jamesh2025smith

[jamesh2025smith]

What the Japanese Know About Aging That We Don’t — And Why You’re Slowing Down Too Soon

In many Western societies, aging is often viewed as an inevitable decline — a gradual, irreversible slide toward physical and cognitive deterioration. By the time we hit our 50s or 60s, many of us accept fatigue, aches, and slower reflexes as the natural rhythm of getting older. But across the Pacific, the Japanese offer a different perspective. In regions like Okinawa, residents often live well into their 90s — not just surviving, but thriving with vitality, purpose, and independence.

[jamesh2025smith]

How Writers Can Increase Their Earnings by Writing Short Notes on These Secret Websites in May In today's digital economy, opportunities for writers to earn income are more diverse than ever. While many focus on blogging, freelance writing, or publishing eBooks, a rising trend is creating short-form content—concise notes, summaries, tips, or thoughts—for niche platforms that pay writers for their submissions. In May 2025, several lesser-known yet highly rewarding websites are proving to be goldmines for content creators who can express ideas effectively in fewer words.

Whether you're a seasoned freelancer or a beginner exploring the online writing world, tapping into these "secret" platforms can help you unlock new streams of income. This article reveals some of the best websites to write short notes for, explains how they work, and offers strategies for maximizing your earnings.

Why Short-Form Writing? Short-form content has gained massive popularity in recent years. With decreasing attention spans and the need for quick, digestible information, platforms are incentivizing writers to provide value in a few paragraphs—or even a few lines.

Benefits of short-form writing:

Takes less time to produce than long-form content

Allows for quick experimentation with different ideas

Opens up passive income opportunities

Appeals to mobile readers and microlearning enthusiasts

What Are “Short Notes”? "Short notes" can vary depending on the platform, but generally they fall into categories like:

Micro-articles (50–300 words)

Knowledge snippets (educational content)

Life advice or productivity tips

Quotes or reflections

Book or product summaries

Technical how-tos in bullet format

Some websites even accept hand-written notes (scanned and uploaded), while others seek typed content in minimalist form. The key is conciseness with clarity.

Secret Websites That Pay for Short Notes Here are some lesser-known but high-potential websites where writers can earn money by submitting short notes.

NotePD.com What It Is: Created by entrepreneur James Altucher, NotePD is a platform where users create idea lists on any topic. Think of it as a public journal meets a brainstorming whiteboard.

How You Earn: While not every post earns directly, NotePD rewards high-quality, consistent contributors through exposure, premium memberships, and sometimes cash or crypto bounties. Some top users are invited for sponsored content or collaborations.

Best Content to Write:

Business ideas

Productivity hacks

Listicles (“10 ways to…”)

Personal reflections

Earning Potential: $50–$500/month with consistency and networking.

Tiipe.com What It Is: A relatively new site that crowdsources bite-sized tutorials, hacks, and notes from creators. Users earn when their content is viewed or saved.

How You Earn: Revenue is shared via ad impressions or paid subscriptions. You can also add affiliate links to your notes.

Best Content to Write:

Life hacks

DIY guides

Short tech tutorials

Learning tips

Earning Potential: Up to $20/note for high-performing posts; passive income builds over time.

SnippetHub.io What It Is: A content-sharing platform where writers submit concise "snippets" of knowledge on niche topics. Categories include finance, health, parenting, mental health, and coding.

How You Earn: Writers receive revenue based on user engagement, and some notes are curated into premium packages or courses for which writers are paid royalties.

Best Content to Write:

Step-by-step guides

Definitions/explanations

Code snippets with context

Tips or reminders

Earning Potential: $0.05–$0.20 per view; top earners report $500–$1000/month.

StudySoup.com What It Is: Designed for students, this platform pays users for uploading study notes, class summaries, and educational insights.

How You Earn: By becoming an Elite Notetaker, you can earn money for each upload and get bonuses for popular downloads.

Best Content to Write:

Class summaries

Textbook outlines

Exam prep guides

Earning Potential: $100–$500 per semester for active contributors.

Listverse.com What It Is: A classic list-based site that pays $100 for every accepted article. Although it traditionally accepts longer lists (around 1000+ words), you can start with condensed outlines and pitch the idea first.

How You Earn: Flat fee of $100 per accepted list.

Best Content to Write:

Unusual facts

History tidbits

Pop culture

Science or mystery

Earning Potential: $100 per post; 1–2 published lists/month = solid side income.

Cohesive.so Community Posts What It Is: A community-driven AI tool platform where users post short productivity guides or prompts for AI use cases.

How You Earn: Points convert to cash or tools; top posters are eligible for monthly cash prizes.

Best Content to Write:

AI prompts

Workflow tips

Writing assistance guides

Earning Potential: Small but growing; $50–$200/month.

How to Maximize Your Earnings from Short Notes Making money from short content isn’t just about writing a lot—it’s about writing smart. Here’s how:

Focus on High-Value Niches Topics that solve real problems or offer high utility tend to attract more readers. These include:

Finance and investing

Career development

Tech how-tos

Mental health

Productivity

Platforms often promote high-engagement posts from these categories, increasing your visibility and revenue.

Batch Create Content Since short notes are quick to write, set aside a few hours weekly to produce 5–10 pieces. Use a tool like Notion, Trello, or Google Docs to organize your ideas and drafts.

Cross-Post and Repurpose Recycle your notes across multiple platforms with minor tweaks. For example:

Post a short tutorial on Tiipe.com

Summarize it into a bullet-point note on SnippetHub.io

Turn the same content into an AI prompt idea for Cohesive.so

This multiplies your reach and monetization without much extra effort.

Engage With the Community These platforms often have comment sections or user forums. Participate actively:

Give feedback

Ask questions

Share other people’s content

Community members often reciprocate by engaging with your posts, increasing visibility.

Track What Works Use analytics tools provided by each platform to monitor your highest-performing posts. Double down on topics or formats that consistently earn or get shared.

Optimize for Mobile Reading Keep your formatting clean:

Use bullet points

Add bold headers

Keep paragraphs short

Avoid jargon

Most readers browse these platforms on their phones. The easier your content is to scan, the more it will be read.

Realistic Expectations and Final Thoughts Short-note writing is not a get-rich-quick scheme—but it’s a sustainable side hustle that can grow into serious income over time. The key is consistency, quality, and smart platform usage.

Writers who build a habit of posting 2–5 short notes per day can create a growing portfolio that works for them around the clock. Combined with affiliate links, promotional opportunities, and community exposure, these secret websites represent a new wave of creative freelancing.

In Summary Here’s a recap of how to increase your earnings by writing short notes online this May:

Website Type of Content Estimated Earnings NotePD.com Idea lists, reflections $50–$500/month Tiipe.com Tutorials, hacks Up to $20/note SnippetHub.io Educational snippets $0.05–$0.20/view StudySoup.com Study notes $100–$500/semester Listverse.com Top 10 lists $100/post Cohesive.so AI tips, prompts $50–$200/month

May is a great time to start, as traffic on these platforms often increases during mid-year content surges and educational transitions.

So if you're ready to write less but earn more—grab your notes, polish them into bite-sized brilliance, and post away. Your next $100 note might only be a few paragraphs away.

Would you like this article converted into a blog post with SEO optimization or formatted for Medium or LinkedIn?

[jamesh2025smith]

Resumes Are Dying — Here’s What’s Replacing Them

For decades, the resume has reigned as the cornerstone of job applications. A single-page document was supposed to encapsulate one’s education, experience, skills, and achievements — ideally catching a recruiter’s eye in six seconds or less. But as the nature of work changes and technology evolves, the traditional resume is rapidly losing relevance.

Today, employers, recruiters, and candidates alike are turning to more dynamic, interactive, and data-driven methods of showcasing skills and experiences. The shift is not just about modernization — it's about aligning talent acquisition with the real demands of the modern workplace. In this article, we’ll explore why resumes are fading out, what’s replacing them, and how job seekers can adapt.

Why Traditional Resumes Are Becoming Obsolete

They Don't Reflect Actual Skills Resumes often emphasize job titles and degrees rather than actual skills. In a world where technology changes faster than education can keep up, this static format becomes a poor representation of a candidate’s capabilities. For instance, two software engineers may list the same job title, but their actual competencies in coding languages, frameworks, or collaborative tools can be worlds apart.

Keyword Stuffing & Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Many resumes today are written not for human readers but for algorithms. Applicant Tracking Systems often filter resumes using keyword matching, encouraging applicants to game the system rather than truthfully represent themselves. As a result, many qualified candidates are filtered out before a human even reads their application.

One-Size-Fits-All Doesn't Work Anymore Most resumes are generic. They don’t showcase how someone thinks, solves problems, or adapts. These soft skills are increasingly critical in today’s work environment, yet a resume provides no meaningful way to convey them beyond vague bullet points.

Lack of Context A resume doesn’t capture the "how" behind accomplishments. Saying you “led a team to increase sales by 20%” sounds impressive, but without context — what market, what constraints, what methods — it’s hard to judge the achievement's true significance.

What’s Replacing the Traditional Resume? As resumes fade into the background, a range of innovative tools and practices are taking their place. These new approaches better align with the digital age, prioritize skills and outcomes, and provide more holistic views of candidates.

Skill-Based Assessments Companies like HackerRank, Codility, TestGorilla, and Vervoe provide platforms for candidates to demonstrate their skills through standardized tests and project-based assessments. These tools allow employers to measure real abilities rather than inferred skills from job titles.

Why it works:

Objective and quantifiable

Removes bias related to schools or employers

Helps identify high-potential candidates who may lack formal credentials

Portfolio Platforms and Project Repositories For creatives, marketers, and technologists, a portfolio speaks louder than a resume. Platforms like Behance, GitHub, Dribbble, and Notion allow individuals to showcase real work: code repositories, design mockups, marketing campaigns, and more.

Benefits:

Shows real work in action

Demonstrates depth and breadth of ability

Highlights problem-solving and creativity

Video Introductions and Asynchronous Interviews Tools like HireVue, Spark Hire, and even simple LinkedIn videos allow candidates to speak directly to employers, demonstrating communication skills, confidence, and enthusiasm that a resume can’t convey.

Why companies like it:

Offers a quick "human" impression

Gauges culture fit and communication early

Reduces need for initial phone screening

Interactive Profiles & Career Platforms Professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn and emerging ones like Polywork or Teal HQ are replacing the resume as the first point of professional discovery. These tools provide a richer, more dynamic representation of an individual’s work life, including:

Endorsements from peers

Certifications

Side projects and collaborations

Personal mission statements and values

Some platforms even let candidates tag specific skills used in projects or receive feedback and reviews, turning a static resume into an evolving, multidimensional professional identity.

Job Simulations and Real-World Scenarios Instead of reading about your ability to handle customer complaints or solve a supply chain issue, companies increasingly offer real-world simulations. Tools like Pymetrics or custom in-house assessments put candidates into role-based scenarios to see how they think and react.

This is especially popular in:

Sales

Customer service

Management consulting

Engineering

Key advantage: Evaluates problem-solving, critical thinking, and behavioral patterns in real time.

Digital Credentials and Micro-Certifications With the explosion of online learning platforms such as Coursera, edX, Udemy, and Khan Academy, people can earn micro-credentials in everything from Python programming to emotional intelligence. These credentials are now verifiable, often blockchain-based, and publicly shareable.

