What the NICU, Stoicism, and a Failing SEO Strategy Taught Me About Surviving Chaos

There are times in life where everything just... breaks.

For me, it wasn’t one big explosion. It was a series of slow burns.

— A newborn in the NICU, wires everywhere.
— Immigration stress that made us question where “home” even was.
— Helping my family escape a dangerous situation.
— Losing a parent when I still needed their voice.

These weren’t LinkedIn-friendly moments. There were no wins to post. Just pain, survival, and trying not to break under the weight.

But through all of it, I found three strange things that helped me stay grounded:
Routines. Stoicism. And a support system.
Not just in life...but in business too. Especially in SEO, where success feels like watching paint dry.

Let’s get into it.

1. Routines Are the Real SEO Hack

When my daughter was in the NICU, I was in a daze. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t think. The only thing that gave me sanity?

Tiny routines.

Wake up early. Walk. Pray. Write. Repeat.

I didn’t do them perfectly. But I showed up.

That’s what SEO is, too. Not some secret keyword. Not a viral blog post. Just boring, consistent action — done repeatedly.

SEO is slow. Life is slower. But both reward the ones who don’t flinch.

If your traffic feels stuck, don’t change everything. Rebuild your routine. Start publishing again. Track tiny wins. Trust the process.

2. Stoicism Saved My Mind (And My Business)

There was a moment I thought my wife might get deported. No warning. Just... gone.

I let the fear hit me. Imagined worst-case scenarios. Felt the sadness.

Then I asked: What would we do if that happened?

Answer: We’d move. We’d adapt. We’d survive.

That exercise gave me peace. Because fear loses power when you give it a plan.

Same goes for digital marketing. Google updates? AI stealing clicks? Algorithms nuking your reach?

Play out the worst. Plan for it. Then move forward.

Ask yourself: If I lost 50% of traffic tomorrow, what would I do? What’s my backup? What’s my moat? That’s how you turn fear into strategy.

3. Your Support System Is Your Algorithm-Proof Strategy

I’ve been unemployed since November. We bought a house right before that.

This month, we tap into savings for the first time. That hits different when you’ve been the provider.

And yet... we’re okay.

— My wife’s a financial genius.
— Our church has our back.
— My dad is one call away.
— A friend even offered to cover our bills.

I don’t say that to brag. I say it to remind you:

You don’t have to do this alone. Not in life. Not in business.

If you’re building online without a support system, you’re gambling everything on yourself. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Join a community. DM a creator you admire. Help first. Ask second. When the algorithm changes, relationships will keep you in the game.

Final Thought: SEO Is a Long Game. So Is Life.

If you’re in a tough season — I see you.

I’ve learned that both life and marketing reward one thing: persistence.

Not brilliance.
Not hacks.
Not fancy software.

Just waking up, showing up, and doing what matters, even when it feels like nothing is working.

The best marketers and the most resilient people have this in common: they keep going when most people quit.

If you’re faith-driven, prayer helps. If you’re not, Stoicism is a great place to start.

Either way:
Keep moving.
You’re not alone.

If this hit home, tell me your story. I’d love to hear it...or walk with you through it.

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