2016 was a year of events and changes for me on both a personal and business level.
- Best ever year as a domainer in terms of sales.
- Acting as a domain broker, I effectively sold one of the highest value generic com.au domains.
- Youngest son (Will) left home and moved to Brisbane to pursue his life’s ambition.
- Oldest son (Luke) left Townsville to live in Brisbane.
- My wife and I shifted home after 6.5 years (downsized into a beautiful apartment).
- Had a heart attack – followed by 5 stents.
- Turned 60 in December.
What Does 2017 Hold In Store?
Some life changing decisions have been made based on the above.
Another opportunity has been presented to me, and I intend pursuing this with vigour. More on this at a later time.
So, after discussions with “she who must be obeyed” (my wife Frances), I have decided to stop being a domainer / domain investor. Even though I have enjoyed the cut and thrust over many years, it’s now time to call it quits. I have absolutely no regrets in doing so – life is very short.
Our son Luke is going to take over Domain Syndicates and eTrading – effective from the 1st February. I will no longer be a Director or shareholder. Luke has been working in the business on a part-time basis over the past 5 years, and is very excited to take over the reins. He is ready! His mission is two fold – improve the earnings on the extensive portfolio; and gradually sell down all the holdings. Neither company will be purchasing any further domains (other than those that may become available as a result of rights under “direct registrations”).
Not sure as yet what will happen with this blog, but I’ll let you know.
Opportunity For You
Regular buyers on the drops will have noticed that neither Domain Syndicates or eTrading have bought any domains since January 1st (nor will they in the future). So fill your boots!
Apologies to all dropcatchers for your loss of income. 😉
Over the next 10 days, I’m in the mood and position to do some crazy deals on domain names. If you’re interested in some decent domains at very generous prices, please hit me up.
Ned O’Meara – 18th January 2017
Wow , great news mate there comes a time in all of us for a change of life and revaluate what we want from life .
You will be sadly missed if your blog finishes but many thanks for all your time snd effort
Thanks for all your contributions to this blog Shane.
I’m going to miss your passion and insight. No one knows the game better.
Turned 60? (typo?)
Rude bastard. 😉
You’re a legend in this industry Ned, and definitely someone I look up to and respect.
I suspect you won’t be able to stay away from writing for too long!
I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this new opportunity pans out. 🙂
All the best.
Thanks Shane – I have welcomed your friendship and support over the years. You definitely win the “Quiet Achiever” award for all that you’ve accomplished.
I hope you stand for the auDA Board again – they need someone like you.
Lol, I might be able to finally win a drop auction now.
How many times have I heard that recently! 🙂
All good things must come to an end. Appreciate all the insight shared here.
Perhaps you could hand off Domainer.com.au?
Good luck and enjoy the next chapter of life Ned. 🙂
Thanks Adam.
Not sure what’s going to happen with domainer.com.au as yet. It’s my “baby”, so it will be treated with kid gloves.
Really going to miss you Ned, but wish you all the best for the future!
Thanks Alex. Good luck with your domain investing! You should hit me up for some cheap domains whilst there are some on offer. 🙂
Thanks Ned
Yes, definitely interested to see your list if you have one ready!
Thanks for your contributions to the industry Ned!
And I wish your son all the best in filling your shoes.
Thanks Chris! And my son Luke will do a great job. Very confident of that.
Ned, you are one of the true gentlemen of our industry, your contribution, particularly in Australia has been invaluable and many have benefited, including myself.
On a personal level, your integrity and professionalism is second to none, and I will miss our dealings. Take care my friend on the next chapter of your journey, it’s been an honor.
Troy, thank you for your kind words. It was great to meet you in person at NamesCon last year. I’m just sorry we didn’t get to know each other earlier than we did!
Thank you also for all your efforts last year in regards to selling some of my domain names; and for your business in recent times. Best wishes for your ongoing success.
Sorry to hear you’re leaving the industry Ned.
All the best for your new opportunity.
Maybe not leaving the industry Nikki! How’s that for a cryptic statement. 🙂
Thanks for your excellent service at Netfleet. You brought some good standards to the table.
You’ll be missed Ned, not only by me, but by many people in the industry (and on both sides of the “fence”). Thank you for your friendship and help over the years – please do keep in touch, you have my number :). All the best for your future venture whatever it may be.
Thanks Andrew – we’ve also known each other a long time, and you taught me lots of things in the early days (when you were at Drop / Fabulous). Thanks for your support and friendship.
I will definitely stay in touch.
Whatever endevour you pursue, it will be all the more richer with you Ned.
BloodyHell, whose going to keep auDA in check now?
Thanks Scott. 🙂
As for auDA, it’s time for others to “step up to the plate” if they feel strongly enough about issues.
Ned, your contributions to the .au namespace and the Australian domainer community have been substantial, to say the very least.
I’m sure that these new endeavours will bring you even greater success in 2017!
Thanks Luke. You’ve been a great friend and confidant – and of course, the technical whiz behind Domainer.com.au! Thanks again for all your help.
Hi Ned,
Can I see some travelling around Australia for you and Frances? I’ve got to hand it to you old buddy, you have certainly done well in whatever you do and wish you the best in your new endeavours. You know my phone number if you want to chat.
