avatarJosh White

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2098

Abstract

g-9786/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels">Pexels</a></figcaption></figure><p id="419b">But there I was years back, wishing for a platform where I can just share my ideas. God was so kind as to bring Medium during the journey. So that not only do I have a platform but also make some money while doing what I love.</p><p id="397c">Unfortunately, months after, I drifted. I drifted from what has kept me sane to over the years to a desire that nearly lost my mind. The joy of creating and the desire to share it with the world was what kept me until I found Medium. And now I was taking the path that was leading me quickly out of it.</p><h1 id="3acc">When money is all you see, you will barely see anything else.</h1><p id="6661">I was so intoxicated with that desire that I could barely see anything else.</p><figure id="0582"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*9fSdLJZXtF7ZAGYIgMOsfg.jpeg"><figcaption>Image Source: Pixel</figcaption></figure><p id="be3b">I lost my way. I was contemplating giving writing on Medium up. Not once, not twice. Because in my large eyes, Medium was paying me peanuts.</p><p id="7262">Not knowing that I was the one bargaining for the peanuts.</p><p id="47ef">Now, do you expect,</p><ul><li>When all you think about is how to rip people off their hard-earned money without giving value?</li><li>When you can no longer share solutions but a bunch of information that does nobody good?</li><li>When you no longer read books and so only share outdated and worn-out ideas?</li><li>When you no longer see people’s concerns and long to help them with answers?</li><li>When you only follow people so that they can follow you back?</li></ul><h2 id="b150">You get peanuts. Nothing more.</h2><p id="2941">That’s what you get when you are more interested in making money than providing valuable information. Information that yields a result for your audience.</p><p id="aebc">The reality is, <b>real people first read your stories and then follow you to keep receiving similar life-transforming articles.

Options

</b>That is where your focus should be. Keep writing articles that solve people’s problems. Postpone the desire to be a 5-figure writer 10 years ahead and focus on learning and improvement.</p><p id="8277">That’s the choice 5 figure writers made that got them that figure. Knowingly or unknowingly. And today you too can make that choice.</p><h1 id="9f6c">Final thought</h1><p id="bd65">Expecting much too early can lead you quickly to your disaster —<a href="https://readmedium.com/a-private-letter-to-new-and-aspiring-writers-c2737466863a?source=---------14------------------"><i> especially if you are a young writer or new to Medium</i></a><i>.</i></p><p id="7bde">Stop tracking how much money you are making to how many new skills and lessons you are learning. In the end, what you have to give is what determines how much you earn.</p><p id="6bb2">Other stories you would love to read:</p><div id="ca49" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/an-open-letter-to-my-friend-and-mentor-354195fc4a35"> <div> <div> <h2>An Open Letter to My Friend and Mentor</h2> <div><h3>Dear sir,</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*fwfo7pJHiA7Ya3P-uWCA3g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="2e3c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-challenge-every-artist-writer-must-encounter-c13d3efec670"> <div> <div> <h2>The Challenge Every Artist/Writer Must Encounter</h2> <div><h3>And why all creatives must embrace it.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*kdZsO9eOfUUY74PmKs9B1Q.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

LIFE LESSON

Start Tracking How Much You’re Learning than You’re Earning on Medium

Putting how much you’re earning ahead of your learning is the quickest way to failure and unhappiness as a writer.

Photo by Elle Hughes from Pexels

I have helplessly watched many talented writers wither like flowers. I was one of them.

Gradually the drive to get my arse down and shade my thoughts was no longer there. I lost it. Writing, a sport I once loved, became a nightmare.

Most times, I sit there for hours, and not even a single idea will come to my aid. I experienced what it felt like to be barren — not of babies but ideas. It was a bitter experience.

See, you should be careful what you feed your mind with. The last thing I can remember before that experience was that I was drunk with stories of “How I Made 10, 000 dollars Writing on Medium”. I took an overdose of those stories into my veins. And I had a hangover. It was now all about how I make 3 figures by ANY means. It is a terrible place to be.

I didn’t notice what it was until I almost lost it all — inspiration, creativity, and my purpose as a writer. I was drowning in a sea that I created myself.

Photo by Life Of Pix from Pexels

But there I was years back, wishing for a platform where I can just share my ideas. God was so kind as to bring Medium during the journey. So that not only do I have a platform but also make some money while doing what I love.

Unfortunately, months after, I drifted. I drifted from what has kept me sane to over the years to a desire that nearly lost my mind. The joy of creating and the desire to share it with the world was what kept me until I found Medium. And now I was taking the path that was leading me quickly out of it.

When money is all you see, you will barely see anything else.

I was so intoxicated with that desire that I could barely see anything else.

Image Source: Pixel

I lost my way. I was contemplating giving writing on Medium up. Not once, not twice. Because in my large eyes, Medium was paying me peanuts.

Not knowing that I was the one bargaining for the peanuts.

Now, do you expect,

  • When all you think about is how to rip people off their hard-earned money without giving value?
  • When you can no longer share solutions but a bunch of information that does nobody good?
  • When you no longer read books and so only share outdated and worn-out ideas?
  • When you no longer see people’s concerns and long to help them with answers?
  • When you only follow people so that they can follow you back?

You get peanuts. Nothing more.

That’s what you get when you are more interested in making money than providing valuable information. Information that yields a result for your audience.

The reality is, real people first read your stories and then follow you to keep receiving similar life-transforming articles. That is where your focus should be. Keep writing articles that solve people’s problems. Postpone the desire to be a 5-figure writer 10 years ahead and focus on learning and improvement.

That’s the choice 5 figure writers made that got them that figure. Knowingly or unknowingly. And today you too can make that choice.

Final thought

Expecting much too early can lead you quickly to your disaster — especially if you are a young writer or new to Medium.

Stop tracking how much money you are making to how many new skills and lessons you are learning. In the end, what you have to give is what determines how much you earn.

Other stories you would love to read:

Finance
Self Improvement
Life Lessons
Writing
Inspiration
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