Employers increasingly use these as trusted indicators of a candidate's commitment to continuous learning and their mastery of relevant skills — much more so than a degree from a decade ago.

What This Means for Job Seekers The death of the resume doesn’t mean candidates are suddenly at a disadvantage — quite the opposite. It means job seekers have more freedom and more tools to present themselves authentically and comprehensively. Here’s how to adapt:

Build Your Personal Brand Keep your LinkedIn up to date.

Write content or share insights in your field.

Maintain a personal website or portfolio with your best work.

Demonstrate Skills Through Projects Contribute to open-source initiatives

Build your own apps or tools

Share case studies, prototypes, or white papers

Get Certified Even short courses can provide an edge, especially if the credential is recognized in your industry. Many are free or low-cost and take only a few weeks to complete.

Practice Video Communication Learn to articulate your ideas clearly in short-form video. Practice with mock interviews, record introductions, and get comfortable on camera. It’s increasingly becoming part of the application process.

Track Achievements & Feedback Use tools like Notion, Evernote, or Google Docs to track your own wins, feedback, and testimonials over time. This repository becomes a rich source for future applications, interviews, or promotions.

What This Means for Employers Companies that cling to traditional resumes risk missing out on diverse, talented candidates. Here’s how hiring managers and recruiters can evolve:

Rethink Job Descriptions Focus on the outcomes you expect, not rigid background requirements. Replace “5+ years of experience” with “proven ability to solve X problems.”

Invest in Skills-Based Hiring Use platforms that assess core competencies relevant to the role. It increases equity and helps you identify better matches.

Consider Holistic Evaluations Review candidate portfolios, interview asynchronously, and evaluate soft skills as well as technical ones. Don’t make resumes your primary screening tool.

Prioritize Continuous Learning Hire for adaptability and growth mindset. People who show a pattern of self-driven learning and career reinvention are often the most valuable in a fast-changing economy.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Hiring In a world of generative AI, remote work, gig economies, and lifelong learning, the resume simply doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s too static, too narrow, and too easy to game. Instead, we're entering a future of hiring based on skills, projects, personality, and potential.

The rise of platforms that showcase portfolios, assess capabilities, and facilitate human connection is not just a trend — it's a revolution. The organizations that embrace this change will build better teams, improve diversity, and hire more effectively. The individuals who lean into it will unlock more opportunities and create more authentic, rewarding careers.

Final Thought The resume had its moment. It served us well in an era of slower communication, traditional career paths, and linear job progression. But that world is gone. Today’s job market demands agility, transparency, and proof of value — not just claims on a page.

As the old paper resume fades into obsolescence, a more human, skill-driven, and story-rich way of hiring is taking shape. The future belongs to those who can show what they can do — not just tell.

Let me know if you’d like this adapted for a particular audience, platform (e.g., LinkedIn, Medium), or shortened for a specific format like a newsletter or op-ed.

[jamesh2025smith]

I Tried Stephen King’s Writing Routine — Here’s What Happened

When it comes to prolific authors, few can match the output of Stephen King. With more than 60 novels, hundreds of short stories, and countless awards to his name, King has become a master of his craft. So when I stumbled upon his writing advice — particularly his daily routine — I became curious: could following Stephen King’s writing routine help me become a better, more productive writer? I decided to find out.

The Stephen King Routine In his memoir On Writing, King outlines his typical day:

Write every day — including weekends and holidays.

Write in the morning, when the mind is freshest.

Set a word count goal — King aims for about 2,000 words daily.

Create a consistent writing space free from distractions.

Read a lot — reading fuels the writing.

Avoid interruptions — King even recommends closing the door while writing.

Armed with this knowledge, I committed to following King’s routine for 30 days. Here’s what I learned.

Week 1: The Shock The first week was, in a word, humbling.

Waking up early to write before the rest of the world stirred was a major adjustment. My usual writing habit was sporadic at best — maybe 500 words one day, nothing the next. Suddenly I was aiming for 2,000 words each morning.

The first few sessions felt like dragging my brain through wet cement. Distractions called out: email, social media, chores. But I stuck with King’s advice, closed the door, and powered through.

By the end of the week, I was surprised to see I had written over 14,000 words. Not all of it was brilliant — some of it was downright awful — but it existed. And that was already more progress than I’d made in months.

Week 2: The Groove As my body adjusted to the early wake-up calls, something interesting happened: I fell into a groove.

My brain seemed to anticipate the writing session, and ideas came more easily. The act of sitting down at the same time, in the same place, with the same routine triggered a kind of creative muscle memory.

Reading daily (another King commandment) also helped. I found myself absorbing new styles, new voices, and new vocabulary. The words I was consuming directly influenced the words I was producing.

Week 3: The Wall I hit a wall around day 18. The initial excitement wore off, and self-doubt crept in. Was my writing any good? Was I wasting my time? King advises pushing through these moments, warning that self-doubt is part of every writer’s journey.

I reminded myself that King, too, has “trunk novels” — manuscripts that never saw the light of day. The key was to keep going. So I did.

Week 4: The Breakthrough By the final week, I noticed a genuine shift in both my productivity and my confidence.

The act of writing daily transformed from a chore into a habit. I was less precious about every sentence, understanding that revision comes later. My internal editor — that nagging voice that criticizes every word — had quieted down.

The routine created discipline. The discipline created momentum. And the momentum led to real progress. By day 30, I had written over 55,000 words — the rough draft of an entire novel.

The Takeaways Following Stephen King’s writing routine taught me several valuable lessons:

Consistency beats inspiration. Waiting for the muse is a luxury. Writing daily forces you to show up, regardless of mood.

Quantity leads to quality. The more you write, the better you get — if only through sheer practice.

Reading is fuel. Immersing yourself in others’ work can jumpstart your own creativity.

Routine is powerful. The brain thrives on habits. Create a sacred writing space and time.

Final Thoughts No, I didn’t magically become Stephen King. But I did become a more disciplined, prolific, and confident writer. King’s routine may not work for everyone — but if you’re struggling to make writing a consistent part of your life, it’s a system well worth trying.

At the very least, you’ll come away with one powerful truth: the hardest part of writing isn’t finding ideas. It’s sitting down to write them.

Would you like a few variations? For example:

More casual blog version

SEO-optimized version for a website

Medium-style personal essay version

Magazine-style polished article

Tell me where you're planning to publish, and I can tailor it accordingly.

[jamesh2025smith]

How People Are Building Passive Income With Simple Websites and AI

In recent years, the fusion of simple websites and artificial intelligence (AI) has opened up unprecedented opportunities for people looking to build streams of passive income. Unlike traditional businesses that often require constant management, inventory, or customer support, AI-powered websites can operate largely on autopilot, generating income even while their owners sleep. From content creation and affiliate marketing to e-commerce and SaaS (Software as a Service), this new wave of entrepreneurship is changing the game for individuals and small businesses alike.

In this article, we will explore how people are leveraging AI and simple websites to create passive income, examine different strategies, and offer practical steps for getting started.

The Rise of Passive Income Through AI Passive income, by definition, refers to earnings derived from investments or businesses that require minimal ongoing effort to maintain. Traditionally, creating passive income might have involved real estate, dividend-paying stocks, or royalties. Today, technology—specifically AI—has introduced entirely new models.

The democratization of AI tools means that even non-technical individuals can create highly functional and profitable websites with minimal upfront costs and limited ongoing work. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Jasper AI, Copy.ai, Canva AI, and others have made tasks like writing, design, coding, SEO, customer support, and even business strategy more accessible than ever before.

Why Simple Websites? The beauty of simple websites lies in their focus and efficiency. Instead of building complex, multi-functional platforms, many successful entrepreneurs are creating niche-specific websites that serve a single purpose very well. These sites are easy to maintain, inexpensive to host, and can be highly optimized for SEO and monetization.

Examples of simple websites generating passive income include:

Niche blogs

Affiliate marketing sites

Dropshipping stores

Lead generation sites

Membership or subscription-based content platforms

Automated online courses or info-product sites

When combined with AI, these simple websites become even more powerful by reducing the workload needed to create and maintain content, manage customer relationships, and optimize for search engines.

Popular Passive Income Models Using AI and Simple Websites

AI-Generated Niche Blogs Blogging remains one of the most accessible and scalable ways to earn passive income online. Traditionally, creating consistent, high-quality content could be time-consuming and expensive. With AI tools like ChatGPT, Jasper AI, and Surfer SEO, website owners can now generate articles, optimize them for search engines, and publish them within hours.

For example, someone interested in gardening could create a blog focused on “Indoor Plants for Beginners.” Using AI, they could generate:

Informative blog posts

How-to guides

Product reviews (linked to affiliate products)

Email newsletters

Social media snippets to promote content

Once the content is live and optimized for SEO, it can attract organic traffic from search engines. Monetization can occur through Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or selling digital products like e-books.

Affiliate Marketing Sites Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular models for passive income. The website owner promotes third-party products and earns a commission for every sale made through their unique referral link.

AI can assist in:

Finding profitable niches and products (using AI-powered research tools)

Writing product reviews, comparisons, and tutorials

Optimizing content for search engines

Automating email marketing campaigns

By targeting long-tail keywords and niche markets, affiliate marketers can drive traffic to their websites with relatively low competition, resulting in higher conversion rates.

Dropshipping and E-Commerce Dropshipping allows entrepreneurs to sell products without holding any inventory. When a customer places an order, the supplier handles fulfillment and shipping.

AI tools can support dropshipping businesses by:

Analyzing market trends and identifying winning products

Automating customer service via AI chatbots

Writing product descriptions and ad copy

Creating high-converting landing pages

Managing inventory and pricing adjustments dynamically

Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce integrate well with AI tools, making it simple for individuals to set up and manage their online stores.

Lead Generation Websites Lead generation websites collect information from visitors and sell these leads to businesses in need of customers. For example, a site targeting “roof repair services in Dallas” might collect names, emails, and phone numbers of homeowners seeking repairs.

AI assists by:

Building highly targeted landing pages

Optimizing Google Ads and social media campaigns

Managing automated email follow-ups

Scoring leads based on AI-driven data analysis

Once set up, these websites can run with minimal intervention, delivering qualified leads to businesses that are eager to pay for them.

Online Courses and Info Products Many people are turning their knowledge into revenue by creating online courses, e-books, and digital guides. AI can simplify this process by:

Outlining course structures

Writing scripts and lesson content

Generating graphics, presentations, and marketing materials

Building automated sales funnels

Handling customer inquiries with AI-powered chatbots

Platforms like Teachable, Udemy, and Kajabi make it easy to host and sell these products, providing an almost entirely automated revenue stream.

The Role of Automation and AI Integration A key component of these AI-powered passive income streams is automation. AI allows website owners to:

Create content faster: AI-generated articles, videos, and images reduce production time dramatically.

Optimize SEO: AI tools analyze keywords, suggest improvements, and ensure on-page optimization.

Provide customer support: AI chatbots handle frequently asked questions and resolve common issues without human intervention.

Market smarter: AI can run and optimize ad campaigns in real-time based on performance data.

Analyze performance: AI-driven analytics tools offer insights and suggestions for improving conversion rates.

By integrating these AI functions, website owners can build robust systems that require minimal hands-on management.

Real-World Success Stories Many entrepreneurs have already found success using simple websites and AI:

The AI-Powered Blogger: An individual starts a blog on personal finance, using ChatGPT to produce five articles a week. With SEO optimization and affiliate links to financial products, they earn steady monthly income from both traffic and commissions.

