Fluctuation:
I think I know what that is like. As a freelance English Teacher in Vietnam, my monthly income fluctuated during my five years there. So, basically, you are like a starving artist in some ways. In some ways, actors may experience some of this. Perhaps, models have to deal with it too.
Especially Writers
Writers probably struggle a lot more than some of the other occupations, historically perhaps, which reminds me of the life of the fictional Anne of Green Gables who was trying to become a writer and yet she was a woman and they didn't like that and maybe they should have.
Get a Normal Job
I get that as well. Get a job, they say. So, some of us get it to various degrees. With the help of the Internet, we may feel less isolated. And a lot of people prefer a normal job. It can be tougher being your own boss or being some kind of private contractor or freelancer or whatever people may want to call it.
Your New Job
It sounds like good news. Flexible. It does not sound very stressful like what you might see inside hospitals where many nurses have been overworked it seems. So, keep up the good work. Crypto is a good backup system for money. The only thing better is gold, etc.
Fluctuation, yes, I'd say the people working in the arts will be most affected by this. I have a friend here who recently started her own business (well, two years ago) and she was lucky that it took off right away. Her husband was a struggling theatre actor at the time and she backed him all the way. It's great that he had that, because not many would have accepted it I think. About a year ago, he started to work on his own production piece and also as an actor in it and it was a great success which landed more jobs for him. They were lucky! So many would have failed, but I guess if you have the drive and the right people supporting you (family is everything, if they don't support, you're on your own as I have found out the hard way), you will succeed eventually.
Yes, you're so right, it's a hard life being a writer. Most writers are their worst critics. I've been writing a book for more than 18 years and can't bring myself to really love it or finish it. It's a curse sometimes, but on the other hand I wouldn't have it any other way. When I started in journalism, my life was completely planned out. I was going to travel, see the world (well did some of that) and write about world issues. When I quit the business because I discovered that if I ever were to become successful as a journalist I would have to jump through corporate hoops and write what they wanted me to, I swore to myself that I'd never sell out that way. And I didn't. But that also meant that suddenly, my life wasn't that well planned anymore and I had to find my own way by taking jobs that I didn't always want to do, but had to to survive. It's life, isn't it? I don't have any regrets, and looking back at it, I grew so much because of it.
I've had 'normal jobs' before, but it just wasn't me or what I had envisioned to do for a longer period of time. My life has never been normal. What is normal anyway?
Yeah, the new job is definitely something I am excited about. It is flexible and might come with its own kind of stress (trying to make it everywhere on time, especially in winter may prove difficult). But I've been quite isolated the last few years, and it will be great to be out and about and meet new people (colleagues) as well as meeting customers. My experience with the loan agents I've dealt with was always good, they didn't just collect and run but have a little chat too, which feels more personal in my opinion.
And I guess the agents sometimes get to hear a lot about what's going on in people's lives, which may put our own troubles a little more in perspective.
But 5 years in Vietnam? Wow, that must have been an experience too! I'd love to hear more about your experiences there. Vietnam was on my list for our upcoming trip, but now I might have to postpone visiting there, since there won't be enough time. But definitely in the (near) future and that's something I haven't been able to say in a while: definitely.
Blogging:
I blog about my life in Vietnam 2012-2017 on Steemit. Right now, I'm reviewing June 2016. So, I have been publishing rough draft outlines for each month I was in Vietnam. Also, a week ago, I wrote 11 articles on 1980 as I was born in 1985. So, one post per year and then a summary post. But these posts are probably, some might argue, not finished and therefore should not be on the Internet. Because they're rough drafts. I started making videos when I was almost eleven years old in 1996 in Oregon, above California. So, one of my unfinished projects includes trying to archive and organize and fix up our home videos that we made that goes back to 1996 like I said. All of this is a long story and it can be tough. I'm a perfectionist and I hate publishing unfinished work. But as I got older, I started trying to force myself to publish stuff because that helps me get stuff done. As a kid, I would draw and I never wanted to finish. My mom would sometimes say hey, it is good enough. I try to parent myself now and try to make sure I don't procrastinate forever on everything. Even this comment is a little hard to write. I have a desire to study what I am writing right here to you and perhaps never click on the post button. But I try my best to develop better habits. Like, it's all about having wisdom in life, finding balance, etc.
Normal Jobs
Yeah, I had normal jobs too.
Passion
I have not written books, but perhaps someday. I have a lot of stuff out there. So, I have the templates, the rough drafts. So, for you, you could try your best to keep it as simple as possible. Perhaps, you might even consider publishing unfinished books, eBooks, etc, online, offline. But one step at a time. Ultimately, you have to focus on the specific objectives that a project might have. And then you should contemplate the path you might take to getting there. So, with a book, you start with an outline, the main points that you are trying to get across. Well, I guess it depends on what kind of book it is.
Rough Drafts
A lot of what you might see of me online is simply that, rough drafts. So, that might be a pretty big flaw to have. My philosophy includes the desire to get stuff out there and to possibly pass on good ideas to other people. But financially speaking that might be bad advice because people can then come over and steal my ideas, etc, assuming there is anything out there worth adopting.
Selling Out
In conclusion, I'm glad you are not selling out. That is probably one of the hardest things to not do.