Cheers
Don
Don, you were one of my mentors in the early days, and I thank you sincerely for the time you gave me; the advice you were always willing to give – and most importantly, the friendship we developed and maintained.
You are a legend in the industry – and a man who keeps his word.
I will give you a buzz soon.
All the best Ned 🙂
Thanks Joel! I got your email about some domains, and I’ll send you a few to have a squiz at. Get those moths out of your wallet. 🙂
how weird, i just wrote one of your quotes on dnt before coming over here only to find this announcement
https://www.dntrade.com.au/threads/great-quotes.11140/ , my quote actually relates to this post…spooky
Well, eternal thanks Ned for everything you have done for me, you were there at a major shift in my business which helped focus the past years and many to come.
great for you to go when you’re batting 100’s
tim
Thanks Tim – our chats over the years have always been interesting. 😉 I take my hat off to you for what you have achieved.
You’ve got a big job ahead of you at auDA this year; and a lot of people counting on you. No pressure. LOL! Good luck.
Your insights will be very missed Ned. All the very best.
Thanks Jason! It was good to meet you in person last year. Hope business is good.
Thanks for everything Ned. Your advice has always been welcomed.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff. 🙂
Hi Ned
I wish you all the best in your new venture and I know you will be a great success, it may shock some people with what you are moving onto. You have been a guiding light in this part of the industry and a great leader along with Don and Greg, you have shared your successes, hoping to educate others along the way, you have came to my rescue on several occasions and I know my stupidity never ceases to amaze you, in your comments you have never taken a backwards step and not cared what the consequences were, you have taken on AUda, Netfeet, Drop and Domain Shield at different times with out fear or favour, you tried to keep the industry honest and you have done a great job, you wear your heart on your sleeve and that is a honorable thing.
I wish you all the best. Good luck Ned.
Alan
You’re a good mate Alan, and I really appreciate your friendship and support over the years.
I came into this industry around 3 years ago all guns blazing and like a “bull at a gate” with no real clue about the real in’s and out’s of the industry and I documented on these blogs how I lost ten’s of thousands of dollars on stupid names.
You saw me making huge mistakes, both financially and policy-wise, and you didn’t know me from a bar of soap. You reached out and sent me an email which basically read, “You’re doing it wrong – if you want to get into this domain name business for real, give me a call.”
It was one of the best things I ever did, phoning you up that first afternoon, Neddy. You told me to drop a bunch of names and say goodbye to over $1000 just like that. And I did it.
Thanks for everything you’ve taught me and all the names you have sold me (at slightly-inflated – haha) no, great prices. It really got me off to a solid start. Thanks for letting me documents a few of my early domainer-related stories on this great blog.
Here I am today; I’m heading over to Vegas in 2 days as a Domain Broker representing Australia’s biggest premium portfolio of over 10,000 names formed from 6 strong portfolios and a bunch of powerful names I own myself. I have some powerful international meetings lined up and I can’t believe it. Where I am today is all thanks to my first two years of conversations with you, mate. Bedrock.
Sincerely thank you, Ned.
All the best for your next venture, and, like some people are already saying in here, BLOODY AWESOME IT’S OPEN SEASON ON THE DROPS!
@Robert – I have to say that I am extremely proud and impressed by what you have achieved in a short space of time. You were a good “student” in that you were prepared to listen to advice. You are one of the success stories in the modern breed of domainers / domain brokers. Well done mate.
My ongoing advice is not to try and be a giant all in one go. Climb the branches of the tree until you get to the top. The worse thing that can happen is to be classified as an “overnight pro”. Have a read of some of the forums in the USA to see what I mean – there is another current scandal going on with regards to a “shooting star” domainer.
Good luck in Vegas. I am so envious. 🙂
All the best Ned. I’ve enjoyed your work here and on dntrade over the years! Enjoy the road ahead 🙂
Congratulations, Ned! You certainly deserve a change of pace … even though some of us might be tempted to abduct you and stash you in a sweat shop, to continue domaining at gunpoint forever for the good of the industry.
@Joseph – you have such a way with words. 🙂
Looking forward to seeing you succeed in what comes next (and hearing all about it). Big thanks for all the deals you facilitated over the years!
Also good luck to Luke, although I’m sure he won’t need it!
Thanks Rich. You’ve been a good mate (and a great help technically) over many years.
Ned
Not going to say goodbye because we all know you won’t actually retire or even change out of top gear
All the best with the new opportunity (opportunities)
Thanks Greg – I have appreciated our relationship and friendship over the past couple of years. It’s good to be able to bounce things off someone who “understands” – and vice versa of course. 🙂
All the best mate. Your health should always come first. Relax, and enjoy your next venture.
You’ll always have a great bunch of friends in the industry no matter what your next move is.
Thanks Paul. The future is going to be very exciting, and I hope to share some news by the end of the month.
Love your email address! 😉
Sorry to hear it Ned, wish you all the best.
No need to be sorry Paul – I’m looking forward to moving in a different direction; and my son is keen to do his own thing. Old bull; young bull. 🙂
But rest assured, I’m still going to be around – albeit in a different shape and form. More will be revealed soon.
coming soon on Netflix 🙂
“the
bachelordomainer”tim