Happy September.
I know others on this website have said this, so I'm not the first, but yeah, I quit my job to write for Steemit. Actually, though, that's not entirely true. It's kind of true. I quit my job because something shifted inside of me. When the job was gone, Steemit, on the selfsame day, rose up into my focus immediately to fill the void like it was just waiting for me to finally get real. To do this stuff I've always been wanting to do. And always have been doing at the expense of sleep, money, time, etc. I was now beginning to get paid for it. What the!?! The first half of August was bliss. After some initial discouragement, I found some good verbs in the mouth of one Sterlin Luxan, and was inspired to actually dig down inside of myself and make a more honest post. I finally made twenty bucks on the site. From there I thought, hell, I'll just do this full time. I began to make significant sums of cash for an honest day's worth of work writing, and felt that with my side job, as long as I hammered down, I would be able to cover my family's usual expenses by the time September rolled around. But I will tell you one thing. I never dreamed I could pull down 2Gs cold, hard cash through writing in less than a month, even if one half of it is still vested in Steem Power (I am happy about this). I was sick to my stomach, though. I have a wife and a child. Playing games at this point was not an option. Still....I had heard something that was very lovely and very clear. It was a kind of feeling I have never had before, but which was also at once very perfectly familiar. As my kid is playing on the Octopus slide behind me, and I am staring out at the sea, it hits me: It's over. You will never teach kids again. Weird. It's like my wish, but this time I am not even wishing for it. It comes to me. I just know that that chapter of my life is completed. That was the day after I quit my job. Fast forward to the end of the month. I haven't made enough money like I had hoped....I pray to someone or something over my Matsuya beef bowl in the sketchy back alley district of the burlesque dancers: what should I do? I was really, really feeling low and full of doubts and self-accusations. Immediately that silly voice came back again: I haven't been eating this month. Haven't been sleeping. Have had headaches. Upset stomach. Welcome to fear. Welcome to the real shit. You were so cocky! Are you lazy!? You didn't like your job but so what!? You've got a family!!! Son comes home from daycare. DAAAAADDDYYYYYY!!!!!!! Let's play!!!!! Pull yourself together. My wife is equally worried. I've never been lazy. I will work my ass off when I care, and when I need to. Fuck sleep. Fuck food. Fuck everything but the goal. Well, a lot of shit, at least. Still. Mouths to feed, my friend. But that "voice," didn't it mean something? And despite the nerves, hasn't this been one of the happiest, most productive months of my life? Yes. Yes, and yes. Besides, the other job was no good. Bad, unsustainable situation. You know that, Graham. Back to now, August, 31st, 2016. Evening. I went to my friend Craig's bar tonight. At the depth of my despair, on the bus ride over, I received a mail from my other friend, Aidan. There might be some part time work at his school. Mail sounds promising. After a couple beers at Craig's place it is settled I will work Saturdays mixing booze and playing guitar. I am starting to feel good again. It is starting to seem possible that I can build my own, full-time, part-time "Steem-lance" schedule. Fake priest weddings, English classes, serving beer and singing....and.... And you know what? I am going to document it every step of the way. This is the first episode. Hope to see you next time, from my first day on the job as a bartender. Peace, Love, and Anarchy, ~KafkA P.S. Another thing I have never been good at is keeping a consistent diary. I'm too private, and can't be bothered, even for myself. Should "My Steemit Life" transform into an existentialist thought stream ramble resembling a blog-turned-extended-acid trip, please forgive me. Maybe I will commit to 5 episodes. That sounds like a good number to me. Deal? Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist residing in Niigata, Japan.
Spending time with my son has been one of the biggest bonuses of leaving my 9-5.Well. August 31st. Paying all my bills with SBDs? No such luck, my friend.
(Keep doing what you're doing)
Don't show your frayed nerves.
She needs security. She wants to get into massage. Vocal training school. So many dreams. Here I am sitting around the house in my underwear when all I really want to do is hand her a big fat envelope full of money.
I just can't seem to give a damn about most shit that everybody else says is important.
My buddy Kevin shows up to the Local.STEEEEEEEEEEEEMMMMMM!!!!!!!
