It’s been an intense few weeks, both in terms of work and life. As some of you know, I left my full time job back in August and decided to freelance for a bit while deciding my next step. I got to travel a bit (to the Maldives and most recently, Turkey) and really got to reflect and appreciate the opportunities I’ve had over the last eight years.
I owe everything to my blog and this hobby: Every career opportunity since 2013, every place I’ve had a chance to travel to and all the great people I met along the way.
How it started
I’ve been blogging for eight years. During five of those years, I got an opportunity to work as a freelance writer. My writing skills deteriorated. Expectations were low and I found myself phoning it in most of the time.
When I joined NerdWallet as a contributor, things changed. I was challenged to do better and as a result, my writing improved tremendously and I found myself enjoying the writing process once again.
But aside from that, I need variety in my daily work life and simply writing and tweeting doesn’t always bring me joy. My part time editing job at NerdWallet helped fill the void for a while.
That growth has been missing in my work life for a while. When I’m not learning and improving, I fall into a rut. For a Type A personality like me, being stuck is the worst feeling possible. I get restless, I get depressed and I become apathetic.
Searching for growth
I interviewed for several different positions recently, ranging from editorial to communications roles. Unanimously, the thing that everyone was excited to talk to me about was this hobby and my blogging activities. At one point, I was asked why I started the blog and what kept me going. Was it the revenue?
I explained that I made practically nothing for many years and what kept me going was a genuine passion for this hobby and excitement for sharing it with others.
When I started my first post-grad job during the recession, I remember wondering how I’d make something of myself. The economy was bad, it had taken me a year to find a job and any kind of progress seemed out of reach.
By focusing on my passion and building this creative outlet, I got to showcase my writing abilities, learn invaluable skills, build a community of excited readers and find incredible job opportunities along the way. I can’t even imagine where I’d be today if I hadn’t started this blog back in 2012.
The present day
I haven’t always given this blog the attention it deserved. Taking weeks off at a time, it just wasn’t feasible for me to do it full time, especially since I spent most of my time on work and writing assignments that kept a roof over my head.
When I got a call from Brian Kelly to join The Points Guy team as Credit Cards Editor, it was the opportunity I’d been waiting for: A challenging job where I’d get to work with writers and a world-class team. A place where I could learn and be challenged to be a better writer and editor.
I’m starting my new job today and look forward to growing professionally while continuing to pursue this hobby that has immeasurably changed my life.
It’s been an awesome ride and I want to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years. Thank you for reading, commenting and keeping me engaged. You’ve made it possible for me to check off virtually every major bucket list item and cheered me on when I needed it the most.
Staying in touch
This isn’t the end. I hope you’ll continue to follow along as I share my adventures at TPG and on social media. You can always DM me on Twitter or share your crazy adventures with me on Facebook. I want to hear from you guys, even if it’s not in the always-colorful comment section.
Twitter: @PointChaser
Instagram: @PointChaser
Thank you for following along. I hope your journey has been as rewarding as mine.
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