Why I Don’t Give a Sh*t About My $500 Bonus

And the honest reason I feel like an ultra-marathonist.

As you can see by the photo above, I’m a trail runner. I do ultra-marathons in high mountains. Yes, those crazy people running into the darkness in dangerous mountains for hours and hours. I’m proudly one of them.

I also started my full-time writing journey four months ago, in December 2020. As a non-native writer, a Portuguese dude, it has been one of the most honored challenges I’ve ever had in my life.

Medium is a wonderful community of indie writers. And because I always loved indie music, it fits perfectly well.

So, let’s stop talking about myself, and let’s jump into why I don’t give a shit about my $500 bonus.

Content marketing is the only marketing left.

One of the first things I knew I had to do when I started writing on Medium was learning with the best people on this platform.

So, I crossed myself with a YouTube interview with Zulie Rane and [arlie] PEYTON. Zulie interviewed Peyton, and somehow I thought he was the perfect writer to mentor me in my early days.

The way Peyton explained the world of content creation and, most importantly, the growing brand journalism industry made me realize there was more to learn about than simply writing on a single platform.

I bought Peyton’s online course, Writing Income Accelerator, and it was like a newborn child coming out of a mother’s belly. Peyton explains the all picture about brand journalism, working as an indie writer, collaborating in a digital magazine, or funneling traffic with your content to bring new customers to your clients.

For a newbie like me, that was the perfect start, and I will always thank [arlie] PEYTON for his constant availability and support.

If I haven’t been on a platform like Medium, with so many people supporting each other, things would be different.

For you to understand the importance of brand journalism, keep in mind this data:

It was only a few years ago (2016) when this market was hovering at around $216B. Today, that market is growing, and it is predicted to be at $412.88B by 2021. And the trend is only getting better. Countless research firms have verified that the amount of businesses that invest in content marketing nearly doubles every year. Business leaders are seeing the light, and it clearly points to generating more content to attract ideal customers.- Arlie Peyton

We don’t recognize the power of compounding.

In a recent article, I wrote about the compounding energy Sinem Günel has that spreads all over the platform.

I felt Sinem had Medium momentum, and with her unique energy, I thought learning with her would get me to another level.

In January 2021, I invested in Sinem Günel’s online course. She has a more specific method, digging into Medium’s details. After a few weeks, I already felt the difference in my writing, planning, and editing style. Planning, writing, and editing after Sinem Günel’s tips made all the difference. And I have to thank her for that.

She has made a memorable journey on Medium. Like me, Sinem Günel is a non-native writer, born in Turkey and living in Austria with her boyfriend. So, we non-native have our own struggles, if you know what I mean.

The funniest thing about Medium is that you frequently stumble on writers who add something new to your personal journey. You just have to be aware.

Knowledge is the new rich; arm yourselves with it.

When I was young, I played basketball, and my coach always said to me:

If you want to get better, you must practice with better players than you.

It’s a simple concept. If you want to get better, learn with the best.

As I started my writing journey, I was eager to know how top writers succeed. I wanted to be like them (and I still do), so I read thousands of words from Michael Thompson, Jessica Wildfire, Zulie Rane, Niklas Göke, Tom Kuegler, Tim Denning, Sinem Günel, Nicolas Cole, and Thomas Oppong.

I’m still trying to find new writers that are better than me. I do it every day, searching on Medium. One of those recent discoveries was Jessica Lynn. She writes about writing, but also about money. I like the way she sees the world. And in one of her articles, she mentioned another Medium writer, Jon Brosio, who helped on her website.

I was building my website too, so I was curious about Brosio’s online course. I saw his video presentation and immediately thought Jon could be the perfect teacher. He could add much more potential tools to my long-term business plan.

As I started Brosio’s online course, I understood that I could have another income stream outside Medium. Actually, it’s safer for every writer to have several income streams, so you can diversify your earnings into different structures.

Information wants to be free.

Medium keeps giving me free information about how to grow my online business. How?

Most experienced writers love to share their knowledge, and they generally do it for free. You just have to read what they have to say, and that’s wonderful.

So, if you come to me with the excuse you don’t have money to buy online courses, you can always learn them for free.

The legacy of knowledge jumps from writer to writer, from top writers to newbies. And on Medium you can always email anyone asking for help. It’s a beautiful thing other platforms don’t have.

I’m in a full-time mode for six months and already know [arlie] PEYTON, Sinem Günel, and Jon Brosio. Imagine what can happen to me four or five years from now.

Final Thoughts

Of course, a 500 dollar bonus is always welcome. If there’s something I’m not, it’s unappreciated.

Recently, Medium changed the algorithm and the editorial staff. Many writers came out with tough arguments, criticizing Ev Williams and Medium’s constantly evolving strategies.

My opinion is that I can’t expect anything from Medium but a place of learning. If I want to earn money on Medium? Yes, I do- lots of it.

I have two whiteboards behind my computer where I write the most important long-term goals, and on top of both whiteboards, I have written:

$6,000 per month

That’s the amount I want to earn on Medium every single month. However, I know from the start that Medium is constantly changing because it’s a company and companies have their own struggles.

I never doubt that changes happen for the better good. Ev Williams is an experienced entrepreneur and blogger, so who am I to criticize him. He’s the first person wanting Medium to succeed, not you or me.

I just want to be a better writer, and all I know is that Medium helped me in a way I never thought would be possible.

I write about finance, macroeconomics, personal growth, and writing. And recently, Rocco Pendola, one of my favorite finance writers, suggested to those who could be interested in writing for a world’s known website called SeekingAlpha.com (SA) to send him an email.

I did it because SA is where I do my research when I want to analyze the stock market, and it’s one of the most successful platforms about finance and stock markets. So, of course, I would love to write for SeekingAlpha.

Rocco Pendola saw my profile and responded to my email, inviting me to write a draft and start writing for SA. I said it would be an honor to be mentored by him. And now we’re sharing emails with thoughts and ideas.

It’s magical how writers have built teams to improve their strength on Medium and outside the platform. Teamwork makes everyone better than they are alone. I was always a team guy on basketball and beach volleyball, so I know the power of building a dream team.

I don’t give a shit about Medium giving me a $500 bonus because I know I’m always going to see Medium as a partner, not a boss. I know if I write a viral article, it will be good for Medium and me. We both benefit from it.

If Medium is building a new incentive to motivate writers, fine.

I’m not in love with money. I’m in love with the journey. I don’t love money, but I accept it. With more money in my pocket, I can invest in more opportunities to build my business.

I love Medium because it gave me a chance to dream again. I was dying on my 9 to 5 job, so I will never stop thanking this magnificent platform for providing my freedom.

And the funniest thing about it is that the adventure has just begun.

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