The title may seem a little vague. I presume your first guess is the right one. This post is a part of a thank you series that I've been thinking about lately. My way of paying it forward for your support.
Looking back at how this journey began, I had a lot of doubt. I was scared, inexperienced, and under-equipped - I still am, just a little less - to get in the business of content creation, graphic design, and blogging. Apart from being a highly competitive field in the international and freelance market, Tunisia - the country where I reside - does not support this market. In other words, freelance English writing is a dead end.
I get anxiety every time I think about because I have invested countless hours and resources on a high-risk project. I am the only Tunisian freelance English writer with my own website that is also my business.
But with all that fear, ambition spawned to life. Why can't I be the first person to introduce the market to my country? Sure as hell, my generation and the upcoming ones are well-versed with English. Sure as hell, got the skills and determination to make it happen. Sure a hell, I will make it happen.
When I started blogging, I had a vision that my blog would generate traffic and traction to a point where I could place Ads and promotion from where I can originate income to support myself as a college student. My aim was low and little did I know that my strategy was no good.
I studied Multimedia Journalism in at Southeast Missouri State University in the United States where I learned the fundamentals of Graphic design and the American journalistic style of writing (the AP style). I interned with at a creative writing company where I learned the ugly side of freelancing.
Here's some of the truths I learned:
Sacrifice your time and comfort. Forget about off days if you really truly want to make it as quick as possible.
Intern at places/with businesses relevant to your own career vision and ambitions.
Never stop acquiring skills. There is no "I know enough". There's always someone out there who knows more than you do at whatever you think you excel at, and he will take your position/ beat you to the top.
Face your fears and take risks. You're a young professional, the worst possible scenario is that you get experience out of a failure.
Hang on to positivity. This is coming for a cynic who gets called a "pessimist" way too often. You're your only motivation and pep talker. Seriously, enjoy your small wins, keep grinding, and stay positive. I learned that the hard way.
Stick to your professional principals: Keep your promises, always be on time, meet your deadlines, keep a professional tone, produce high-quality work
Give back to your community.
And that is what I want to touch on as part of my paying it forward. For everyone that has ever read a blog post, liked my content on social media, commented on anything related to my work, shared anything from my website and subscribed to it, I will grant a favor. Whatever the favor is, if it is possible for me to perform it, you got it.
At the end of this sappy yet full-of-hope rant, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting my own dream even if it may never directly benefit you. Those gestures of good faith and solidarity are the building blocks of great countries.
Thank you all so very much!
Sincerely,
Firas Aouinet, a.k.a The Know It All, sort of.
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