The price I pay to grow my audience

Last year, I wrote hundreds of articles.

Not because I always wanted to. Many days I didn't.

My keys were breaking, my hands were tired, and I'd attract a fair share of trolls and critics.

Subscribers left every day.

But I just kept showing up to my battered laptop daily.

The momentum I have, however, makes doing that mostly fun.

Why though, Alex? You crazy, mate?

Because growing an audience is one of the most important investments I can make for the next phase of my life.

As Naval recently put it:

"Be a creator and you won't have to worry about jobs, careers, and AI."

This is what I believe.

Having your own audience—people who care about what you say—is a kind of life insurance in a world that feels less stable by the day.

When you build an audience, you're creating options for yourself.

Even one intrigued follower could change your life (this has happened for me several times).

By building your online presence, you're reducing dependency on things you can't control.

And, by the way, you don't need a massive audience.

I've seen people with just a few hundred subscribers to their newsletter build steady, meaningful income.

What matters isn't the size of the audience but the connection you create with the people who get you.

None of that happens unless you stop worrying about what others think and you just start.

The price of building an audience is small, consistent steps, no matter how you feel.

And feelings matter WAY less when you have a broader vision.

Creating when it doesn't feel easy is a price I'll gladly pay.

If you've been thinking about starting, my course Online Writing Alchemy is designed to help you align your words with the people who need them most.

You don't need to be a genius or have everything figured out.

You just need to be willing to take a bet on yourself.

Learn more about Online Writing Alchemy here.

Happy New Year,

Alex