Basically how I feel now that I have discovered Steemit.com
Hope you make it, I too am trying to make it on Steemit, haven't made any money yet, and I'm unemployed and do need it, but I wasn't making anything before joining Steemit, so at least I now have some hope of making something here, even though I do know my posts suck, but maybe one day I'll manage to write something good. In the mean time at least up vote every post I think is good reading and sometimes comment on it (mostly for practice). Again hope it goes good with you.
Cheers, my friend. Wishing you the best.
Hey you can try the following in order to make better posts: https://steemit.com/steemit/@mary777/how-to-write-a-quality-steemit-post-5-easy-steps
Never lose hope!
I was at work at the gun store today when it hit me. I am a working writer. I almost dropped the gun I was polishing. (Don't worry, we don't keep loaded guns in the gun store.) I have been trying to figure out how to become a working writer for over five years, and really throwing myself into it the last two. And then along comes Steemit, and I spend a week and a half writing 5 cent posts and then BAM. Money. I didn't make as much as you did last month, but I did make enough Steem dollars to buy my car a new set of tires and double my monthly savings. So there. I welcome you and myself to the world of professional writerhood.
Sounds Promising, Little risky but you seem competent at writing, So id take that bet.
You're living the dream, man (or starting to anyway)! Being able to quit my day job and be my own boss is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but I'm quite far away from achieving that goal. Stories like yours are very inspirational and uplifting when I'm feeling down. Best of luck, I'll be rooting for you all the way and looking forward to reading how it turns out!
Thank you, @cryptomancer. Means a lot!
By the way, I live in Tokyo. Spent much time there? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on how it contrasts with Niigata.
Wow man. Just reading your story now!
Great stuff. Am really glad you decided to share this.
I have to apologize. I just saw your comment now and had assumed via your previous response it was okay to feature you. If you don't wish to be in it, I can remove the content ASAP. Here is the post: https://steemit.com/anarchism/@kafkanarchy84/anarcho-art-magazine-vol-ii
I do hope you'll like it, though!
No worries, it's fine. Came out great, much appreciated! I enjoy the format you use; it's like a written version of listening to a talk radio show.
Okay, last comment for now. Just finished reading your introductory post, parts 1 and 2. First off, you have a really great tone when it comes to writing. Are you sure you've never written a blog before?
Second...よろしくお願いします、Crypto-先生！ Looking forward to learning more about crypto/investment from your future posts. Third, can I feature your story in a bi-weekly "Steem-zine" I do called Anarcho-art? I would love to put your story out there to my readers, and the SBD reward is split equally between myself and all of the contributors. Let me know what you think!
ありがとうございました ! My English professor in university said I should major in English. Like I said in my post, I've always wanted to put my writing skills to better use but this is the first real chance I've had. Hmm, I might be open to such an arrangement with your Steem-zine, and I appreciate your interest! Can you link to a couple recent examples of it (would save me the time of searching through your large number of blog entries)?
I love Tokyo. Have always wanted to live there at least for a bit. That said, it is always nice to get back to the rice fields of Niigata. It's a decent-sized city population wise, but very sleepy. Living a 5 blocks from the seaside is nice, though. No Bitcoin ATMs here. :(
How long have you been in Tokyo? Great to hear this.
Niigata sounds nice. I've been in Tokyo about 13 years now. It's a wonderfully convenient city to live in, but sometimes I go a little stir-crazy from constantly being surrounded by the concrete jungle. I imagine things are a bit more laid back where you are.
Hats up man, you got my vote
This, of course is a very well thought out post.
I knew that making a living off Steem was true. Just trying to get there myself...
I have followed and upvoted.
:D
Good for you. I can identify with all your feelings, except that they accompany working for myself for over twenty years. It doesn't get better. But would you want it to? Without those awful lows, you can't appreciate all the simple joys that make up our life! Good luck!
Really nice, you have my support too! -upvoted & followed
Cheers!
We all would love to make a living just writing on Steemit but it's not very realistic atm. Find a part-time job!
Already have several! Check out the article and vid ;)
I really admire your tenacity. That's scary. Good for you for doing it. And glad you could do something on the side to keep you less nervous about it. But soon you won't need the side job. Keep plugging away! Your posts are great!