It isn’t what you would expect… — On the 23rd of March, 2020 our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson gave the news that we were all to stay at home, indefinitely, until we had flattened the curve. Everyone’s world changed forever that day as lockdown was foisted upon us. My gym (GYMBOX) shut its doors and no one…

Trust me when I tell you this little secret. Even when I tell you I’ve only earned $998 on my best month here and most months it’s between $300-$600 pending on how much I can be bothered. The truth is I only earn that much because I’m lazy. If I worked harder on this site I would earn more. At least triple. In a month I write mostly 150-word — ten minutes to write — short-form posts like this one, and a couple of kick-ass posts that earn me the bulk of my takings on here.

And its dark side..beware. — Medium is a funny place. It’s a meta-verse brimming with all sorts of creatures. Great writers, critics and trolls. Lots of trolls. You will find the most supportive fans you ever had and the most cynical of critics. Try writing an article that hits 500 claps and see how many…

You know, the ones you’ve promised yourself you’ll read before you die. Perhaps it’s Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, or maybe War and Peace. Those big word mountains whisper to you every time you put down a small 300-page book. “Read me” — they say. “Soon” But why soon, why not now? It’s because you don’t want to read them in case you don’t like them. When they loom as a future event at least they can’t disappoint you.

To the ambitious young person dreaming of wealth: Do you truly know why you want it? It is not wrong in of itself but if you don’t know why you want it then you are blind to its power. In our 20s we may want wealth to feel special and look down on people. Usually because in our secret hearts we don’t feel good enough. As we get older, hopefully, we realise that there is more to life and that the rabid pursuit of wealth offers nothing. Vapid, illusory.

Writing on this platform has been the most consistent act of will in my forty years of life. I’ve written on here every day without fail for two years with the simple goal of getting better at writing. I have done that and I’ve also made a bit of money. I’m not the best nor am I the worst but I am one of the most persistent. Not one day have I failed to show up for this venture. Today, I’ve been super ill and dragging myself out of bed to type has been hard.

I fought long and hard. My enemies were strong. Warm doughy bread and butter. Burnt basque cheesecake. I tried to overcome my cravings for tasty foods but I would always break. So I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted, and I haven’t looked back. This is what finally worked after being miserable on low-carb and Keto. The first meal of the day is black coffee. The second meal of the day is protein and a little fat. Smoked salmon and a handful of almonds or mackerel with avocado, nothing too heavy.

Mark Manson is a really interesting guy, he’s smart and knows his subject matter deeply. He wrote one of the best insights into existentialism I’ve ever read. But I didn’t enjoy The Subtle Art. There was a time when a message like that would speak to me. Maybe early on in my twenties, before I took a deep dive into the work. Ryan Holiday’s books are the same. Ego/Enemy and Obstacle/Way were both great on paper, the ideas are clear and sound, but they speak to a certain level of personal development that is quickly transcended.