The Big 2-6
Today was my twenty-sixth birthday, which is the reason I’ve not written and article for a few days.
Being twenty-six now, and having been around the internet in some form or another for around ten years, I wonder what took me so long to get my first site with some substance online? If you’ve seen my How Far Have You Come Since Your First Website Design you know what my first site was like back in 1997. So, why has it taken me ten years to release another site and get serious about my online ventures?
Stupidity I guess
Well, maybe stupidity is a little harsh for why it has taken ten years to release another site. Maybe I was just to young to foresee where the internet would be in ten years time? But then again, very few predicted where the internet would be, definitely not many sixteen year old kids 
. I’m here now and I guess that’s all that matters. I can’t look back and ponder what could have been because it would be a waste of time. I have to move forward with the knowledge that I have and stay focused on the present.
Time to Get My Game Face On
There is no better time than the present to move forward with all of your online goals. Sometimes I wonder if I’m finally getting into the game to late? Other times I remind myself that twenty-six really isn’t that old and that a lot of the big guys in the online world who are making a very good living online are in their thirties and have been doing this for ten years or so. So, going by that, maybe I’m getting in game at the perfect time? Better late than never, right?
Who knows what the next ten years will bring?
How Old Were You?
So, how old were you when you launched your first real site? Where are you today? Still spinning your wheels or making some serious progress?
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Comments
For me 21 this year, indeed 
Previously, i used blogger. All days and nights, Customizing its theme without knowing exactly the CSS, Javascript..etc. Thanks summer this year, i am able to start my karkiweb revolution. Understanding more and more exactly Css, Some scripts..and PHP is on the way to success 
As you said i am spinning my wheels and making plenty of progress. Otherwise, there are many things still have to be learnt..
Posted on Sun Jul 29, 2007
I was never really into programming until this year. I used to be into building custom computers. I have to admit that I am handy with hardware ^_-.
Happy Birthday, Deron!
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007
Hey Darren, just stopped-by to wish you a Happy Birthday! -Joe Midway
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007
Hey Deron - firstly - Happy Belated Birthday!
I started my first blog on Blogger in February 2006 - when I was 15. I’m 17 now, and I’m pretty happy with my progress - but like most of the guys here, I just wish I had more time to do and make the sites that I’ve got in my head!
Here’s to another 10 successful years
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007
Happy Birthday, Deron!
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007
Happy B-day Deron! Good luck in the future and make sure you stick it out for the long run!
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007
Thanks for the Birthday wishes everyone!
Brian: Keep it up man. If you need any help with Photoshop, let me know.
Daravuth: You really have KarkiWeb looking good! Nice additions and updates from the previous design.
Matthew: Yeah, I really wouldn’t consider myself a “programmer” even though I’m skilled with HTML/CSS. I guess I always think of a programmer as a PHP, .NET, etc. guru. With my current full time job, I get to mess around with hardware everyday, although I’ve yet to build my own computer. Hopefully I will for my next one.
Adnan: You are already very successful with Blogtrepreneur and you’re only 17. Keep it up and you’ll be at the top of the list when people mention bloggers and entrepreneurs. Ten years is a long time to build your online empire
Josh: I really hope I do stick with it this time. I think I’ve got the desire and the mind set to be in it for the long haul, so we’ll see what happens.
Posted on Mon Jul 30, 2007
happy birthday. have success in your life and your work
Posted on Wed Aug 1, 2007
I was actually like 14 or something along those lines… I did an internship with my uncle building computers etc...and he taught me IRC and junk like that ....so i made a geocities site all about the movie ‘hackers’ cause i wanted to be ‘Zerocool”
haha how dumb.. but I’m still making them today, so I think that movie was a good one to watch after all..
Keep up the good work.
Posted on Wed Aug 1, 2007
I know I’m pretty late on this! But unfortunately discovered your blog only days back Wishing you a happy b’day and Good Luck!
Posted on Tue Aug 7, 2007
TJ: The ol’ GeoCities sites. Those were the days. If it were only that simple now and if I knew then what I know now, I would be an internet millionaire. Instead, I’m just a squirrel trying to get a nut in the online world.
Benedict: Hey, better late than never right? I’m glad you were able to discover my blog. Hope I have something interesting to offer that keeps you coming back. Thanks for the birthday wishes.
Posted on Tue Aug 7, 2007
You’re correct on that.. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to wish Yup, you’re and now you’re in my feed reader list
Posted on Tue Aug 7, 2007
Deron,
You’re certainly neither stupid, nor late. In 1996 as a sophomore in college, I recall designing my first website on Tripod (which has since been aquired by Lycos). I believe the company used to be run out of a converted home… of course that was over a decade ago. I’m using the term ‘website’ loosely; back then what qualified as a website was quite a different story than what qualifies today.
Regarding predictions of where the Internet was going, some saw it. I can’t say that I did or I didn’t… however, I’ve always known that I loved it. I recall buying my first new car in 1998. On the application and legal documents, under occupation, I put “webmaster”. The Controller at the auto-dealership scoffed at this. She quipped that the Internet was just a ‘fad’. It’s been a nice long fad.
I owe a lot to the Internet. My home, my lifestyle and my experiences. Since that first day in the computer lab, when I wrote my first HTML tag, the Internet has allowed me to travel abroad… attend conferences, build an advertising company, build a web development company, and build and sell a hosting company. And I’m grateful for it all.
Posted on Wed Aug 8, 2007
Josh: That’s great the Internet has given you so much. I would love to be able to travel as a result of my online ventures.
Yeah, the internet has turned out to be a very long ‘fad’ hasn’t it? I’m sure there are still those people out there that think the Internet will fizzle out in the coming years.
Posted on Mon Aug 13, 2007
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My name is Deron Sizemore and I am a web designer, web publisher, blogger and serial internet entrepreneur living in Lexington, Kentucky.
I was…
Oh I don’t know…
10, 11, 12ish when I first started.
I’ve gone through several luls (sp?) in my web career - but I’ve been back for a bit and want to get really good.
Right now I’m 17 - and spinning my wheels. Honestly, I started way too many sites (plus a few more that I have dropped) and can’t maintain them all. So, now I’ve kinda backed off on my original plan - mainly because I don’t have the time - yet.
I’m currently trying to re-design my buisness-ish site - and if I can pull it off, it’ll be flippin’ amazing. But we’ll see.
I’m also currently trying to revive my blogs. I have one that updates periodically, and one that updates weekly. My other blog currently doesn’t update much - but I hope to change that.
I know HTML, XHTML, CSS, and can pick at a little of Javascript and PHP. I am working on my Photoshop skills (which are just about non-existant) and hope greatly improve.
We’ll see where I end up going.
Posted on Sun Jul 29, 2007