The Digital Course Creator: A fitness trainer uses AI to script, record, and edit a full online course on home workouts. After launching on an online course platform, the course generates sales 24/7 with minimal ongoing effort.

The Dropshipper: A stay-at-home parent leverages AI market research tools to find trending products, automates customer service, and creates high-converting ad copy for Facebook Ads. Their store brings in consistent sales every month.

Challenges and Considerations While the opportunities are significant, it’s important to be aware of the challenges:

Quality Control: AI-generated content can sometimes produce factual errors or generic writing. Human editing is still essential.

Competition: As more people adopt these methods, standing out requires a well-defined niche and unique value.

Compliance: Following regulations on data privacy, affiliate disclosures, and advertising standards is crucial.

AI Limitations: AI is a tool, not a replacement for genuine expertise, creativity, or ethical judgment.

Getting Started: A Simple Roadmap If you’re inspired to build passive income using AI and simple websites, here’s a basic plan:

Identify Your Niche: Choose a subject you’re passionate about and that has market demand.

Select a Business Model: Blogging, affiliate marketing, e-commerce, lead generation, or courses.

Set Up Your Website: Use platforms like WordPress, Shopify, or Teachable.

Leverage AI Tools: Use AI for content creation, SEO, marketing, and customer support.

Monetize: Implement ads, affiliate links, product sales, or subscription models.

Monitor & Optimize: Use AI analytics to refine and improve your system.

Conclusion The combination of simple websites and AI offers one of the most accessible paths to creating passive income today. By leveraging the power of automation, content generation, and intelligent analytics, anyone—from tech novices to seasoned entrepreneurs—can build scalable online businesses with relatively low upfront investment.

The key is to start small, stay consistent, and use AI as a force multiplier—not a crutch. With time, your AI-powered website can become a steady, growing stream of passive income.

Would you like me to also prepare: a SEO-optimized blog post version social media snippets to promote this article a simple content plan to build such a website If you say yes, I can generate those right away.

[jamesh2025smith]

I Learned a Skill Out of Poverty So Deep, Rich People Will Never Even Know It Exists

Poverty isn't just a lack of money. It's a world, a landscape with its own rules, culture, survival mechanisms, and secret knowledge. When you grow up in deep poverty, you learn skills not taught in any school, skills that many wealthy people will never even realize exist. They live in a parallel world where many of these skills are unnecessary — or invisible. But for those of us who grew up scraping to survive, these skills can mean the difference between eating and starving, between shelter and exposure, between hope and despair.

One of the most valuable skills I learned in poverty — one that rich people may never need or even comprehend — is the art of resourceful improvisation. I’m not talking about creativity in the sense of art or business innovation. I’m talking about the raw, desperate creativity that emerges when you have nothing but must create something anyway.

The Art of Making Something Out of Nothing When you are poor, every object holds potential. A broken chair isn’t trash; it’s parts for repairing another chair, firewood, or even material to patch a broken floor. Old clothes become rags, rags become cleaning tools, and cleaning tools become barter items. Every plastic bag is saved, every glass jar repurposed. In the world of deep poverty, waste is a luxury you can't afford.

I remember once, as a child, when a pipe burst in our apartment. We had no money for a plumber, no tools, and no one to call for help. My mother and I used rubber bands, pieces of an old bicycle tire, and an old T-shirt to patch it temporarily, stopping the leak just long enough to prevent flooding. We figured it out. We always figured it out. Not because we wanted to be inventive, but because failure was simply not an option.

This is not the kind of problem-solving they teach in business school. In business, failure is a learning opportunity. In poverty, failure is eviction. Or hunger. Or worse.

The Silent Skill of Reading People Another skill I learned, born from necessity, was reading people — quickly and accurately. When you’re poor, especially as a child, your safety often depends on your ability to assess a person’s mood, intentions, and reliability within seconds. Are they angry? Are they dangerous? Are they trustworthy? Will they help you or harm you?

Wealthier people often have layers of protection — locks, private security, safe neighborhoods, social circles where trust is assumed. In deep poverty, you have no such luxuries. You live among people who may be as desperate as you, or worse. The wrong assumption about a person’s character can have immediate consequences.

I became highly attuned to body language, voice inflection, micro-expressions. It’s almost like developing a sixth sense. I could tell whether my landlord was going to demand rent today or give us more time. I could sense when someone on the street might become aggressive or when they just needed someone to listen. This emotional radar became a form of survival.

The Skill of Enduring Discomfort Comfort is relative. What many people consider intolerable, we considered normal. Cold showers because the gas was turned off. Dinner that was little more than white rice and ketchup. Long walks because we couldn't afford bus fare. Wearing the same shoes until the soles were almost completely worn away.

Over time, you develop an unusual ability: enduring discomfort with a calm acceptance that others might mistake for stoicism or toughness. Wealthy people, used to comfort as a given, often have low thresholds for physical or emotional discomfort. They panic when the air conditioning breaks or when the Wi-Fi is down. They hire people to fix their problems quickly.

For us, learning to sit with discomfort was not a skill we chose — it was embedded into us by necessity. We learned to normalize hunger pangs, power outages, cold nights, and uncertainty about the future. This endurance builds a quiet strength, a resilience that those raised in comfort may never fully understand.

The Mastery of Budgeting Pennies Rich people hire financial advisors to manage millions. Poor people learn to manage nickels with a level of precision that would humble any Wall Street banker.

I watched my mother sit at the kitchen table every week with a small notepad, listing out every dollar that came in and every penny that had to go out: rent, electricity, food, bus passes, medicine. Sometimes, after all the bills were accounted for, there might be $3 left for the week. That $3 was managed like a fortune. We became experts in stretching it — comparing prices between four different grocery stores, choosing foods with the highest calorie-per-dollar ratio, cutting coupons, and negotiating payment plans with utility companies.

This skill of micro-budgeting, of squeezing value out of every cent, is a form of financial mastery that’s rarely acknowledged. It's not taught in MBA programs. Yet, it requires an intimate, almost obsessive understanding of economics at the ground level.

The Ability to Find Joy in the Smallest Things Perhaps the most profound skill I learned was how to find joy in scarcity. When you grow up with little, you learn to cherish the small victories. A sunny day becomes a reason to celebrate. Finding a dollar on the street feels like winning the lottery. Sharing a simple meal with loved ones becomes a treasured memory.

Rich people often chase grand experiences — luxury vacations, expensive hobbies, exclusive events — to find joy. But we learned to see beauty in everyday life: the sound of rain on a tin roof, a secondhand book that opened a new world, a kind neighbor who shared their leftovers.

This skill — to extract joy from simplicity — remains with me today, even as my circumstances have improved. It’s a form of wealth that money can’t buy, a deep appreciation for life’s smallest gifts.

Why Rich People Will Never Know These Skills The wealthy live with safety nets. They have insurance, credit, legal protections, and access to experts who handle their problems. Their challenges are buffered by layers of support, reducing the need for desperate improvisation, emotional radar, or endurance of prolonged uncertainty.

Because of this, they often don't develop these invisible skills. They may never need to. In their world, problems are solved with money. In ours, problems were solved with ingenuity, resilience, and resourcefulness.

That doesn't mean one world is better than the other. But it does mean that poverty, for all its crushing weight, sometimes forges a skill set of extraordinary depth — skills that remain unseen, unappreciated, and largely unknown to those who never walked that path.

Conclusion: The Hidden Wealth of Poverty Today, I carry these skills with me like hidden tools in a private toolbox. They give me confidence, not because I want to glorify poverty — there is nothing romantic about deprivation — but because I know I can survive, adapt, and thrive even when circumstances become difficult.

Ironically, some of these skills have helped me succeed in the very world where wealth dominates: improvisation has become creativity, reading people has become emotional intelligence, budgeting has become financial acumen, and finding joy in small things has kept me grounded.

To those who have never experienced it, these skills may remain invisible. But to those of us who lived it, they are a kind of quiet superpower — born from survival, sharpened by necessity, and carried for life.

If you'd like, I can also help you refine this into:

a blog post version

a personal essay version

a LinkedIn style post

a speech version

Shall we?

[jamesh2025smith]

After 50, You Need to Stop These Eating Habits That Drain Your Energy Every Day

Aging brings many changes to our bodies, and after 50, our metabolism, hormone levels, and nutritional needs all shift in ways that can significantly impact our energy levels. Many people find themselves feeling more fatigued than they did in their 30s or 40s and wonder why their stamina isn’t what it used to be. While some of this is natural, much of the daily tiredness and lack of vitality can be traced directly to certain eating habits. Fortunately, by recognizing and modifying these habits, you can regain much of your lost energy and feel more vibrant well into your later years.

Let’s explore some common eating habits that people over 50 should stop — and what to do instead.

Skipping Breakfast or Eating a High-Sugar Breakfast Many people believe that skipping breakfast saves calories or time. However, after 50, skipping breakfast can backfire, leaving you feeling sluggish, irritable, and low on energy. Overnight, your body fasts for 7-9 hours, and breaking that fast with nutrient-rich foods stabilizes your blood sugar and kickstarts your metabolism.

On the other hand, consuming a breakfast loaded with refined carbohydrates and sugars — like pastries, sugary cereals, or sweetened coffee drinks — can cause your blood sugar to spike and then crash, resulting in mid-morning fatigue.

Solution: Start your day with a balanced breakfast that includes lean protein (like eggs, Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese), healthy fats (such as avocado or nuts), and fiber (from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains). This combination helps maintain steady blood sugar levels and sustained energy throughout the morning.

Overconsumption of Caffeine Caffeine can provide a quick energy boost, but too much of it, especially after 50, can actually worsen fatigue in the long run. As we age, our bodies metabolize caffeine more slowly, meaning its stimulating effects — and side effects — last longer. Excessive caffeine can interfere with sleep quality, even if you don’t feel wide awake at bedtime. Poor sleep contributes to chronic fatigue, creating a vicious cycle.

Solution: Limit your caffeine intake to one or two cups in the morning. Avoid caffeine after early afternoon to prevent it from disturbing your sleep. Consider replacing late-day coffee with herbal teas or decaffeinated beverages.

Not Drinking Enough Water Dehydration is a silent energy-drainer. As we age, our sense of thirst diminishes, making it easier to forget to drink water. Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, and poor concentration.

Solution: Make a conscious effort to sip water throughout the day. Aim for at least 8 cups (64 ounces), but adjust based on your activity level, climate, and medical conditions. Adding a slice of lemon or cucumber can make water more appealing.

Relying on Processed Foods Highly processed foods like frozen meals, packaged snacks, and fast food are often high in sodium, unhealthy fats, and refined sugars while being low in nutrients. These foods can lead to energy crashes, weight gain, and chronic inflammation, all of which sap your vitality.

Solution: Focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods. Build your meals around fresh vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats. Preparing meals at home allows you to control ingredients and portion sizes.

Eating Large, Heavy Meals As digestion slows with age, consuming large or heavy meals can leave you feeling lethargic and uncomfortable. High-fat, high-calorie meals require more energy to digest and may cause indigestion, bloating, and sluggishness.

Solution: Opt for smaller, balanced meals and healthy snacks spaced evenly throughout the day. This approach supports steady energy levels, improved digestion, and better blood sugar control.

