Guess Who Is Officially a PAID Travel Content Creator
Well, the money isn’t in my account yet, and I suppose it isn’t good practice to count your chickens before they hatch, but ya girl signed her first content creator contract today!
“Content Partnership and Video Creation Agreement,” the contract, that arrived via DocuSign, read across the top of my screen. My giddy behind was so ready to sign on the dotted line, I left the most important part blank: payment details! Don’t get nervous. I quickly messaged the partnership contact I’ve been corresponding with over the last month or so, and he said he’ll add it in for me.
I haven’t even gotten paid and I’m ready to spend the money.
And, I don’t mean that literally.
I’m not exactly strapped for cash (but you can always send me some if you do so feel, Zelle/ApplePay/PayPal: tekeyakrystal@gmail.com), so it’s not the actual dollars for which I’m feening… it’s the fruition. It’s it happening.
It’s actually happening, I’m becoming a PAID content creator.
Yes, I recently ranted about how simply because you’re not yet paid for something doesn’t mean you’re not that something you’re doing. For example, actors who have never said a peep on anybody’s TV screen are still actors. That’s what they’re working towards, that’s their craft, that’s what they are. In my case, on the Medium article, I was saying how I’m finally having the courage to call myself a writer (even though I haven’t received a legitimate dollar for my writing). And according to the experts, including successful writers, that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Related: I Am A Writer. There, I Said It. (Medium article)
So why in the world is my butt so tickled behind this upcoming content partnership?!
If I know that money doesn’t make me what I am, why the emphasis on making money? Surely you see how I’ve put the word PAID in all capital letters before content creator ‘bout three times already now.
It’s not about the money, but it’s about the money.
Y’all, I didn’t even try to negotiate for more money. I accepted the very first offer from the folks because I was plain old happy somebody was willing to pay me for my work. The amount of money didn’t matter to me, money just being on the table was enough. That alone was quenching a particular thirst.
I was thirsty, y’all. Thirsty!
I prefer a glass-bottled, Mountain Valley or Aqua Panna, water, but you think on a scorching day aroundLA with nothing but a Mexican man selling 1-dollar plastic bottles that I won’t drink that nasty ol’ Arrowhead water?! Baby, I’m gulping!
I was thirsting to be seen. Thirsting to be recognized. Thirsty to be validated.
And signing my first content creator contract, for a PAID partnership, quenched that thirst.
It’s validating to know that an entity is willing to part ways with money in their budget in exchange for something you’ve created.
Yes, I am what I am and do what I do regardless, but it’s nice for you to know it too.
It’s nice to know that something exists outside of your own little perception of reality. Like wait, yeah, I’ve been a content creator for two years, but wait, somebody sees me now?! Oh shuckie duckie, I’m a real boy!
(Note: I say “content creator for two years” very loosely, Lord knows I’d be lying if I say I’ve been consistent.. but I’m bouta beeeee [inserts cheesy smile])
It’s time to turn up.
Acknowledging my existence as a creator putting out good content makes me want to do more. You see, it’s validating for what I’ve done, and reassuring for what I’m doing.
Someone I follow on my personal Instagram account shared an InstaReel the other day about consistency that hit my problem on the head. The man speaking on the InstaReel said something along the lines of “if you go to the gym one day and look in the mirror, you won’t see any results, nor will you the next day, nor the next day, but you keep going because you know you’re on the right course of action to see results over time.” That is/was my problem.
Who says I’m on the right course of action?! Who says I’m not pouring money down the drain on a Squarespace subscription and countless drinks at various coffee shops where I work?! Who says I’m not the person at the American Idol audition that swears she can sing when in reality she sounds horrendous?!
In pursuit of traveling and creating content for a living, I’ve invested hours and hours of time doing research, as well as money for opportunities to network and learn from others. The name badge pictured is from a conference produced by 21Ninety, a digital media platform owned by Blavity, that I attended in fall 2019. The planner features notes I took during an online course in spring 2020, How To Become a Full-Time Travel Blogger, hosted by a jetsetting influencer named Francesca.
That is/was my problem… I suppose in a word it could be called doubt. It’s not that I doubt my own capabilities for success, it’s the course of action to reach such success that sometimes makes me wonder. Should I be doing this this way? Instead, should I focus on…? Is this the best path for me? Is this even a path?!
When I’m not getting outside signs (such as getting paid) that I’m doing something right, I can’t help but to look around and think, have I been running in place this whole time? And if that’s the case, tf I’m running for?!
It’s tough when you feel you’re on a hamster wheel. Now, when you think you can actually reach the carrot dangling out in front of you.. oh, it’s on. You mean I actually could travel for a living? What I’m doing is working? All I have to do is work harder? Increase my chances for success? Put more work out there? Okay, cool, I can do that… Whew, you know young girls they do get weary, running in place was wearing me out. But baby, if this thing is really attainable, if we’re indeed going somewhere, let’s gooooooooo!
Let’s go! … Again.
This upcoming content partnership, where I’ll be paid to travel somewhere and create content, has reinvigorated me.
As is evident in the above picture of an old 2020 planner and an influencer summit badge from 2019, I’ve been a bit beyond simply interested in becoming a travel blogger. Combing thru logistical information and personal testimonies on exploring the world and presenting those explorations to an audience for a living has fueled my vast imagination. (I even applied for a job as a flight attendant, year after year, thinking it’d pair perfectly with being a travel blogger — get paid to fly around the world, then build my own brand/business by writing about it). I could see myself doing this. I can really see it! Then why didn’t I?
In the past, each time, somewhere along the way, I ended up getting distracted or discouraged. Well, it’s summer 2022 and guess who’s back.. back again.. T.K.’s back.. tell a friend.
No, seriously, tell a friend. Ya girl has to start building an audience somewhere, and I mean, you made it to the end of this blog post, so I must be a halfway decent blogger if I kept your attention this long. Now, go’on ‘head click that share button, and let me try to get and keep their attention too. I have good stuff coming for you!
If you haven’t already, enter your email address below to join the ride. I’m on the move, baby, I promise I won’t blow up your inbox.
Thank you for being here, riders.
