Does the number of claps matter? — When I joined Medium a little over a month ago, I didn’t get the whole clapping thing. I started out “clapping” in the same way I “liked” on other platforms. If I liked your article, I’d silently enjoy it. If I REALLY liked your article, I’d give it one clap. …

Here’s how I did it and how long it took. — I woke up this morning to discover I had passed the $100 threshold in earnings. I had to do a double-take because I could barely believe it. But it’s right there in black and white. Here’s the proof:

And what I’ve learned so far — When I joined Medium on July 27, I didn’t know what to expect. But I had a lot of questions, which boiled down to this: Will anyone want to read my stories? How do I find my niche? Can I make money on this platform? Should I even start? I’ve…

You only lose when you give up. — October has been a weird month. I was bursting at the seams with energy throughout August and September, coasting through life. Everything felt like a success. But October has been a whole other story. It’s like this month was made to challenge me, and I’ve been failing… hard. Finally, this…

Newbies beware! — I did a 30-day Medium challenge in September. The idea was simple: 1. Write daily 2. Engage daily 3. Publish daily I was staying consistent, and it earned me my first $100 on Medium. But then, on day 27, the perfect storm brewed. My son got sick. I hadn’t slept…

Believe it, and you’re halfway there. — The first time I heard someone say, “Success is a mindset,” I rolled my eyes. Sure, I thought, tell that to my overflowing laundry basket, my dwindling bank account, and my endless to-do list. But as the years rolled on and life threw its usual mix of curveballs and home…

The unrelenting pressure to always be “on” even during our downtime. — I was making myself a cup of tea at work when a colleague walked into the kitchen. It was Monday morning, so I did the normal chitchat and asked about her weekend. “Saturday was great; we went for a hike with the kids. The weather was amazing,” she said, smiling…

The path of least resistance and the allure of comfort zones. — We’ve all been there. That moment when the weight feels too heavy, the path too steep, and the goal just too distant. Giving up beckons like a comfy couch after a long day. But why is surrender so seductive? 1. Our Brains are Wired for Safety Back in the day, our ancestors’ survival depended on avoiding risks…

Embrace the beauty of your rough edges. — My husband and I have a pair of tea cups we love. They were given to us by a dear family member before she passed away. One is chipped, yet it’s the one we both always want to drink from. That small crack carries our history. The many times we’ve…