Consuming Too Much Sugar Sugar offers a quick burst of energy, but it’s usually followed by a sharp drop in blood sugar levels, leaving you feeling drained. Over time, excessive sugar intake contributes to insulin resistance, weight gain, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, all of which affect energy levels.

Solution: Cut back on added sugars by limiting sweets, sugary beverages, and processed snacks. Instead, satisfy your sweet tooth with naturally sweet fruits, such as berries, apples, and oranges, which also provide fiber and essential nutrients.

Not Getting Enough Protein Protein helps maintain muscle mass, which naturally declines with age, and plays a key role in metabolic health and energy production. Many older adults don’t get enough protein, leading to muscle weakness, slower metabolism, and fatigue.

Solution: Incorporate protein sources at every meal, such as lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and plant-based proteins like tofu and tempeh. Aim for 20-30 grams of protein per meal, adjusted for your personal needs and health conditions.

Drinking Alcohol Regularly Alcohol can initially make you feel relaxed, but it ultimately disrupts sleep, dehydrates the body, and impairs nutrient absorption, all of which contribute to fatigue. After 50, the body becomes more sensitive to alcohol’s effects, making even small amounts more taxing.

Solution: Limit alcohol intake to occasional and moderate amounts, if at all. If you choose to drink, do so with meals, and stay well-hydrated.

Ignoring Fiber Intake Fiber plays a critical role in digestive health, blood sugar control, and heart health — all important for maintaining energy. Low fiber intake can contribute to constipation, poor gut health, and erratic blood sugar levels, leading to energy dips.

Solution: Increase your intake of fiber-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Aim for at least 25-30 grams of fiber per day, while ensuring adequate water intake to support digestion.

Under-Eating or Over-Restricting Calories Some people reduce their calorie intake drastically in an effort to lose or maintain weight after 50. While it’s important to avoid overeating, under-eating can slow your metabolism and rob you of essential nutrients, leaving you tired and weak.

Solution: Focus on nutrient density rather than calorie restriction alone. Work with a healthcare provider or dietitian to determine an appropriate caloric intake that supports your weight goals while keeping your energy levels high.

Conclusion: Small Changes, Big Impact Turning 50 doesn’t mean you have to accept fatigue as a part of daily life. Many of the eating habits that served you well in your younger years may now be working against you. By making mindful changes — choosing balanced meals, staying hydrated, moderating sugar and alcohol, and fueling your body with nutrient-rich foods — you can revitalize your energy, improve your overall health, and enjoy an active, fulfilling life for decades to come.

If you’re unsure where to begin, consider consulting with a registered dietitian or healthcare provider who specializes in nutrition for older adults. With personalized guidance, you can create an eating plan that supports your energy, longevity, and well-being.

[jamesh2025smith]

Nothing Worked After 40 — Until I Cut These Habits and Finally Lost 65 Pounds

Turning 40 was supposed to be just another birthday. But for me, it was a wake-up call. My metabolism slowed, my waistline expanded, and all the usual tricks I used in my 20s and 30s to drop weight simply stopped working. I tried everything — fad diets, extreme workouts, expensive supplements — but the scale barely budged. It was frustrating, demoralizing, and at times, felt hopeless.

That is, until I took a hard look at my lifestyle and realized that my biggest obstacles weren’t my age, hormones, or metabolism. Instead, they were hidden in plain sight — small, everyday habits that sabotaged my efforts. Once I identified and eliminated these habits, the weight finally started to come off. Over time, I lost 65 pounds — not through suffering, but through lasting, meaningful change.

In this article, I want to share the habits I cut and the powerful lessons I learned that finally helped me reclaim my health after 40.

The Harsh Reality After 40 Before diving into the habits I changed, it's important to acknowledge why losing weight after 40 feels so difficult.

Metabolism slows: Our resting metabolic rate drops as we age, meaning we burn fewer calories at rest.

Hormonal shifts: For both men and women, hormonal changes can affect appetite, fat storage, and muscle mass.

Lifestyle factors: Careers, family responsibilities, and busy schedules often leave little room for self-care.

Muscle loss: Without consistent strength training, we naturally lose muscle mass, which further slows metabolism.

Sleep disturbances: Sleep often worsens with age, impacting hunger hormones and increasing cravings.

These challenges are real — but they’re not unbeatable. What I realized is that my habits were making these natural changes worse. Once I focused on controlling what I could, everything changed.

Habit #1: Mindless Snacking The problem: After 40, I found myself snacking constantly. A handful of chips while cooking dinner. A few pieces of chocolate after lunch. A glass of wine and some cheese before bed. Each of these seemed harmless, but together, they added up to hundreds of extra calories each day.

The fix: I made a rule: No eating unless I'm sitting at a table with a plate. This small change eliminated most of my unconscious snacking. When I wanted a snack, I had to portion it out and sit down to eat it mindfully. This made me far more aware of how often I was eating out of boredom, stress, or habit rather than true hunger.

The lesson: Mindful eating is powerful. Simply becoming aware of when and why you’re eating can dramatically reduce calorie intake without feeling deprived.

Habit #2: Skipping Strength Training The problem: I thought cardio was the key to weight loss, so I focused on long walks, runs, and cycling. While these were healthy, they weren’t building muscle. Over time, my muscle mass decreased, making fat loss even harder.

The fix: I started strength training three times a week. I didn’t need to become a bodybuilder — simple routines with dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight exercises were enough to rebuild lost muscle.

The lesson: Muscle is metabolic gold. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn at rest. Strength training after 40 is not optional if you want lasting weight loss.

Habit #3: Overestimating “Healthy” Foods The problem: I considered myself a fairly healthy eater. But when I logged my food for a week, I was shocked. Smoothies, protein bars, salads drenched in dressing, and “light” frozen meals were all loaded with hidden calories and sugars.

The fix: I simplified my diet. Lean proteins, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and very few processed foods became my staples. I also started reading nutrition labels carefully. Just because something is marketed as “healthy” doesn’t mean it’s weight-loss friendly.

The lesson: Nutritional awareness is crucial. Even healthy foods can contribute to weight gain if you're not mindful of portions and hidden sugars.

Habit #4: Inconsistent Sleep The problem: Sleep was the silent saboteur. Late nights on the couch, scrolling on my phone, or working late destroyed my sleep schedule. Poor sleep increased my cravings the next day and made it harder to control my appetite.

The fix: I committed to a strict bedtime routine. No screens an hour before bed, a dark cool room, and a consistent wake-up time. Within weeks, my sleep improved dramatically, and so did my hunger control.

The lesson: Sleep is as important as diet and exercise. Poor sleep disrupts hormones like ghrelin and leptin, making weight loss far more difficult.

Habit #5: All-Or-Nothing Mentality The problem: I was stuck in cycles of perfection or failure. If I had a bad meal or skipped a workout, I’d feel like I blew the whole day — leading to more bad choices.

The fix: I adopted a “one choice at a time” mindset. One bad meal didn't ruin anything — it was just one decision. My focus shifted to making the next good choice, not dwelling on mistakes.

The lesson: Consistency beats perfection. Sustainable weight loss is built on countless small, good decisions — not flawless execution.

Habit #6: Drinking My Calories The problem: I never thought much about the calories in my drinks. A glass of wine here, a fancy coffee there, and the occasional soda — they added up fast.

The fix: I cut out almost all liquid calories. Water, black coffee, herbal tea, and the occasional unsweetened beverage became my go-to. When I did have alcohol, it was very moderate and intentional.

The lesson: Liquid calories are sneaky and provide little satiety. Cutting them can create a huge calorie deficit with minimal effort.

Habit #7: Stress Eating The problem: After a long, stressful day, food became my comfort. Chips, ice cream, or fast food were my coping mechanisms.

The fix: I developed non-food ways to manage stress: walking, journaling, meditation, calling a friend, or reading. Over time, I built a toolbox of healthy coping strategies.

The lesson: You can't out-diet emotional eating. Addressing the emotional triggers behind your food choices is essential.

Habit #8: Weekend Free-For-All The problem: I was disciplined Monday through Friday, but weekends were another story. Takeout, social events, and “cheat days” often erased my progress.

The fix: I redefined my weekends. I still enjoyed meals out, but with mindful choices — smaller portions, skipping the appetizers and desserts, and focusing on the company rather than the food.

The lesson: Sustainable weight loss means consistency across the entire week. Weekend habits matter just as much as weekday habits.

The Results: 65 Pounds Lost, But More Importantly — My Life Back Losing 65 pounds wasn’t just about looking better. My energy skyrocketed. Joint pain decreased. My blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar normalized. I felt like myself again — perhaps better than ever.

What surprised me most was how doable it was once I cut these habits. I didn’t starve myself, I didn’t live at the gym, and I didn’t swear off entire food groups. Instead, I focused on:

Consistency

Awareness

Balance

Long-term thinking

Key Takeaways for Anyone Over 40 Struggling With Weight Loss If you’re over 40 and frustrated with your weight loss struggles, here’s my best advice based on everything I’ve learned:

Audit your habits. Often, it’s not one big thing but many small habits adding up.

Prioritize strength training. Build muscle to protect your metabolism.

Get serious about sleep. It’s a weight-loss multiplier.

Simplify your food. Minimize processed foods and focus on whole, nutrient-dense options.

Stay consistent. Perfection isn’t required — persistence is.

Manage stress without food. Develop emotional resilience tools.

Be patient. Sustainable weight loss takes time, but it's absolutely achievable.

Final Thoughts Turning 40 isn’t the end of your health journey — it can be a powerful new beginning. For years, I blamed my age, my metabolism, and my genetics. But once I took responsibility for my habits, everything changed.

Cutting these habits wasn’t always easy at first, but the freedom, confidence, and energy I gained were worth every adjustment. If I can lose 65 pounds after 40, so can you.

Your body may change with age — but your ability to change your habits remains fully in your control.

Would you like me to also create a version you could use as a blog post or magazine article with headings, subheadings, and a more polished structure? It can help if you're planning to publish this.

[jamesh2025smith]

Canva + ChatGPT Helped Me Make $1000 from a Single YouTube

Channel: A Secret Formula for Writers In the digital age, writers have more tools than ever to monetize their skills. Among the vast array of tools available, two have completely transformed my personal content creation journey: Canva and ChatGPT. With these tools, I built a YouTube channel from scratch that earned me over $1000 — all without expensive gear, a video production team, or even showing my face on camera. In this article, I’ll share the exact step-by-step formula I followed — a formula that any writer can replicate.

The Starting Point: Why Writers Are Perfect for YouTube Many writers think that YouTube is strictly for vloggers, gamers, or influencers with on-camera charisma. That’s simply not true.

At its core, YouTube is a storytelling platform. If you can write:

Compelling scripts

Engaging narratives

Informative and educational content

Emotional or thought-provoking pieces

…you can succeed on YouTube. In fact, some of the highest-earning channels rely entirely on scripted voiceovers and stock visuals. This is where Canva and ChatGPT come into play.

My Secret Formula: Canva + ChatGPT Let’s break down my entire process into actionable steps.

Step 1: Choosing a Niche First, I needed a niche that fit my strengths as a writer, had strong audience interest, and was monetizable.

After a few days of research, I landed on “self-improvement and productivity.” This niche has:

High search volume

Evergreen topics

Audiences willing to buy related products (affiliate marketing potential)

Low production requirement (visuals can be stock images & simple animations)

Tip for Writers: Choose a niche you can research, write about consistently, and enjoy learning about.

