Writing is the ultimate leverage:

Writing is the ultimate leverage.

Previously, publications guarded who had access to information. Whatever people read in the newspaper was deemed to be the truth. Then radio came along and you could listen to people around the world. Then came black and white TV in the 50s. Some people didn’t think it would replace radio. Of course it did. Then you got colour TV, and the entertainment industry exploded. But again, the way the stories were being told was by a few people in a specific place controlling the narrative.

Now, anyone can tell their own story. Anyone can be paid to be a writer. If they are willing to stick to something day in day out for years, they can get there. Most people don’t want to put in the time. To work on a difficult problem over and over again for years, often with no signs of success.

I remember when I started listening to podcasts in university, and it was weird. Not many people were listening to podcasts in 2012. No one around me was at least. Everyone’s usually listening to music when they have headphones in. But I started on podcasts.

Then I switched to 2x early. At the beginning, the audio doesn’t make sense. Your brain needs 5 minutes to get adjusted, but eventually you’ll pick it up. Your brain is more impressive than you think. By doubling the speed, you can also listen to double the information in the same amount of time.

So for the last 9 years, I’ve been listening to 30+ podcasts regularly whenever I’m traveling between places. I was on my own for so long. Left the house in 2012 for university but I was always around friends. Then 2018 came, Amsterdam happened and that was it; time to experience the world on your own.

Doing that thing passively for that long has given me a ton of insight and knowledge that I wouldn’t otherwise have had. Audio has become a great teacher. If you use it in the right way and listen to the people discussing topics that you want to learn about, you’ll learn super quickly.

The explosion of valuable and educational content coming out online is so exciting. Especially for the people in India and Africa who are only now coming online. Anyone can learn any skill on the Internet. That ability in human history never existed before.

If we teach kids how to use the Internet properly and discover their interests, they could create businesses in their field of interest. All the tools are available for them to learn. 

Saw today that Twitter is opening up offices in Africa to dedicate more resources to growing in Africa. That’s awesome. So bullish on Africa and India these next few decades. Hopefully we see the amazing companies come on board in those economies. I think that’s coming. Their markets are so big. With more and more people coming onboard online, everyone can create a business, even just with people around them.

It’s so exciting.

This is what I realized recently. All the tools are available now for anyone to become a creator and get paid for their work. Substack for writers, Patreon for memberships, Clubhouse for live audio, spotify for podcasts, etc.

For me, if I’m serious about this goal of eventually becoming a full-time writer, I need to put in the work. I need to put in the reps over and over again for years to be good at it. 

The good thing is I have. That’s what journaling introduced me to several years ago. Day 906.

So proud of myself for doing that. Sticking to something for that long.

If you keep writing and keep sharing your thoughts, the world will repay you in spades.

Keep writing, you’re doing great.