Summary

Jeff Herring's journey from a high school student to a successful online content creator and psychologist is chronicled, detailing his transition from traditional psychology practice to an influential career in digital content creation.

Abstract

Jeff Herring's narrative begins in the Fall of '74 at Winter Park High School, where he first contemplated a career in psychology after realizing his natural inclination towards offering advice to peers. Following his academic pursuits, he established a private psychology practice and simultaneously wrote a relationship column for a local newspaper, which unexpectedly gained national and international recognition. A pivotal moment occurred in '05 when he launched his first website, marking his shift towards online content creation. This transition was further necessitated by personal challenges, including a divorce that led to a weekly commute between Tallahassee and Atlanta. Ultimately, Herring's online endeavors surpassed the traditional practice in both enjoyment and profitability, allowing him to work from home and spend time with his sons. Today, he dedicates his time to helping others create and monetize content, while also engaging in community service and cherishing his role as a single dad and grandfather.

Opinions

Herring believes in the power of listening and providing advice, which led him to choose psychology as his major.
He initially doubted his writing abilities due to criticism from his professors but later proved them wrong by becoming a successful syndicated columnist.
The divorce from his wife's and the need to be closer to his sons were significant factors in his decision to move online.
Herring takes pride in his online success and enjoys the flexibility and fulfillment it provides.
He finds satisfaction in teaching others to create and sell content, which aligns with his view of himself as being in the "transportation business," helping people move from where they are to where they want to be.
The narrative suggests a sense of redemption and validation when one of his former professors, who had doubted his writing skills, signed up for his content creation workshop.
Herring values community involvement, as evidenced by his and his sons' volunteer work.
The inclusion of personal anecdotes and photos indicates a desire to connect with his audience on a more personal level.

MEET JEFF HERRING:

“I Traded My Couch for a Mouse”

How a Counseling Psychologist Became One of the Good Guys Online

Come back with me to the Fall of ‘74…

I’m a Junior at Winter Park High School, and the teachers are starting to focus on how important it is to decide what we want to do for the rest of our lives.

Seems kinda early to me.

While sitting on a bench in front of the cafeteria one Tuesday afternoon, talking with my buddy Rick about a girl problem, a few dots connected.

I’d always been the one that my friends sought out to talk about problems and challenges. I guess I was a good listener early on.

The night before, I had watched “The Bob Newhart Show” (the “Hi Bob” one) with my parents.

Bob Newhart played a psychologist in private practice.

My friends always sought me out for advice, and I enjoyed helping.

We were supposed to be picking a major for college.

And it was decided as simply as that…

Majored in Psychology at the University of Central Florida.

Got a Masters in Counseling Psychology at Florida State University.

Helped run a drug rehab for teenagers while working on my PhD.

Started a private practice in ’86 and never finished my PhD, in large part because my professors told me I couldn’t write, and I believed them.

Got married in ’90. It’s funny, the biggest regret of my life gave me the 2 greatest joys of my life, my sons Jon and Caleb.

Started writing a weekly relationship column for the local newspaper to build my practice. It was only supposed to be for 6 months to a year. It took off, filled my practice, became nationally then internationally syndicated, and ran for 20 years.

Not bad for a guy who couldn’t write.

Trading My Couch for a Mouse

In October of ’05 I opened my first website, teaching how to create content for the Internet.

I really thought I would practice in Tallahassee for the rest of my life, and play a little bit online.

Then the boy’s mom divorced me and moved them to north of Atlanta.

It was time to get mobile. I spent all of ’06 and the beginning of ’07 going back and forth between Tallahassee and Atlanta each week. Sunday night through Wednesday in Tallahassee, seeing a week’s worth of clients in 3 days, then Wednesday night through Sunday night in Atlanta, seeing my sons and trying to get something going in business.

For the story on how I woke up in a motel lobby on Christmas Eve 2006, check out this story:

“13 Years Ago I Woke Up in a Motel Lobby”

13 years ago this week, I woke up in a motel lobby.

medium.com

Finally moved to Atlanta full time in February of ’07. Within just a few months that online side hustle became much more fun and lucrative than private practice ever could be. And as an added bonus I could do it from home.

So now “the guy who couldn’t write” earns a really nice full time living helping people just like you create, promote and sell your content.

A couple of years into it, one of those professors who told me I couldn’t write signed up for one of my Content Creation Workshops.

That was a pretty happy day.

Sometimes when asked what I do, I’ll say:

“I’m in the transportation business.”

When asked what that means, I’ll then say:

“I help you get from where you are to where you want to be, as fast as possible, in a way that sticks.”

I’m happy to have found this home online, then on Medium, and now writing for the publication “Illumination.”

My oldest son Jon is 27, married and on staff with North Point Ministries in Atlanta, where we go. My youngest son Caleb is 20 and is in college. All three of us volunteer as small group leaders at church and with other organizations such at Lighthouse Family Retreat. And as you can see in the picture below, a grandson has been added…

I spend my days as a single dad, helping my students create and sell their content to help others. I work from home while wrangling Duke, a German Shepard/Husky/Wolf Mix.

My thanks to Dr Mehmet Yildiz and ILLUMINATIONS for this opportunity to introduce myself, and to my student and friend Tim Maudlin for leading the way.

The Content Profit Show * Content Profit Nation

Photo by Author (who gave the author permission to use it;-)