Cannot write…
I took on a second job last year for two main reasons. Firstly to earn more than I did from writing, which I am actively doing, thankfully. Secondly, to write more freely about the things I care about and actively take content creation more seriously.
However, earlier this year I wanted to give up on my dream to focus on my business. I did not believe in what I was doing or building on anymore (for obvious reasons). Fortunately I came across a podcast by Gary Vee that changed my mind by letting me know how important creating content is in the long and short run.
Writing as a job...
Writing as a job leaves me with mixed feelings. I enjoy it but I hate having to write to earn a living. There is the obvious risk of pandering to certain groups to earn your wage. Thankfully that is behind now but I am faced with the challenge of growing my brand.
I have seen fellow creators take their content business to the next level in terms of reach (and financially too). One of such big inspirations for me is Keith Lee. He is one of the very few examples of creators who has stayed true to himself and his journey and now he is a household name. He has added value to many lives and business and this is what I aspire for myself.
Although creating content on hive has been great for my personal development, at its core it is a cryptocentric endeavor. Most creators create mainly to earn hive and nothing more.
This is why there is hardly any creator here who is anything outside this space, irrespective of how much they have or do (creatively).
Many creators (on hive) get comfortable with the security a platform gives them. I guess for many creating content is only a means to an end–social mining, which in all fairness isn't a bad thing. Everyone is allowed to go about their goals as they see fit. It is also refreshing to see people who ordinarily would have nothing to do with content creation making a living via hive. Notwithstanding, my convictions/goals are a lot different in the long run.
It is quite unsettling to me that no creator on hive made it into the mainstream media, even at the peak of crypto hype in 2021(which would have had a positive impact on the chain). I don't even think creators on hive are conditioned or incentivised to seek exposure. Maybe it's because getting/gaining exposure is difficult and every failed attempt is a reason not to try again. So we opt for the comfort of this echo chamber we've built and reward ourselves nicely in the process.
I hope sometime this year I am able to push myself outside the comforts of hive's ecosystem. The long run benefits are significant (for me and the platform as well because I believe in the opportunities this platform can offer individuals across the globe). I have come to terms with the fact that making money alone doesn't satisfy my soul.
Once upon a time people used to refer to writing gigs, now it's a lot different. Outside the hive I seem not to exist as a creator. I want that to change.
This is just another reminder to myself why I do what I do, which is to create value and reach out to as many persons as I can through my content and by God's this dream of mine will come into fruition. Amen.