My February Earnings (From Zero to… Hero?)

Lessons learned and looking forward.

Four months ago, this platform was just another app icon on my phone next to a forgotten language learning app and a game I downloaded for my kids.

As insecure as I was, I could never imagine that I would ever write online and make a decent amount of money doing it.

Yet, here I am, staring at a total exceeding $1,000.

I have so many mixed feelings about this.

Excitement, frustration, humbleness.

I’ve constantly been learning but I also felt a constant urge to hit the ‘delete’ button.

So, how did I get here?

For years, I‘ve been a content consumption machine.

I read articles, blog posts and ebooks on everything from personal finance to travel hacks, to the best way to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

But the idea of actually putting myself out there and writing my own content was terrifying.

This all changed after reading one specific article.

The author’s raw honesty got to me very deeply.

I realized that something in me was longing to do this too.

I started small and it was far from perfect.

But putting my voice out there made me feel a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt before.

What is Good Enough?

My initial enthusiasm quickly faded though because of a harsh reality:

I wasn’t very good.

My work had no soul. It was boring (I often think it still is) and I barely got any views.

Before publishing an article, I always felt discouraged and wanted to go back into my comfort zone.

But I kept going.

I asked my friends and family for feedback and I read a LOT of articles about writing.

I learned how important it is to work on headlines, to use clear language and to tell a personal story.

But the most important thing I learned was the concept of ‘good enough.’

I had to let go of the urge to be perfect.

I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to give up, just because it wasn’t perfect enough.

However, on the internet ‘good enough’ could still find its place.

Niche Or No Niche?

One of the first things I read about was you need to have a niche.

So I started writing about my sobriety journey, which I was most passionate about.

These personal stories resonated with a small, but engaged audience.

And this is what kept me going.

But I soon realized that I could write about whatever I wanted.

I didn’t need a niche to reach an audience.

I eventually started writing about life in general and about writing on this platform.

And it felt good.

The Unexpected

Earning money was never my primary goal.

I wrote because I enjoyed it.

It allowed me to connect with others.

And it pushed me outside my comfort zone.

But I can’t deny that I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my first few earnings.

Other writers warned me that the earnings weren’t guaranteed though, so I realized early on that it shouldn’t be my main motivator.

I decided not to focus on the money and I actually think that’s one of the things that helped me most.

Final Lesson

Four months into this journey, I’m still learning and growing as a writer.

This brings me to the final crucial lesson I learned.

I’ve had some hate comments and imposters on this platform and they left me with some sleepless nights.

But there’s nothing more valuable than the constructive criticism I got.

Getting genuine feedback from you guys is what really helped me improve my writing.

Thank you for this.

And if there’s anything I can do to show my gratitude, please let me know in the comments.

It all has been an unexpected adventure and I’m so grateful for all the connections I’ve made.

I’m definitely not a hero, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made.

I’m really excited to see where this path leads me next.

Thank you for following my journey.

Lea