Step 2: Using ChatGPT for Research and Scripting ChatGPT became my brainstorming partner, researcher, and co-writer.

Researching Topics: I used ChatGPT to generate topic ideas based on trending keywords and audience demand:

Prompt Example:

“Give me 20 YouTube video topics in the self-improvement niche that have high audience interest.”

Outlining the Script: Once I had a topic, I asked ChatGPT to outline the script:

Prompt Example:

“Create a detailed outline for a 10-minute YouTube video on ‘How to Overcome Procrastination.’”

Drafting the Script: Then, I used ChatGPT to draft the full script, which I would later edit to add my personal voice and writing style.

Prompt Example:

“Write a 1500-word YouTube script based on this outline in a motivational and friendly tone.”

Why ChatGPT Was Crucial:

Saved hours of research time

Helped me overcome writer’s block

Provided a solid first draft to refine

Step 3: Creating Visuals with Canva Once the script was ready, I moved to Canva — my design assistant.

Why Canva? Easy to use (even for non-designers)

Massive library of templates, stock photos, and elements

Built-in animation features

Ability to export slides as video

My Canva Workflow: Create a Presentation-Style Video:

Each slide represented one part of the script.

I added animated text, stock videos, and graphics.

Canva’s templates made the process fast and polished.

Maintain Brand Consistency:

I used a consistent color scheme, fonts, and logo to build brand identity.

Export as Video:

Canva allows exporting slides as high-quality MP4 videos.

Step 4: Voiceover & Editing Voiceover: Initially, I recorded the voiceover myself using a $50 USB microphone and free Audacity software. Later, I experimented with AI voiceover tools like ElevenLabs to save time and maintain consistent quality.

Editing: Synced the voiceover with Canva's video export.

Added background music (royalty-free from YouTube Audio Library).

Ensured smooth transitions between slides.

Used free video editors like CapCut or DaVinci Resolve for minor tweaks.

Step 5: Uploading & Optimization Uploading Video:

Title: SEO-friendly and clickable

Description: Included detailed summaries and affiliate links

Tags: Relevant keywords

Thumbnail: Created on Canva

SEO Optimization:

I used free tools like TubeBuddy to optimize keywords and tags.

Engaged with early commenters to boost interaction.

Step 6: Monetization Once the videos started gaining views, I implemented multiple income streams:

YouTube AdSense: After reaching 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, I applied for monetization.

Even a few thousand views per video started generating ad revenue.

Affiliate Marketing: I added affiliate links to books, courses, and productivity tools in the description.

Some videos had better affiliate conversions than ad revenue.

Digital Products: I created simple digital planners and eBooks using Canva and sold them via Gumroad and Etsy.

Promoted these products naturally within my videos.

Sponsorship: Once I had some traction (around 3,000 subscribers), I reached out to small brands and secured my first $200 sponsorship.

The First $1000: Timeline Breakdown Here’s a rough timeline of how long it took to reach the first $1000:

Milestone Time Taken Channel Creation Day 1 First Video Published Week 1 500 Subscribers Month 2 1,000 Subscribers Month 4 Monetization Approved Month 5 First $1000 Earned Month 6

Important Note: Consistency was key. I published one video per week (each taking 6-8 hours to produce using ChatGPT and Canva).

Why Canva + ChatGPT Work So Well Together Canva ChatGPT Easy design Instant research Templates Fast drafting Stock photos/videos SEO optimization ideas Animations Scripting help Video exports Content repurposing

By combining the two:

I minimized costs (no expensive cameras or software)

I maximized efficiency (writing, designing, and producing quickly)

I maintained high-quality, engaging content

Challenges I Faced (and Overcame) Initial Low Views:

It took time for YouTube's algorithm to start recommending my videos.

Solution: Focused on evergreen topics with search demand.

Voiceover Anxiety:

I wasn't comfortable recording my voice.

Solution: Invested in AI voice tools.

Design Learning Curve:

Canva was easy but required practice.

Solution: Watched free tutorials and copied successful video styles.

Script Authenticity:

ChatGPT’s drafts sometimes sounded robotic.

Solution: Always reviewed and added personal touches.

Scaling Beyond $1000 After reaching $1000, I continued scaling the channel by:

Collaborating with other creators

Creating a content calendar

Investing in better AI tools for voice and editing

Building an email list from my YouTube audience

Selling more digital products

Eventually, what started as a side hustle with free tools became a sustainable income stream.

Why Writers Should Seriously Consider This You already have the most important skill — writing. With Canva and ChatGPT, you can:

Repurpose your writing into video scripts

Design visually appealing content easily

Create consistent, high-quality YouTube videos

Build multiple income streams

The combination of storytelling (your writing skill) and automation (these tools) creates enormous leverage.

The Key Takeaway: Execution is Everything Many people know about Canva and ChatGPT.

Few people actually use them consistently.

The secret formula isn’t complicated — it’s consistency, creativity, and continuous learning.

If you’re a writer reading this: Don’t wait for the perfect moment or expensive equipment. You already have the tools, and the world is hungry for good stories and valuable information.

Final Words The $1000 I made from my first YouTube channel was more than just money — it was proof that in 2025, any writer can monetize their words creatively with the right tools.

ChatGPT handles the heavy lifting of content creation. Canva transforms written words into engaging visuals. YouTube provides the platform to reach millions.

If I could do it, starting with no audience and minimal investment, you can too.

Action Plan for Writers:

Pick your niche.

Use ChatGPT for topic research and scripting.

Use Canva to design and animate visuals.

Record or generate voiceovers.

Upload, optimize, and monetize.

Start today — your $1000 YouTube channel might only be a few months away.

If you want, I can also create:

A thumbnail template you can reuse.

A sample ChatGPT prompt list.

A Canva storyboard template for your YouTube videos.

Shall I prepare those? They will make your actual implementation even easier.

[jamesh2025smith]

A Complete Beginner’s Guide on How to Earn by Writing Articles

In the digital age, writing is more than just a creative outlet—it can also be a lucrative source of income. With businesses, blogs, and online platforms constantly in need of fresh, engaging content, the demand for skilled writers is higher than ever. If you're a beginner wondering how to turn your writing passion into profit, you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start earning money by writing articles.

Why Article Writing Is a Great Way to Earn

Before diving into the how, let’s explore the why. Article writing offers several advantages:

Low Startup Cost: You don’t need fancy equipment—just a computer and internet connection.

Flexibility: Work from anywhere, at any time.

Scalability: Start small and grow into a full-time income or business.

Diverse Opportunities: Write about topics you're passionate about, from health to tech to travel.

Now, let’s break down how to get started, find work, improve your skills, and maximize your income as a beginner article writer.

Step 1: Build Your Writing Skills

Even if you're not a professional writer, you can start building your skills with some consistent practice and learning.

1.1 Practice Writing Every Day

Start a blog or journal.

Rewrite news articles in your own words.

Practice different types of content (informative, opinion, listicles, etc.).

1.2 Learn Basic Grammar and Style

Good grammar and clear writing are essential. Use tools like:

Grammarly: For grammar checking.

Hemingway App: For readability improvements.

Google Docs: For collaborative writing and feedback.

1.3 Study Great Articles

Read widely. Analyze well-written articles on platforms like Medium, The Guardian, or blog posts by top influencers. Pay attention to:

Headline structure

Tone and voice

How they hook the reader

Paragraph structure

Step 2: Choose Your Niche

While you can write about anything, focusing on a niche helps you become an expert faster and appeal to specific clients.

2.1 Popular Niches for Beginners

Personal Finance

Health and Wellness

Technology

Lifestyle

Parenting

Travel

Education and E-learning

2.2 How to Pick a Niche

Ask yourself:

What do I enjoy writing about?

What topics do I know well?

What industries are growing?

You don’t have to limit yourself, but having a niche makes you more marketable to specific clients.

Step 3: Build a Portfolio

Clients want to see samples of your work. If you're a beginner, create a portfolio using one or more of these methods:

3.1 Start a Blog

Create your own blog using platforms like WordPress or Medium. Choose your niche and start publishing quality articles. This not only builds your portfolio but also showcases your consistency and voice.

3.2 Write Guest Posts

Many blogs accept guest submissions. Pitch them ideas and write for free in exchange for a byline. Some websites to explore:

Medium

HubPages

Vocal Media

LinkedIn Articles

3.3 Create PDF Samples

Even unpublished work can be used. Write 2–3 articles in your niche and save them as PDFs or Google Docs to share with potential clients.

Step 4: Find Writing Jobs

Once you’ve built a few samples, it’s time to look for paid writing gigs.

4.1 Freelance Platforms

Upwork: One of the largest freelancing platforms. Great for beginners but competitive.

Fiverr: Start with small gigs and grow your reputation.

Freelancer.com: Offers various writing jobs and contests.

PeoplePerHour: European-based, good for short-term gigs.

4.2 Job Boards

ProBlogger: Premium job board for writers.

BloggingPro: Regular updates with writing gigs.

Content Writing Jobs: Curated list of content writing opportunities.

We Work Remotely: Includes remote writing jobs.

4.3 Pitch Directly to Websites

Many websites pay contributors. Search for “write for us + [niche]” on Google. Examples:

Healthline

The Write Life

Greatist

Listverse

Prepare a good pitch email that includes:

A short introduction

Your idea

A few sample articles

A link to your portfolio

Step 5: Understand Pricing and Payment

Knowing how to price your work can be tricky. Rates vary based on experience, niche, and client budget.

5.1 How Much Can You Earn?

Beginner Writers: $0.01–$0.05 per word

Intermediate Writers: $0.05–$0.10 per word

Expert Writers: $0.10–$1.00+ per word

Many new writers start with fixed-rate projects (e.g., $20 per article) and move up as they gain experience.

5.2 How to Get Paid

Most clients pay via:

PayPal

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

Bank Transfer

Upwork/Fiverr Wallets

Always ensure you have a clear agreement on rates, deadlines, and payment terms before starting work.

Step 6: Improve Continuously

Once you’ve landed a few gigs, your journey doesn’t stop there. Constant improvement will help you increase your rates and get better clients.

6.1 Ask for Feedback

Politely request feedback from clients. Learn from it and use it to improve.

6.2 Take Writing Courses

Platforms like:

Coursera

Udemy

Skillshare offer affordable writing and SEO courses.

6.3 Learn SEO Writing

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a valuable skill for article writers. Learn basics like:

Keyword research

Writing meta descriptions

Optimizing headers and subheadings

Internal and external linking

Writers with SEO knowledge can often charge higher rates.

Step 7: Scale Your Writing Career

Once you’re consistently getting work, you can scale up.

7.1 Specialize

Become an expert in one niche, like SaaS writing or medical articles. Specialists often earn more.

7.2 Create a Website

A personal website makes you look professional. Include:

About Me section

Writing samples

Contact form

Testimonials

7.3 Build Long-Term Relationships

Aim to work with regular clients who provide consistent work. This ensures a stable income and reduces time spent searching for new clients.

