Hey Eric! I enjoyed both this piece and the piece about the Mando-verse! But in reading them both, I noticed that you are using both Substack and Ghost. I've considered Ghost before (I started on Substack without really looking into any alternatives) but haven't made the jump and didn't even think about using both.
How has that gone and what were some of the main reasons you made the jump? Just curious...I've considered it, but really do like a lot of Substack's features and community and am not sure if I'm too invested in the ecosystem already.
Anyways, was just curious and appreciate anything you're willing to share! Feel free to email me back if you'd rather discuss that way (JRRJokien@gmail.com)
I actually have lots of thoughts about this and was considering writing about it because I think it's sorta interesting. In short, I have no regrets. Using both gives me the strengths of each. I'll write a post about it. 🤓
Hilarious piece, and I get the point, but a couple of personal questions. First, do you not worry that your employer will see you writing online about how you’d rather be doing other things? And second, why not just move into writing full-time? Sure, it’s harder to make money and you’d probably make less of it, but you’ve got a *ton* of experience and it seems like you should be able to find a job that will pay you to write! Spending all day wishing you were doing something else isn’t a great way to spend a life.
No judgement or criticism intended, just curious as a young guy who has many things he’d rather be doing than focusing on his burgeoning career, trying to figure out how to be doing those things instead!
Nah, I'm not worried. This is pretty clearly satire (while still being true). And more importantly, I crush my day job. I've just taken my foot off the accelerator and am getting comfortable in cruise control.
Writing full time is the dream but I have a mortgage and kids, so it's a delayed dream. The plan is to retire at least 10 years early and just write. Hopefully a bit sooner! We'll see. As it is, my job is pretty accommodating and I work from home. So it works. For now I'm just socking away money.
Good questions! Are you still writing? Haven't seen anything from you in a while.
Definitely makes sense. Gotta balance the reality of life when it comes down to it.
Honestly writing has been on the back burner for a few months now, partially because of just busyness and a lot of travel, but mostly because of some severe writer’s block/existential crisis about what I should be writing about. I just hit a wall. I plan to pick it back up hopefully in the next few months after I get a few life things sorted out and can focus again!
I can relate to so much that you're talking about here even though I'm probably around 10 years younger than you. Stanley Hudson is, in fact, a hero of many.
As someone who blew through 10+ different day jobs in less than 10 years, I can say that burnout is real and you do NOT want to work a job for 20 years that bores you to death and no longer satisfies you in any way. But it's freaking hard, especially when you have a family and financial stability is non-negotiable. And freelance writing is definitely not the most reliable job in the world, to say the least, haha.
But I root for you, Eric. I hope you can retire much earlier and put all your energy into writing. That's the goal!
"I'm probably 10 years younger than you." WHOA! Shots fired. Never mind that that's probably true. There's no need to come in here with that kind of aggression. :D
I have the advantage that I like my day job and the company. I just wish it took up less of my time. As problems go, it's not a bad one to have.
I've been rewatching The Office for the third or fourth time and Stanley has always impressed me with his pragmatism. I feel like in spite of his cynical approach to the work, he still does a good job.
That said, of all the characters that came and went, I think I'd like to be Robert California.
The Stanley phase is the best phase. Everyone just leaves you alone to do your thing.
This is the way
Hey Eric! I enjoyed both this piece and the piece about the Mando-verse! But in reading them both, I noticed that you are using both Substack and Ghost. I've considered Ghost before (I started on Substack without really looking into any alternatives) but haven't made the jump and didn't even think about using both.
How has that gone and what were some of the main reasons you made the jump? Just curious...I've considered it, but really do like a lot of Substack's features and community and am not sure if I'm too invested in the ecosystem already.
Anyways, was just curious and appreciate anything you're willing to share! Feel free to email me back if you'd rather discuss that way (JRRJokien@gmail.com)
I actually have lots of thoughts about this and was considering writing about it because I think it's sorta interesting. In short, I have no regrets. Using both gives me the strengths of each. I'll write a post about it. 🤓
Oh perfect: looking forward to reading it!
Hilarious piece, and I get the point, but a couple of personal questions. First, do you not worry that your employer will see you writing online about how you’d rather be doing other things? And second, why not just move into writing full-time? Sure, it’s harder to make money and you’d probably make less of it, but you’ve got a *ton* of experience and it seems like you should be able to find a job that will pay you to write! Spending all day wishing you were doing something else isn’t a great way to spend a life.
No judgement or criticism intended, just curious as a young guy who has many things he’d rather be doing than focusing on his burgeoning career, trying to figure out how to be doing those things instead!
Nah, I'm not worried. This is pretty clearly satire (while still being true). And more importantly, I crush my day job. I've just taken my foot off the accelerator and am getting comfortable in cruise control.
Writing full time is the dream but I have a mortgage and kids, so it's a delayed dream. The plan is to retire at least 10 years early and just write. Hopefully a bit sooner! We'll see. As it is, my job is pretty accommodating and I work from home. So it works. For now I'm just socking away money.
Good questions! Are you still writing? Haven't seen anything from you in a while.
Definitely makes sense. Gotta balance the reality of life when it comes down to it.
Honestly writing has been on the back burner for a few months now, partially because of just busyness and a lot of travel, but mostly because of some severe writer’s block/existential crisis about what I should be writing about. I just hit a wall. I plan to pick it back up hopefully in the next few months after I get a few life things sorted out and can focus again!
I can relate to so much that you're talking about here even though I'm probably around 10 years younger than you. Stanley Hudson is, in fact, a hero of many.
As someone who blew through 10+ different day jobs in less than 10 years, I can say that burnout is real and you do NOT want to work a job for 20 years that bores you to death and no longer satisfies you in any way. But it's freaking hard, especially when you have a family and financial stability is non-negotiable. And freelance writing is definitely not the most reliable job in the world, to say the least, haha.
But I root for you, Eric. I hope you can retire much earlier and put all your energy into writing. That's the goal!
"I'm probably 10 years younger than you." WHOA! Shots fired. Never mind that that's probably true. There's no need to come in here with that kind of aggression. :D
I have the advantage that I like my day job and the company. I just wish it took up less of my time. As problems go, it's not a bad one to have.
I've been rewatching The Office for the third or fourth time and Stanley has always impressed me with his pragmatism. I feel like in spite of his cynical approach to the work, he still does a good job.
That said, of all the characters that came and went, I think I'd like to be Robert California.
😂 I can totally see you as Robert California!
#lifegoals
Taylor Swift for POTUS with running mate Stanley Hudson!! A winning intergenerational ticket if I ever saw one. Let's get out the vote my friend!!