my biggest flex is quitting
reframing quitting
Okay, so I'm watching a YouTube video by Vanessa Lau and had to stop in the middle because this idea popped into my head and I thought, "omg, this would be an amazing newsletter idea."
So here goes.
In this video, Vanessa Lau talks about her regrets as a 7-figure creator, where she used to 'feed the pig'. She described that feeding the pig meant creating content that she hated because she was so focused on growth, the views, and the money.
As a result, she attracted people she didn't like and ended up building a million-dollar business that she had to burn down.
For some context, I had a love-and-hate relationship with this creator. I found her content in 2020 while learning how to make money online because I hated my nursing job.
Her flagship course was the very first course I spent money on.
It was a program where she taught you how to be a coach. If you were good at relationships, you could be a relationship coach. If you were good with finances, you could be a finance coach, and etc.
She broke down the step-by-step process of getting your first client as a new coach (in whatever niche you want) using Instagram.
I followed the whole thing to a T.
But going through the process, I realized that the marketing strategy she used in the course didn't align with me. It felt very salesy and scammy if I’m being honest.
Back then, I didn't know my values or what I wanted to do in the social media world. But I felt betrayed because it felt like I spent $1000 on cookie-cutter advice on how to become an online coach. The course was good, but it just didn't align with my personality.
So I quit. I quit trying to be a coach, and I quit using Instagram.
After that, I got into blogging. I fell in love with the Medium platform and learned to become a writer.
I went all in for 6 months and decided to become a freelance writer.
It turns out I don't like writing for other people. So even though I've managed to earn my first $10K outside of nursing, I still quit.
Mind you, my very first clients as a freelance writer were popular creators like Matt D'Avella, Nicolas Cole and Dickie Bush. Even doing that didn't bring me joy.
In the last 3 years of being a creator, there have been so many things I've started and quit.
From the outside, it looks like I'm a "quitter" who can never stick with anything. If I didn't have self-belief, I'd feel like I'd be on a downward spiral about not being good enough, and bla bla bla.
But luckily, I've cultivated a strong mindset about myself and my life circumstances (for the most part).
Anyway, hearing Vanessa Lau talk about how she kept creating content that made her miserable made me feel proud that I quit her program early on.
It made me feel proud that I quit my freelancing journey even though I was making good money.
It just shows that no amount of money will make you happy. No amount of views or followers online will make you happy if you do not like what you're doing or putting out there.
You might reach your goal faster, but at some point, you will burn out.
It is better to quit, pivot, and keep trying until you find something that feels true to you.
Will it be harder and more frustrating? Yes.
Will you regret it? Absolutely not.
You'll also probably avoid more heartache and trauma because having a creator business is not easy. Every day, you're putting a part of you out there with a chance for people to use against you.
The least you can do is stand your ground. Know your values. Know who you are. So that for every piece of content you put out there, you know you have your own back.
So if you're someone who keeps quitting things because the thing doesn't spark joy, that's a good thing.
The sooner you quit something you're not enjoying, the faster you'll find the thing that will bring you joy.
Anyways, it's time to finish watching the YouTube video.
Until next time,
J 💌