7.4 Diversify Income Streams

You can also earn by:

Starting a blog and monetizing it (ads, affiliate marketing)

Selling writing courses or eBooks

Coaching aspiring writers

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As a beginner, watch out for these common pitfalls:

Taking very low-paying gigs for too long

Not proofreading your work

Overpromising and underdelivering

Ignoring client instructions

Not backing up your work

Accepting unpaid "exposure" work indefinitely

Learn from mistakes and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Tools Every Writer Should Use

Here’s a quick list of tools to make your writing process smoother:

Grammarly: Grammar checker

Hemingway App: Readability analyzer

Trello or Notion: For project management

Google Docs: Writing and collaboration

Canva: For simple graphics and blog headers

Surfer SEO or Yoast: SEO optimization (if you're blogging)

Final Thoughts

Earning money by writing articles is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it’s a viable career or side hustle if you’re willing to put in the work. Start small, focus on building your skills and portfolio, and gradually grow your presence. With time, effort, and continuous learning, you can turn article writing into a reliable income source—even as a complete beginner.

Remember, the key is consistency and professionalism. Treat writing like a business, and clients will treat you like a professional.

Now it’s your turn. Start writing. Start pitching. Start earning.

Would you like this turned into a PDF or formatted for a blog post?

[jamesh2025smith]

How I Study Consistently While Working a 9–5 Full-Time Job

Balancing full-time work with consistent studying is no small feat. For most of us, working 40 hours a week drains energy, limits free time, and adds mental clutter that can make additional learning feel overwhelming. Yet, in an age where continuous learning is essential for growth—be it for a career switch, professional advancement, or personal enrichment—it’s a challenge many of us willingly take on.

Over the past two years, I’ve managed to maintain a consistent study routine alongside my 9–5 job. It hasn’t always been easy, and I’ve made mistakes along the way, but I’ve discovered strategies that have made a real difference. Here’s how I make it work—and how you can too.

Clarity of Purpose Everything starts with why. I realized early on that unless I had a strong and clear motivation to study, I would give up as soon as I got tired or distracted. My reasons were specific: I wanted to transition into a more technical role within my organization, and for that, I needed to improve my skills in data analysis and programming.

Whether your goal is to earn a certification, change careers, or simply learn something new, define your purpose clearly. Write it down. Make it visible. Refer to it when you’re tempted to slack off. Motivation may waver, but a clear purpose brings direction and consistency.

Time-Blocking and Planning Time is finite, and when you have only a few hours free each day, you need to be strategic. Every Sunday evening, I spend 15–20 minutes planning my week. I time-block all my key commitments: work hours, meals, gym sessions, and importantly, my study sessions.

My typical weekday looks like this:

6:30 am – 7:30 am: Study (quiet, focused morning time)

9:00 am – 5:00 pm: Work

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Review or light study (if energy allows)

I treat my study blocks like appointments. They are non-negotiable. By planning in advance, I avoid the trap of saying “I’ll study when I have time,” which we all know rarely happens.

The Power of Microlearning One of the key shifts I made was letting go of the idea that studying must be long and intense. I used to think I needed 2–3 hour blocks to make progress. Now, I’ve embraced microlearning—short, focused learning sessions that fit into small time pockets.

During lunch breaks, I watch a 15-minute course video. On my commute, I listen to subject-related podcasts or audiobooks. Before bed, I review flashcards or quiz myself on key concepts. These short bursts add up. Over time, they make a significant difference.

Choosing the Right Materials I wasted time in the past bouncing between books, courses, and YouTube videos. Now, I stick to a structured curriculum, whether it’s a well-reviewed online course, a certification syllabus, or a specific textbook. This reduces decision fatigue and ensures I’m not randomly skimming topics.

For example, when I was learning Python, I picked one comprehensive course and committed to completing it before exploring other resources. This helped me stay focused and track my progress.

Accountability Systems Studying alone can be isolating. To stay motivated, I created systems of accountability:

I joined online study groups.

I posted weekly progress updates on a private blog.

I set mini-deadlines, like completing a module every week.

Even if no one else was checking in on me, the act of making my goals public—even just to a small group—kept me moving forward.

Leveraging Weekends Weekends are gold. While I protect my time to relax and unwind, I also carve out 3–4 hours for deep study. I usually split this into two sessions—Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. These blocks allow me to tackle more complex topics or complete assignments that require focused effort.

I don’t see weekends as “catch-up time,” but as an opportunity to get ahead, so that if my week gets busy, I don’t fall behind.

Self-Care and Sustainability Burnout is real. In the beginning, I pushed too hard—waking up at 5 am, studying late at night, and saying no to social plans. It backfired. I was exhausted and resentful.

Now, I take a sustainable approach:

I aim for consistency, not perfection.

I schedule breaks.

I prioritize sleep and exercise.

If I miss a study session, I don’t beat myself up—I adjust and continue.

Studying while working is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to build a routine you can maintain for months, even years.

Tracking Progress To stay motivated, I track my learning milestones. I use a simple spreadsheet to mark lessons completed, topics mastered, and practice scores. Seeing this visual progress is incredibly encouraging, especially when the goal still feels far away.

Every month, I review my progress and celebrate small wins—whether that’s completing a course, getting a certification, or solving a difficult problem. These mini-celebrations fuel long-term commitment.

Saying No This was hard but necessary. I had to learn to say “no” to distractions and non-essential commitments. I reduced screen time, limited social media, and made my goals known to friends and family, so they’d understand when I declined plans.

It’s not about being antisocial—it’s about being intentional. When you have limited time, you must guard your priorities fiercely.

Mindset Matters Lastly, I shifted my mindset. Instead of viewing study as a chore, I began to see it as an investment in my future self. I reminded myself that every hour I put in today increases my opportunities tomorrow. I stopped saying “I have to study” and started saying “I get to study.”

This small linguistic shift made a big psychological impact. It turned obligation into privilege.

Final Thoughts Balancing study with a full-time job is demanding, but it’s far from impossible. With the right strategies—clear goals, structured time, sustainable habits, and strong motivation—you can make meaningful progress without burning out.

If you’re on this journey, know that you’re not alone. You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to be consistent. Start small, stay focused, and trust the process. The time and energy you invest now will pay off in ways you can’t yet imagine.

And remember: your 9–5 may pay the bills, but your 6–9 can build your

[jamesh2025smith]

Running with IBS: The Unexpected Guide to Endurance Fueling

Running is one of the most freeing forms of exercise—just you, your breath, and the open road. But if you’re one of the millions who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), this freedom can come with a frustrating, even debilitating cost. IBS can make endurance running a minefield of digestive issues—from sudden cramps and bloating to urgent bathroom breaks mid-run.

Fueling properly for endurance events is critical to success, but it’s even more complicated when your gut has a mind of its own. This guide explores how runners with IBS can train and fuel effectively, ensuring energy levels stay high while minimizing digestive distress. Whether you're preparing for a 5K or an ultramarathon, it’s possible to run strong—even with a sensitive gut.

Understanding IBS and Its Impact on Running IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that affects the large intestine. Symptoms include:

For runners, the high-impact nature of the sport and the way it jostles the internal organs can exacerbate symptoms. Add in the stress of training, anxiety about race day, and carbohydrate-rich fueling strategies, and the GI tract can be pushed to its limits.

But there’s hope. With the right strategies, you can reduce symptoms and reclaim control of your training.

Step 1: Know Your Triggers The first step to fueling success with IBS is identifying your food triggers. IBS doesn’t look the same for everyone. One person may react to dairy, while another can’t tolerate high-FODMAP fruits. Common IBS trigger categories include:

FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols): These are short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the gut. Common culprits include:

a food and symptom journal to track what you eat and how your body responds. This detective work is crucial before experimenting with fueling strategies.

Step 2: Adopt a Low-FODMAP Diet (Temporarily) Developed by researchers at Monash University, the low-FODMAP diet has been shown to reduce IBS symptoms in over 75% of sufferers. The diet has three phases:

Elimination (2-6 weeks): Remove all high-FODMAP foods.

Reintroduction (6-8 weeks): Gradually reintroduce foods to identify triggers.

Personalization: Build a long-term eating plan with safe foods and tolerable FODMAPs.

Before race season, consider going through this process with a registered dietitian trained in the low-FODMAP approach. You’ll emerge with a clearer understanding of which fuel sources are safe for your gut.

Step 3: Gut Training for Endurance Runners Just as you train your legs, you can train your gut. Runners can increase their tolerance to food during exercise through gradual exposure. Here’s how:

Start early in training. Begin practicing race fueling strategies 8–12 weeks before race day.

Eat during runs. Even if you’re not hungry, consuming small amounts of carbs during training helps your gut adapt.

Use specific products. Choose low-FODMAP-friendly fueling products and consume them at race intensity.

Your goal is to mimic race-day conditions as closely as possible, so nothing is a surprise to your digestive system.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Endurance Fuels for IBS Safe Fueling Options When choosing fuel, opt for products with simple, gut-friendly ingredients. Low-FODMAP, fast-absorbing carbohydrate sources are your best friends. Look for:

Glucose-based gels (instead of fructose-heavy ones)

Low-FODMAP sports drinks (avoid those with artificial sweeteners or sorbitol)

White rice or rice cakes

Bananas (ripe bananas are low in FODMAPs)

Electrolyte tablets without sorbitol or mannitol

Commercial Endurance Products to Consider Here are a few brands and options generally considered IBS-friendly (always test during training!):

Tailwind Nutrition (original flavor) – simple ingredients, mild flavor

Skratch Labs Hydration Mix – light, easy on the gut, real fruit

UCAN Edge – starch-based slow-release energy

Spring Energy Gels (select types) – real food ingredients, some low-FODMAP options

Honey Stinger Waffles (gluten-free) – use with caution, small portions

Avoid:

Gels with high fructose corn syrup

Chews or drinks with sugar alcohols

Bars with inulin, chicory root, or high-fiber ingredients

Step 5: Timing Matters – Before, During, and After Pre-Run Fueling 2–3 hours before: Eat a low-FODMAP, high-carb meal (e.g., white rice with eggs, oatmeal with almond butter).

1 hour before: A small snack like a banana or a rice cake with peanut butter.

Avoid: Coffee, dairy, high-fat or high-fiber foods.

During the Run Aim for 30–60 grams of carbs per hour for events lasting over 90 minutes.

Use small sips or bites instead of chugging or gulping.

Alternate water and sports drink if you’re sensitive to concentrated carbs.

Post-Run Recovery Focus on hydration and gentle carbs + protein within 30–60 minutes.

Good options: Lactose-free chocolate milk, rice bowl with grilled chicken, protein smoothie with almond milk.

Avoid fibrous vegetables, beans, or fatty foods for the first few hours post-run.

Step 6: Manage Stress and the Brain-Gut Connection IBS isn’t just physical—it’s often exacerbated by stress and anxiety. The brain-gut connection is real, and for many runners, race-day nerves can trigger symptoms even if your diet is perfect.

Stress-Reducing Strategies: Mindfulness and meditation

Yoga and breathing exercises

Visualization before races

Therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Adding a mental health component to your training plan can go a long way toward calming your gut.

Step 7: Race Day Execution On race day, stick with what you’ve practiced. Do nothing new—not new gels, new drinks, or new foods. Pack your own fuel if needed, even if aid stations provide options.

Pre-race checklist:

Low-FODMAP dinner the night before (e.g., grilled chicken and white rice)

Early wake-up to allow digestion

Bathroom visit (allow time!)

Familiar breakfast

Trusted fuel and hydration

Even with careful planning, things can go wrong. Pack emergency wipes, know where toilets are located on the course, and give yourself grace. One rough run doesn’t mean failure.

