Is it Really Success Without Making any Money?
By Grace K. Bianco
Success is both subjective and objective.
It is subjective, because there are many people who believe that success is more about happiness while others believe it is more about making money. Some would say they lived a successful life if they had a big and happy family. While others base their success on the amount of wealth and material items they were able to accumulate.
Success can also be objective, because you can’t literally live off of zero dollars in today’s world. At some point, you will have to have a side job or make money off of your dream job.
Personally, I look at success as being more subjective. I measure my success based off of whether or not what I do helps people. I am also a cliche person who bases my success on whether or not I am happy doing what I am doing. I have no problem leaving something that doesn't make me happy.
Awhile back a friend told me, that if I ever went back to college, I should become a therapist. I told her that if I had to go back and choose something it would be that, but then, I told her that I am happy with the amount of people who have already come to me. I told her that I have casual conversations with strangers and mutuals about their lives. What she said in response… I haven’t been able to get out of my head. She told me, “That’s amazing. You did it. You have succeeded.”
As much as I love writing just to write, it doesn’t mean I don’t dream of actually getting somewhere with it. I still have days where I get frustrated, and wonder if my hard work will eventually pay off. When my friend told me that, I sat back and repeated those words in my head. “You have succeeded… You have succeeded… She’s RIGHT!! I HAVE succeeded!!”
So, what is my “success” story?
Let’s first take a look at the amount of followers I have. I have 9 followers on Medium. I have probably 8 followers on my actual website (newkindofliving.com). I have 887 followers on my main instagram account (gracekbianco). I have 89 followers on my second instagram account (newkindofliving_).
I have been blogging since 2018. I wrote and published a book, “Party Pooper: Growing up with Anxiety” (available on Amazon *wink* *wink*). In September of 2021, it will be three years since I began my writing journey, and my following is still pretty tiny.
I am telling you all of this so I don’t come off as bias. If I were to have thousands of followers and making a substantial amount of money, it would make it a lot easier to see why I consider my writing “successful”, but as of right now, writing being my career is still just a dream of mine.
When people started reading them, I would sit there and watch the views go up. Many blogs never went up past a hundred views, but every view was still one person who took the time to read MY blog.
Back then, I was so content with whatever number I got. And oh my goodness, if someone messaged me about my blog, I would freak out. For days, I would reread the message.
But in October of 2019, that contentment turned into passion. I wanted to do more. I didn’t want writing to be just a hobby. I wanted it to be a job.
I would get off my 8–4pm nanny job and get straight to work. I was figuring out ways to produce content. I was taking online courses. I was reading books. I was talking to my employers who owned businesses. I was on fire, and nothing was going to stop me.
Then, I met my husband in December of 2019. I was in la la land. I finished and published my book. But my content had slowed way down. I hardly posted a blog. I stopped daily journalling. I stopped reading tons of books. It wasn’t his fault. I just consumed my free time with him.
I vowed that once we got married I would give writing my all. I would try and retry until I got somewhere.
We are six months into marriage. I go through spells of writing like crazy, and then, I slow way down. It’s a cycle. All throughout that cycle, if I am not writing, I am always brainstorming. The brainstorming has only intensified over the last three years.
I don’t measure my success anymore based off of: blog views, book purchases, or new opportunities I am given. Not to say, I don’t still check my stats or get ecstatic when I am given a new opportunity, but it’s hearing from other people. If I help one person, every minute I have put into writing has become worth it.
No matter what you do or what your dreams are… There are always ways to help and make an impact in others lives. Use your God-given talents/hobbies/jobs/etc. to bring glory to God and make the world a better place.
That to me is success.
___________________________________
Thanks for reading!! Make sure to click that follow button for more!!
Also, check out my more personal blog newkindofliving.com ❤
My book, Party Pooper: Growing up with Anxiety, is available now on Amazon (eBook and Paperback).
