Who am I to complain?

This week has been a strange blend of emotions and choices. I also want to share a few reflections on “poverty” and the power of being “grateful.” I encourage you to read it, as there are invaluable lessons for everyone.

CLOSURE

The only way to learn and gain experience is by walking the path. Nine months ago, I told everyone, “I will do this, that, and a few other things to earn money.” I had done bits and pieces of those things while I was a full-time employee. The reality started once I resigned. My first mission was to create a photography course, and I spent two months developing it. Fast forward, after spending a few thousand dollars, the course didn’t sell. It was a loss. I hired a company to do ads and optimise my website. While the site optimisation has worked, the course was still not sold. So, I decided to put the course on Udemy by putting my ego aside. I have officially shut down the course on my website, and I am stopping all ads by the 25th of this month. I can no longer afford ads with no return!

I now have three courses on Udemy (beginner, landscape and street photography), and they are being bought slowly and organically. Not much revenue as I had hoped for nine months ago, but revenue nonetheless.

Closure: Do I have regrets? No. I do have a sense of loss because that was my hard-earned money with no return on investment. After processing the sense of loss and anxiety for the last month, I have closed this chapter and moved on. I will be adding a night photography course and an Adobe Lightroom Course in the coming months on Udemy.

Lesson: If I ever get to big numbers on social media, I will make a short, specialised course on my website and sell it at the price I want to, and not Udemy’s discounted prices which are not more than 15 USD for a course that I want to sell at 95 USD or more.

Poverty and gratitude: I can’t count how many WhatsApp messages I've received in the last month from African countries, genuinely wanting to learn photography and filmmaking. When I sent them the link to my course or offered them a significantly discounted price for online one-on-one lessons, none of them could afford it. Some said they don’t have enough data to watch the course, and some couldn’t even afford as little as 9 USD to buy it. I want to do something for these people when my finances are a bit more stable. Who am I to complain about losing money while I sleep in a warm bed? I don’t owe anyone a single cent; I eat what I like. I mean, I am writing this to you while having coffee and a trout bagel in an expensive café.

I wanted to share other news, but that’s for next time.

Quote of the Day: “And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.”  ~ The Holy Quran

Video of the week: Get Bored by Ali Gallop

Kind regards

Muji