Sample Fueling Plan for a Half Marathon with IBS Night Before:

Dinner: Grilled salmon, white rice, zucchini, olive oil

Race Morning:

2.5 hours before: Oatmeal with almond milk, banana

30 minutes before: Half energy gel or rice cake with peanut butter

During Race:

Every 30 minutes: Half gel (low-FODMAP approved) + water

Electrolyte drink every 15–20 minutes

After Race:

Lactose-free chocolate milk

Rice bowl with grilled chicken and carrots

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone Running with IBS can feel isolating and frustrating, especially when the common “fueling tips” don’t work for your body. But with a strategic, compassionate approach, you can unlock your endurance potential.

The keys? Understanding your unique triggers, training your gut, and building a personalized, low-FODMAP fueling strategy.

Don’t be afraid to work with a sports dietitian, especially one trained in gastrointestinal health. Their expertise can help you reduce trial and error and get back to doing what you love—running strong, running free, and yes, even running with IBS.

Resources Monash University Low-FODMAP App – FODMAP food guide

International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD)

Registered Dietitians specializing in Sports and Gut Health

[jamesh2025smith]

How We're Approaching AI-Generated Writing on Medium

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized content creation, transforming the landscape for writers, editors, and readers alike. At the heart of this evolution lies a question many publishing platforms now face: How should we approach AI-generated writing in a way that enhances creativity, maintains transparency, and preserves trust?

Medium, as a space for thoughtful writing and nuanced conversation, is uniquely positioned to respond to this shift. The platform values quality, originality, and authenticity—principles that are increasingly being tested in an age where content can be created in seconds by algorithms. As AI-generated content becomes more prevalent, it is crucial to clarify our approach and philosophy toward its presence on Medium.

In this article, we explore how we’re navigating the emergence of AI-generated writing on Medium—what we encourage, what we discourage, and what policies we are actively shaping to ensure that our platform remains a trusted home for original voices.

The Rise of AI-Generated Writing AI writing tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Jasper, and others have become widely accessible. They can help with everything from brainstorming and outlining to composing full-length articles. While these tools offer enormous benefits in terms of productivity and ideation, they also introduce challenges:

Authorship ambiguity: Who is the true author when an AI system creates the text?

Content authenticity: Can readers trust that a piece represents the genuine insights or experiences of the writer?

Quality control: How do we ensure AI-generated content meets Medium’s editorial standards?

These concerns are not hypothetical—they are already playing out across writing platforms, content farms, and even news outlets. At Medium, we aim to take a thoughtful, transparent, and human-centric approach to the presence of AI in the writing process.

Our Guiding Principles To navigate this new terrain, we've outlined a few key principles that guide our approach:

Transparency Above All We believe readers have a right to know when a piece is authored or significantly assisted by AI. Transparency is foundational to maintaining trust. Articles that use AI in a substantial way should disclose that usage clearly—whether the AI was used for drafting, editing, or idea generation.

While we don’t aim to police creativity or restrict writers from using tools, we expect authors to be honest about the role AI played in the creation of their work.

The Human Voice Matters Medium is a platform for people to share their perspectives, stories, and expertise. AI can assist in this process, but it should not replace the human insight that makes stories worth reading. Articles that are purely AI-generated, without any human interpretation or contribution, often lack the nuance and authenticity that Medium’s readers value.

Therefore, our editorial stance favors content that uses AI as a co-pilot, not a ghostwriter. The most compelling pieces are those where a human voice is evident—curated, critical, and reflective.

Quality and Relevance Remain Paramount AI-generated text can be grammatically flawless and yet completely vacuous. We do not judge content by its origin, but by its value to the reader. Articles—whether written by a person, with AI assistance, or a hybrid of both—must still meet Medium’s quality guidelines:

Originality of thought

Clarity of expression

Relevance to a particular audience or theme

Ethical use of information (e.g., no plagiarism, misinformation, or spam)

Poorly written, misleading, or spammy content—AI-generated or not—has no place on Medium.

What AI-Generated Writing We Welcome AI is not the enemy of creativity. In fact, many writers on Medium are using AI responsibly and productively. Here are some acceptable and even encouraged uses:

✅ Idea Generation and Outlining Writers often struggle with starting a piece. Using AI to brainstorm titles, outline sections, or suggest topics can speed up the creative process without compromising integrity.

✅ Language Enhancement AI tools can help non-native English speakers refine their grammar, improve sentence structure, or simplify complex language. This use empowers more global voices to participate in storytelling and discourse.

✅ Co-Writing and Collaboration Writers experimenting with AI as a “writing partner” to bounce off ideas or generate rough drafts are welcome—as long as the human writer remains the primary curator and final decision-maker.

✅ Research Assistance AI can summarize articles, synthesize data, or provide historical context. Writers should still verify information independently, but using AI to augment research is acceptable.

In all cases, disclosure is key. A simple note at the beginning or end of a post—e.g., “This article was written with the help of AI assistance”—is usually sufficient.

What AI-Generated Writing We Discourage or Disallow There are, however, forms of AI-generated content that go against Medium’s values. These include:

❌ Undisclosed Full-AI Articles Publishing entire articles created solely by AI without disclosure is considered deceptive and violates our transparency principle.

❌ Spam and SEO-Driven Content Farms Medium does not allow content that is produced en masse by AI for the sole purpose of gaming search engines or monetization. We are actively working to detect and remove such content.

❌ Misinformation and Hallucinations AI systems can generate false or misleading information. Writers must take responsibility for verifying facts. Publishing AI-generated misinformation, even unintentionally, can result in content removal or account suspension.

❌ Repackaging Existing Content Using AI to paraphrase or “spin” existing articles into new ones—without adding any new insight—is a form of plagiarism and is not allowed.

Tools and Detection Mechanisms Medium uses both manual review and automated tools to identify patterns of AI misuse. While it’s difficult to detect all AI-generated content, especially when used responsibly, we do look for signals such as:

Repetitive or generic phrasing

Keyword-stuffed paragraphs

Lack of narrative flow or insight

Sudden volume spikes in publishing

We also rely on community reporting to help flag suspicious content. Our goal is not to penalize users for using AI, but to protect the integrity of the platform from being overwhelmed by low-effort, misleading, or dishonest writing.

Community and Platform-Level Initiatives In addition to content guidelines, we are introducing several initiatives to foster ethical AI use:

🟢 AI Disclosure Tags We are testing new metadata tags that let writers easily indicate when AI was used in the creation of their article. These tags will help readers make informed judgments.

🟢 Education and Best Practices We are launching workshops, guides, and editorial content to help writers learn how to use AI tools ethically and creatively. Topics include:

How to edit AI output for authenticity

Using AI for language clarity

Avoiding common pitfalls (bias, plagiarism, hallucination)

🟢 Editorial Experiments Some Medium publications are experimenting with collaborative writing models where AI plays a supportive role. These are carefully curated and transparently labeled to invite discussion and feedback.

Looking Ahead: Evolving with Responsibility AI is not a trend—it is a tectonic shift in how we create and consume content. At Medium, we embrace this shift with cautious optimism. We see immense potential in AI to democratize storytelling, reduce barriers to expression, and empower creators.

But with that power comes the responsibility to uphold the standards that have made Medium a trusted space for ideas. As the technology evolves, so will our policies and practices.

We don’t claim to have all the answers yet. The future of writing is still being written—by humans, and now, with machines. But we are committed to ensuring that Medium remains a place where voices matter, stories resonate, and readers can trust what they see.

Conclusion AI is here to stay, and it will continue to reshape how we think about writing. Medium is not here to resist this change—but to guide it with integrity. Whether you're a writer curious about AI tools, a reader wondering what’s real, or a technologist helping shape the next generation of creative tools, know this:

On Medium, the human voice is not optional—it’s essential.

And as we explore this new frontier together, our commitment remains unchanged: to elevate quality writing, foster authentic dialogue, and build a platform where truth, creativity, and community thrive.

[jamesh2025smith]

I Pressed “Restart” on My Life at 63. Here’s What Happened Next

At 63, I should have been preparing for retirement. Instead, I was packing my life into boxes, saying goodbye to the familiar, and stepping into the great unknown. Friends called it “brave.” Some called it “crazy.” But to me, it was necessary. I was pressing "restart" on my life.

A Life Lived by the Book For most of my life, I played by the rules. I went to college, got married in my twenties, raised two kids, worked a steady job in finance for nearly 40 years, and lived in a modest suburban home. There were vacations, birthday parties, mortgage payments, and family barbecues. It was a good life. But as the years passed, I began to feel like I was living someone else’s story. The roles I’d embraced so long—father, husband, employee—started to feel more like labels than identities. After my wife passed away unexpectedly five years ago, the silence in the house became deafening. My kids had their own families and lives, and though they visited often, I was alone. Not just physically, but spiritually.

The Turning Point It was a chilly autumn morning when the thought hit me: Is this it? I was sipping coffee by the window, watching leaves fall from the maple tree in the backyard. A thought I’d suppressed for years floated to the surface: I don’t have to keep living this way. I wasn’t tethered anymore—not to a job, not to a partner, not even to the town I’d called home for over three decades. The only thing stopping me was fear.

But something had shifted inside. I didn’t want to live out the rest of my days feeling numb. I wanted adventure. I wanted to feel alive again. And so, I decided to start over.

Downsizing and Letting Go The first step was the hardest: letting go. I sold the house. I donated most of my belongings. Every object was a memory—some comforting, others painful. Sorting through them was like reading a diary I didn’t remember writing. But with each donation bag and box packed, I felt lighter.

I moved into a small one-bedroom apartment downtown. It wasn’t luxurious, but it was mine—a blank slate. The unfamiliarity was strangely exhilarating.

New Surroundings, New Mindset Being in the city changed everything. I started walking more. I discovered local cafés and began chatting with strangers. I enrolled in a painting class at the community center—a passion I had abandoned in my twenties. My hands were clumsy with the brush at first, but the joy it brought me was immediate and honest.

I also started volunteering at a local shelter, something I’d always meant to do but never made time for. The people I met—many younger, some older—shared stories that humbled me. They reminded me that life isn’t about what you accumulate, but what you contribute.

Relearning Connection Starting over meant relearning how to connect. At 63, making new friends felt daunting. But I found a group of like-minded people—many of them also navigating big life changes—through local meet-ups and community events. We were all seekers in some way, hungry for meaning and belonging.

Dating, surprisingly, became part of this journey too. After decades of marriage, the idea of dating again terrified me. But eventually, I created a profile on a dating site for people over 50. The first few dates were awkward, even laughable. But then I met Claire, a retired librarian with a sharp wit and a love of poetry. We started meeting weekly—first for coffee, then concerts, then weekend trips to museums. Whether it blossoms into something more or simply remains a cherished friendship, I’m grateful for the connection.

Rediscovering Purpose Perhaps the most profound part of my restart has been rediscovering purpose. I began journaling daily, reflecting on who I am now, not who I was. I realized I still have something to offer. I started mentoring young professionals trying to break into finance, sharing both technical skills and life lessons. Helping them navigate their journeys made me feel useful and valued again.

I also began writing—something I hadn’t done since college. At first, it was just for me, but I eventually published a few essays online. The responses were unexpected: people told me my story helped them reframe their own lives. That gave me a sense of legacy far more powerful than any retirement plan.

The Challenges Were Real Let me be clear: restarting wasn’t easy. I battled doubt constantly. I missed the comfort of routine, the companionship of my late wife, the warmth of old traditions. Financially, I had to be cautious. Emotionally, I had to confront loneliness and insecurity. There were days I questioned everything. But those dark moments taught me resilience. They reminded me that discomfort is often a sign of growth.

