As a person who runs a successful company in the affiliate/consumer space, as well as launched unsuccessful expansion attempts in same, I would be interested in hearing another's take. Yours, in particular, partly because I can almost feel your relief through your writing.

I can say from my own experience that there is something soul-sucking about affiliate marketing and there is a common "feel" to many (not all) of its inhabitants throughout the ecosystem. At times, it seems that a certain sliminess is almost presumed--especially of affiliates. It feels like a race to the bottom, and as a somewhat creative and aspirational person myself, I find it demoralizing and stifling at times.

And as an entrepreneur there is nothing like creating your own product vs. an offering that is primarily designed to promote those of others. With affiliate-based models you may start with the intention and belief that you have a product, but at some point you realize that it is simply another thin promotional veneer, peddling the wares of others and largely at their direction.

I applaud your shift to something that is truly you and look forward to my own shift in the near future. I also congratulate you on failing quickly in the old model, as a moderate degree of success can hold you in limbo for longer than you'd care to consider when you look back on it.