Zero Savings, Zero Income

One interesting aspect of entrepreneurship is that your income can fluctuate drastically—tenfold in either direction. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to me in 2018. Business can be seasonal, but rent is due every month. As December rolled around, especially in B2B sectors, the likelihood of securing new clients dwindled. While I had navigated lean times before, this particular moment felt crushing. I knew that to avoid eviction and meet payroll, I needed to generate at least $8k in December and January.

This no-name, non-writer managed to do just that. In just two months, I earned around $16k by doing what many consider one of the most competitive skills online: writing.

Of course, there’s no magic formula behind this success. Before diving into specifics, I need to clarify two important points that frame my experience:

1. I wrote obsessively. I typically worked 8–10 hour days, but the pressing need to avoid eviction and pay my team pushed me to a grueling schedule of 13–16 hour writing days.
2. I had been writing consistently and curiously for four years prior to this intense period. Though not much (averaging about 30 minutes a day) and without a large audience (fewer than 500 Medium followers at the time), I wrote every single day.

The essence of this article isn’t just about that singular moment but rather how a tiny habit developed over time laid a solid foundation for me. It illustrates how cultivating a consistent and curious approach to creation without expectations equipped me to act decisively when needed. Without that habit, my situation could have easily spiraled into complete financial ruin.

The Challenge: $16K in Two Months Through Writing

In nearly three decades of life, I've made my share of mistakes, but my unwavering commitment to daily habits stands as my saving grace. Among these habits is my dedication to writing for varied lengths of time—usually 30–45 minutes on weekdays and twice that on weekends. I initially started this practice to improve my writing skills, which I felt were lacking.

After four years of consistent writing, I had built a portfolio of nearly 100 articles spanning three to five major themes and a modest, yet engaged, Medium audience. My experience from running a development agency also gave me a grasp on reaching out for freelance opportunities.

By mid-November, I had a clear strategy in mind. With the clarity of the cold air, I aimed to line up as many writing gigs as I could. A follow-up article will delve into the specifics of this process, but by December 1st, I had the following lined up:

• Six math articles submitted to two Medium publications each
• A four-article contract with a cryptocurrency outlet ($2.4k)
• A four-article ghostwriting contract for a VC ($5k)
• Approximately $5k in leads from two additional cryptocurrency outlets

In total, that guaranteed me $7.4k—46% of my goal—with plans for 14 articles over the next two months. This amount didn’t even account for any additional sales or anticipated payouts from Medium.

Yes, it was tough and taxing, and it took a toll on my health, but the writing itself was straightforward. After years of consistent writing and publishing, I had developed:

• Soft Skills: Focus, discipline, and curiosity.
• Hard Skills: Drafting, editing, and researching.
• Social Proof: A portfolio showcasing my expertise in specific niches.

Below, for the first time, I’ll outline these lessons and how they empowered me when under pressure.

You Create the Craft Until the Craft Creates You

I never began this habit with the intention of relying on it as a lifeline, yet that’s exactly where it led me. Reflecting back, the outcome of this intense period was simply the culmination of years spent creating without major expectations—a form of delayed gratification.

This illustrates the often-overlooked magic of compounding, particularly in skill development—arguably the best investment you can make in yourself.

The Soft Skills

Much like in sports, the soft skills that gave me the confidence to sell my services emerged only after years of practice. There’s no way I would have felt secure committing to those price points or deadlines without the foundational soft skills developed over the years: focus, discipline, and curiosity.

For instance, when I first started writing, I aimed for just 15 minutes daily—and I often fell short. Instead of giving up, I adjusted my approach. Perhaps focusing on writing for a continuous 15 minutes was too ambitious, but I could manage three 5-minute writing sessions instead. Gradually, my ability to maintain focus grew, expanding from 5 minutes to 15, and eventually up to 120 minutes.

By the time crunch time hit in my fourth year, I had complete faith in my ability to concentrate for extended periods.

The Hard Skills

Without a marketable skill, you’re already at a disadvantage. It may seem obvious, but to answer the question: could someone who hadn’t been writing for four years achieve this? The answer is a resounding no. Although the time investment for writing can be daunting, there’s a silver lining: flexibility.

Regardless of the medium—writing, drawing, video editing, podcasting—these skills are consistently in demand, albeit competitive. The key is purposeful consistency. Curiosity fuels this purpose and can lead you to discover your niche, build authority, and compete on value rather than price.

After four years of steady, if modest, improvement, I was confident that I was no longer a terrible writer—I had earned enough through Medium to know I possessed a valuable skill.

Social Proof: Audience and Portfolio

In the creator economy, social proof hinges on your audience and portfolio. While we could discuss either topic at length, here’s a brief overview:

You should never compete on price; instead, sell your unique medium and content expertise. The role of curiosity is crucial: What captivates you? What quirky interest did you have as a child that set you apart? Embrace that. The internet is a vast landscape with niches within niches.

Curiosity is what infuses your practice with meaning. To strengthen a habit, reduce friction in the user experience—write about whatever intrigues you. If you feel you lack original ideas, start by summarizing topics that interest you. I too had no clear niche at the outset. My earliest articles were often mediocre summaries of books I was reading.

Over time, I began to notice common themes in my writing, and my niches gradually came into focus.

The Importance of Curiosity and Consistency

Like many significant life choices, the evolution of my writing habit was gradual—slowly, then suddenly. Our great challenge as a species lies in our inability to recognize the subtle rewards of consistent effort over time. I began writing simply because I wanted to improve.

Although my initial motivation may have been driven by a specific goal, eight years later, it’s evident that the importance of that "why" has diminished. At some point, I accepted that I had become a better writer, but what truly matters now is that writing has become second nature to me. It’s ingrained in my daily life, and I have no intention of stopping.

Over the years, my writing frequency has varied—sometimes dipping to 5 minutes a day and other times peaking at around 120 minutes. However, with very few exceptions, I continue to write. I may be an unknown writer, but when faced with challenges, I successfully transformed my modest daily habit into two months' worth of income.

So, I urge you to reflect on your content consumption habits and commit to creating something daily, even if just for a fraction of the time. The medium and message are secondary to the importance of simply starting. The skills and insights you acquire will emerge over time from the depths of your curiosity.

Start that blog, podcast, or live stream. You may not achieve fame, but a few years of consistent and curious creation will yield significant returns. Remember, the destination is not the end goal but rather who you become along the journey.