A Week Later, Here's What I Know

Last week, I pulled down $13 with 4 posts. That's a 3x improvement over last month's average. A week ago I set out to prove that blogging could be a business, even if the work was a slog. While true, the journey tests you.

Success isn't every post mooning like a memecoin. It's writing anyway, especially when you're frustrated, bored or tempted to binge anime instead.

I have the privilege to work 40 hours a week. With the right time management, a blog on the side can bear fruit. I try to remind myself often, growth requires patience.

With that in mind, let's look at the numbers.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Here's what my June earnings look like so far on the Hive blockchain.

June 2025 Blog Performance (So Far)

Post Title	HBD	HP	Total Payout (USD)	Your Share (USD)
If AI Can Replace Half of Entry-Level Jobs	0.571	2.423	$1.20	$0.60
How I Stack 5 Passive Income Ideas	6.845	29.027	$14.42	$7.21
How I'm Bootstrapping a Business with $1/Post	4.037	16.630	$8.39	$4.20
This is the Number One Way to Ruin Any Weekend Plans	0.986	4.184	$2.08	$1.04
Total	12.439	52.264	$26.09	$13.04

Note: Author share is 50% of the total post payout on Hive.

The response to my business posts exceeded my expectations, all the more because I didn't have any. I think I wrote the next post about AI in response to that. I follow the conversation so it was a natural segue. I feel like some posts write themselves.

The attention to detail in writing is one source of pride. Sometimes, when something I feel strongly about generates enough emotion, only my strongest and simplest words follow. That often makes a successful blog post.

A simple post on stacking passive income outperformed everything else. That’s the power of momentum and a clean narrative.

When I look back at the posts and their rewards, I feel like a business owner, a boss. When you are able to make something people value, you become invaluable yourself. Priceless.

Building the Process: From Idea to Blog

I once learned a framework from a creator whose content speaks for itself. His model is simple. He shares and knows things. He calls it CICA, which stands for:

Consume Ideate Create Amplify
It stuck. But my actual workflow, albeit messy, looks more like this:

1. Consume
2. Record inspiration
3. Respond
4. Revise 1^st draft
5. Rewrite
6. Revise the rewrite
7. Format
8. Create visuals
9. Publish

Writing is my strength, so I pour my time into it. I tend to give the rest scraps of energy, by comparison. But if I’m serious about treating this like a business, I need a system that doesn’t leave parts of the process behind.

That clarity keeps my time on budget. I don't overspend. In fact, I want to spend more time on what's important, like the rewrite. Many agree, the magic is in it.

I understand magic when I demystify riddles and puzzles like this.

The Problem with Passion and Process

I consume nonstop: conversations, memes, videos, articles, shows, games, anime. Ideas pour in. But many times, I skip steps. I decorate the cake without mixing the batter. I scrutinize one part and forget the rest. It's not sustainable.

Juggling tires the jester.

Then what's my answer? A good recipe can guide anyone.

Time each step. Then adjust based on what slows me down or gets results.

The Fix: A To-Do List for Whole Cycle

My idea for a fix flows naturally from the problem. I spend time too much time on different steps, sometimes the wrong ones. Then, why not spend an equal amount of time for all the steps?

Gradually, I would learn which processes take more and less. I could account creatively according to my needs. Time management may be the only suitable place for "cooking the books" or creative account methods.

As I write, I see the opportunity at scale. A timed to-do list could help anyone avoid burnout or block. Give every step a slice of time. Then, remix the recipe as needed.

It's no secret. Highlighting tasks in green gives us all a unique satisfaction. So I’m doubling down on systems.

I count only a week on this journey so far, but it's evolved over the years since my start. This is my business and my business finally agrees with me.

ICYMI

This Is Still the Business

In the end, I put in this effort because I see what happens with a solid plan. You can accomplish anything.

This isn’t even my blog’s final form.
But it’s getting stronger. And I’m getting sharper.
Every post, every list, every week.

It grows as I make more effort. As I check items off the list, my satisfaction and ambition grows. The rewards just sweeten the deal. I didn't plan to dig deep into this. I only posted 4 times last week, made a couple bucks.

But the opportunity to look at the bigger picture is hard to resist as a photographer and writer.

What part of your creative process do you avoid?
Drop a comment. Maybe how you make your peace with it can help me make mine.