Then you add the emotional impact and lifestyle changes from a global pandemic into the mix. And then you add almost dying from Legionnaire’s Disease last summer. And then you layer in promising new opportunities that fizzled and faded away just as quickly as they had begun…
For me, it all added up to a perfect storm.
To be honest with you, I started losing the fire I had inside. I withdrew and became distant. I convinced myself that it was probably time to move on…
Now it’s almost the summer of 2021 and I’m faced with a dilemma. Do I find myself a “real job” and tuck Linux For Everyone into a drawer? Do I relegate it to a hobby? Or do I think my way out of this hole, recharge my batteries, and give it one more try?
I certainly know what I prefer to do. I prefer to not give up on this brand, and to not give up on this community. You guys have never stopped believing in what I do. You’ve never stopped enjoying the content. And you’ve never hesitated to express your support in multiple ways.
THE IDEAL SOLUTION?
The ideal solution is that I grow this newsletter, I bring the podcast and video channels back to life and those grow like weeds, and I start a new website where all my content lives (especially the written stuff – I adore writing). People donate to a Patreon that encompasses everything. Relevant sponsors throw down some advertising dollars.
Can you guess the problem with half of that scenario? It’s the reliance on Google Adsense in the case of YouTube, and realistically, Google Adsense on the website, too. And what brings most people to the videos or to the website? You guessed it: Google.
A search engine that can work wonders for you, until it decides to stop. Then you’re absolutely powerless. I’ve seen it firsthand after years of writing at Forbes. And I’ve heard about it from so many prominent YouTubers and other creators.
That’s scary as hell.
OK, I know what I want, and I’m fairly positive I know what you want. So what’s the solution?
I’m hoping we can brainstorm that together, but I really believe the answer lies with the Linux For Everyone community. People like my friend Jerry Morrison have offered to edit video from time to time. Perhaps someone can build and/or manage a personal website? Others could help out with the Linux For Everyone Twitter, Discord, Mastodon and Telegram channels.
That won’t necessarily produce an income that’s equivalent to a day job, but if the community grows, and I’m able to consistently produce content that people value, I wholeheartedly believe that steady, reliable and sustainable income will appear. (Hopefully sooner than later…)
At one point, I wanted L4E to be sort of the “Linus Tech Tips” of Linux. I’m not ready to give up on that dream just yet. But I’ve finally come to the realization that it will never happen if I’m the only person in the driver’s seat.
✅ If you want to help, or you have an idea to throw on the table, just hit REPLY to this email.
✅ If you’re reading this letter on the web, drop an email to me via linuxforeveryone@pm.me
Until we chat again, you guys take care. And take care of each other.
~Jason