I am shifting gears as a full-time creator

19-Jan-2025 From High Speed Train from Venice to Rome

I have packed my camera bag because I am ready to go home. I don’t want to touch any of the gear. I will regret not having the camera when I see a “moment worth capturing”, but my mind and body need rest now. I have two nights left in Italy. I am meeting a friend in Napoli, and then I am out!

Change in strategy as a full-time creator

I have been working as a full-time creator for six months now. Last month was my biggest earning month. I gave myself six to eight months to pursue YouTube and see if it takes off. It brought me into the spotlight but hasn’t picked up “yet”. I made a course, and it has “yet” to get me income. Although I am no longer sad about the course, I still plan to earn through it. I will update you about “how” in the coming weeks. I don’t want to consume my savings any longer. It’s time to shift gears and start looking for jobs actively in the Cape Town market to keep the ball rolling. In the meantime, I will also keep making YouTube videos, writing, and posting on socials. Passion projects are going to take lower priority from now on. January has struck me in terms of expenses… trust me, when you earn in Rands and spend in Euros in Italy, despite your best efforts, the flow of money can be unpredictable when you travel! At the same time, I believe my work in Italy will “pay back” in some form. I have grown as a photographer, videographer and content creator in the last 15 days, and I want to share that knowledge and earn through it. This trip is an investment. 

The lesson is that pivoting is necessary if plans don’t work, and doing that at the right time is even more crucial. YouTube and social media have algorithms, and the one algorithm that is in your hands is your working strategy. “Don’t be a salve to external factors, Muji,” I tell myself.

I will write from Cape Town next week. Insha Allah. 

Quote of the day: “Who lives sees, but who travels sees more” ~ Ibn Battuta 

Video of the week: A short documentary I made some time ago. Enjoy the Namibian desert vibes. The Vibrant Namibian Desert: A Living Wonder through a Photographer's Eye

Kind regards

Muji