I quit twice on Medium before.

Once in 2020 and once in 2022.

If I'd travel back in time and tell my old self I'm making more than $700 a month on here, he'd laugh and send me back to "the future."

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Like you, I never believed I could make serious money writing on Medium. I thought it was a scam or almost impossible for average dudes like me.

It's not.

And here's how Medium became my fun side hustle in only 5 months.

Cluelessness is great for inspiration

Hitting a wall is where the magic happens.

At some point, if you tried often enough to crash through the wall with your bare head, you'll start thinking about using different tools.

In late November 2023, I reached this point (again).

I was fed up with a bad year of business, almost making me quit my dream because I lacked a perspective.

Then, I remembered: "There are still these two things called personal branding and Medium. Why shouldn't I give them a serious try?"

It was all after, in the months prior, I almost went corporate again.

For example, in 2020, I sat down and put in the necessary effort.

To learn what's needed to know.

To practice without letting my ego get in the way (it's a constant fight).

I committed myself to the long-term because I understood Medium isn't something you try for 90 days and say: "Ah damn, only 500 followers, let's quit."

I'm tired of quitting again.

Crossing out the biggest hurdle

The biggest hurdle for growing on Medium isn't the algorithm.

It's your writing habit.

Some are proud when they keep writing for three days straight, but what if I tell you that Alex Mathers has been writing every day for the last F O U R T E E N years.

If you're a writer, writing is a daily thing.

In the beginning, it's on you to build proper writing habits.

What has helped me is introducing "sacred hours," hours in which I write no matter what.

I blocked this time in my calendar to write, no excuses.

It's the early mornings because then I'm most creative and productive. For you, it can be something else.

Then, repeat this until it becomes your second nature.

Because when you get your daily writing going and keep improving, it's only a matter of time.

If you don't let yourself get in the way.

Because that's where you must keep winning the fight.

The biggest killer of every writing aspiration

Most people quit writing sooner rather than later.

And while money is one answer, it's something else in most cases.

Your ego.

When I first started writing on Medium in 2020, I was convinced I was entitled to get more readers. I was constantly thinking:

"It should have been me."

But that's the biggest BS one can think of.

Because if there's one rule, it's this:

In the long run, the algorithm is always right.

Don't entitle yourself to things you don't deserve.

Big writers have realized they suck in the beginning and did everything they could, including thousands of hours of writing, to improve.

Whenever you find your ego screaming, kill it, fry it, and eat it.

Then, get back to writing.

And always remember what you're here for.

Give your readers what they want

It took me too long to learn that.

Readers don't open Medium to read platitudes.

Because of that, they'd look in their fortune cookie when ordering Chinese take-out or their small kitchen calendar full of generic quotes (my mother has one).

Why are you reading this story?

You want to figure out how to make Medium your side hustle and learn from the one who did it. That's why.

And I only provide value when you're smarter than before - in the best case, even pumped to achieve it yourself.

Everything else is clickbait and will make you, the reader, run away forever.

It's simple: give your readers what you promise.

Help them solve their problems, aka provide value.

Don't get tangled up in self-loathing content or being a preacher because nobody wants to read that (I've done both before).

Then, you have all the ingredients you need to become successful.

You'll make Medium your side-hustle if you:

make writing and improving a daily habit,
kill your ego, stay humble get back to writing, and
provide massive value to your readers to improve their lives

Repeat this cycle often enough, and et voila:

Medium is your side hustle.

Thank you for reading.

How's your journey of making Medium your side hustle going?

Let me know in the comments.

How Medium Became My Fun Side-Hustle In 5 Months (Although I Quit Twice Before)

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