yakezie challengers and members) has been so helpful for me. I've had several blogs in the past where I blogged for years with less then 20 comments. With all of the friendly folks at Yakezie I write things and people actually comment and share what I write. It's so encouraging. I see that your Alexa is 103,544 I bet you'll be under 100,00 any day now.

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Jai Catalano link
3/31/2012 05:29:33 am

Yes I know the feeling. Glad to know you.

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    Jai Catalano

    There are 3 things I can't change... my 2 kids, my 1 wife and my 0 rights.

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JAI CATALANO - Photographer | Videographer | Editor
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