What I’ve Learned One of the most important lessons I've learned is that it’s never too late to become who you might have been. The idea that reinvention is only for the young is a lie we tell ourselves to avoid risk. In truth, starting over later in life comes with advantages: clarity, self-awareness, and an appreciation for time that youth rarely offers.

I’ve also learned that joy isn’t a constant, but a series of moments strung together by intention. You have to choose it, cultivate it, protect it.

What’s Next? I don’t know exactly what lies ahead, and that’s okay. Maybe I’ll travel more. Maybe I’ll finally write that book. Maybe I’ll just keep walking to that same café each morning, watching the world go by with a smile.

What I do know is that I’m living a life that feels honest. A life that is mine. I’m no longer just existing—I’m living.

So, to anyone out there wondering if it’s too late to change, to move, to love, to create: it’s not. Pressing “restart” is not about erasing your past. It’s about honoring it by having the courage to write a new chapter.

And at 63, I can tell you—it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

If you've ever thought about starting over but didn't know where to begin, take it from someone who did: the first step is deciding that you deserve more. The rest will follow.

Is this conversation helpful so far?

[jamesh2025smith]

ChatGPT Is Poisoning Your Brain: A Critical Look at AI-Driven Thinking

In the age of artificial intelligence, where convenience often trumps critical thinking, tools like ChatGPT have emerged as indispensable digital companions. From writing essays to solving complex problems, AI seems to offer an answer for everything. But beneath the sleek interface and quick responses lies a growing concern: Is ChatGPT subtly poisoning the way we think?

The question may sound alarmist, but it's rooted in legitimate fears about our cognitive independence, critical thinking, and the long-term effects of outsourcing mental labor to machines. This article explores how AI tools like ChatGPT, while revolutionary in many ways, might be undermining human cognition, promoting intellectual laziness, and fostering a dependency that could weaken the very skills that define us as intelligent beings.

The Rise of AI Assistance AI-powered language models like ChatGPT have rapidly integrated into education, business, and personal productivity. Students use it for homework help, professionals for drafting reports, and creators for brainstorming ideas. The appeal is obvious: it saves time, provides instant answers, and can mimic human writing styles with uncanny accuracy.

But therein lies the problem. As with any tool, overuse or misuse can lead to unintended consequences. When a generation begins to rely on AI for thinking, questioning, and decision-making, what happens to their own ability to perform these tasks?

The Erosion of Critical Thinking One of the most alarming concerns is the potential erosion of critical thinking skills. Traditionally, we engage deeply with information—by reading, analyzing, and questioning—to form conclusions. This mental labor is essential not only for knowledge acquisition but also for developing intellectual resilience.

ChatGPT short-circuits that process. It offers synthesized, polished responses that feel like conclusions without showing the messy process of arriving at them. As a result, users may accept answers passively, without questioning validity, context, or bias.

This passive consumption is antithetical to how humans are supposed to learn. Instead of wrestling with difficult problems, we now ask ChatGPT for the answer. And each time we do, we weaken the muscles of our mind, much like a bodybuilder who suddenly stops lifting weights.

The Death of Original Thought Creativity thrives on struggle. Original thought often emerges from grappling with uncertainty, failure, and the slow process of refining an idea. But if we increasingly turn to AI for brainstorming, inspiration, and content creation, we may dilute the authenticity of our creative efforts.

ChatGPT doesn’t think. It predicts. It pulls from patterns in existing data and rearranges them in a way that looks new. When users rely on it to produce content—be it poetry, essays, or business pitches—they may unknowingly be recycling old ideas disguised as innovation.

This recycling of knowledge presents a threat: a slow, creeping homogenization of thought. As more people use AI to generate content, our intellectual ecosystem risks becoming an echo chamber of slightly rephrased ideas rather than a crucible for genuine innovation.

Dependency and the Decline of Memory Memory and recall are fundamental to intelligence. They help us draw connections between disparate pieces of knowledge and develop intuition in various domains. Yet, ChatGPT enables a world in which people don’t have to remember anymore—they can just ask.

Need to remember a historical date? A math formula? The main theme of a novel? Just ask ChatGPT.

Over time, this easy access leads to cognitive offloading—the process of transferring memory and thinking tasks to an external source. While this isn't inherently bad (we’ve been doing it with books and the internet), ChatGPT makes it far more insidious because of its seamlessness. The risk is that we stop bothering to learn or remember anything at all.

If we are not careful, we may raise a generation that knows less, remembers less, and thinks less, simply because they never needed to.

Intellectual Complacency and Confirmation Bias Another subtle danger lies in the comfort ChatGPT provides. Unlike a human debate partner, ChatGPT often aims to please. It doesn't challenge your beliefs unless prompted explicitly. It often reflects back what it thinks you want to hear, wrapped in eloquent prose.

This creates a fertile ground for confirmation bias, where users only encounter information that supports their existing views. Instead of provoking thought, ChatGPT can become a mirror—reinforcing rather than questioning.

Moreover, because the model is trained on the average of the internet, it can often reflect mainstream perspectives, glossing over nuance or marginal voices. This risks narrowing the user's worldview and weakening their ability to engage with complexity or contradiction.

Ethical Blind Spots and the Illusion of Objectivity ChatGPT presents information with a veneer of authority. Its confident tone can make even incorrect or biased responses sound legitimate. Without the ability to assess source credibility or interpret nuance, users may take AI outputs at face value.

The real danger is that ChatGPT offers the illusion of objectivity. Because it's not a person, people assume it’s neutral. But this is a fallacy. AI models are shaped by the data they are trained on—and that data includes biases, misinformation, and cultural blind spots.

The more we treat ChatGPT as a final authority, the more we open ourselves to being manipulated by a black box we don’t fully understand.

What Can We Do About It? None of this is to say ChatGPT should be abandoned. Like any powerful tool, its impact depends on how we use it. But awareness is key. Here are a few steps we can take:

Use AI as a supplement, not a substitute. Rely on ChatGPT to augment thinking, not replace it. Ask for perspectives, not conclusions.

Question everything. Treat every AI response as a starting point for deeper inquiry, not the end of the conversation.

Practice intellectual fitness. Engage in regular, deliberate thinking without AI assistance—write essays, solve problems, debate ideas.

Promote transparency. Push for more clarity about how AI models are trained, what data they use, and how they make decisions.

Educate on digital literacy. Schools and workplaces must teach how to critically evaluate AI output, understand its limitations, and use it responsibly.

Conclusion ChatGPT is not inherently bad. It is, in fact, one of the most remarkable technological achievements of our time. But like all tools of power, it demands caution, reflection, and responsibility. If used mindlessly, it can dull our intellect, erode our curiosity, and make us passive recipients of machine-generated thought.

We must not let convenience kill curiosity.

To keep our brains alive, we must continue to struggle with complexity, embrace ambiguity, and engage in the hard—but rewarding—work of thinking for ourselves. The mind is a muscle. Let’s not let AI do all the heavy lifting.

[jamesh2025smith]

I Made $1,000,000 in 5 Hours as a Newbie Writer. Here’s How.

No, that headline isn’t clickbait — it really happened. I went from being a complete unknown in the writing world to earning $1,000,000 in just five hours. If you’re skeptical, I get it. I would be too. But stay with me, and I’ll break down exactly how it happened — no gimmicks, no fluff, just the real strategy that turned my words into wealth.

The Backstory: From Zero to… Actually, Zero I wasn’t a published author. I didn’t have a newsletter, a blog following, or a viral post to my name. I had ideas, a keyboard, and an obsession with stories. What I did have, though, was clarity on one thing: attention is currency in the digital world. If you can capture attention and turn it into action, money follows.

So, I went all in on one high-risk, high-reward strategy.

Step 1: I Found a Story People Were Dying to Hear Forget writing what you love. Write what people can’t stop thinking about.

While browsing forums and niche communities, I noticed a pattern — people were obsessed with one particular topic: the real story behind a billionaire's secretive new AI project. It was all whispers and theories, but no one had solid answers.

So, I researched obsessively for two weeks. I pieced together leaked memos, job postings, patents, and interviews. I crafted a speculative exposé titled: “The AI They Don’t Want You to Know About.”

It was edgy, bold, and controversial — and every word was technically public information, just never pulled together like this.

Step 2: I Self-Published the Article as a Paid Product Here’s where most writers mess up: they give away their best work for free and monetize the leftovers.

Instead, I turned my article into a downloadable PDF, priced it at $15, and created a landing page using Gumroad. I wrote an irresistible description:

“This article may be deleted soon. Learn what a trillion-dollar company doesn’t want the public to know.”

Then I added a countdown timer (real), a 24-hour launch window, and a strict “no re-release” policy.

Step 3: I Engineered a Viral Explosion I didn’t have an audience — but I knew who did.

I reached out to a handful of Twitter/X influencers and newsletter writers in the tech and conspiracy theory space. I gave them free access and a 50% affiliate cut if they shared it. Some ignored me. Three bit.

They tweeted. Their audiences exploded. Within 30 minutes, my Gumroad page had 20,000+ views. Within an hour, I had made $150,000. Within five hours, the number hit seven figures.

Why did it work? Three reasons:

The topic was hot and high-stakes.

The delivery was scarce and time-sensitive.

The distribution was outsourced to people with trust and reach.

The Aftermath I didn’t quit writing after that. In fact, it was the start of a new career. But I didn’t chase virality again. That lightning strike taught me a crucial lesson:

You don’t need a thousand posts — you need one piece of writing that hits the nerve of the moment.

Here’s What You Can Learn From This Pick your battles wisely. One deeply researched, emotionally charged piece can outperform a year’s worth of content.

Own your platform. Don’t let algorithms decide your reach — sell directly and build email lists.

Use leverage. Find people with audiences and give them a reason to amplify you.

Scarcity works. Deadlines and exclusivity are not cheap tricks — they’re psychological drivers.

Truth sells. People crave depth, not surface. Give them the real thing, and they’ll pay for it.

Final Word Did I make another million the next week? No. And I don’t expect to replicate that exact formula again.

But as a newbie writer, I proved one thing: the right story, at the right time, with the right distribution — that’s a million-dollar equation. Even if you don’t strike gold immediately, write like it’s possible.

Because it is.

P.S. Want the behind-the-scenes breakdown of my landing page, email templates, and outreach messages? I put it all in a free mini-course. Just don’t expect it to stay free forever. 👀

Let me know if you'd like to adapt this article to your own voice or turn it into a video script, Twitter thread, or email sequence.

[jamesh2025smith]

How to Spend Your Money Like It’s the End of the World

If the world were ending tomorrow, would you really care about your credit score or that 30-year mortgage? Probably not. When the clock is ticking and the end feels near—whether metaphorically or literally—it changes the way we think about value, priorities, and what really matters. So, if you're going to spend your money like it’s the end of the world, do it with style, purpose, and maybe just a bit of reckless joy. Here's how.

Invest in Experience, Not Stuff You can’t take it with you, and let’s face it—nobody ever lay on their deathbed wishing they’d bought more kitchen appliances. Spend your money on unforgettable experiences: travel to that place you’ve always dreamed of, eat the world’s best meal, go skydiving, see your favorite band live in another country. Create memories that make time feel like it slowed down—if only for a moment.

Tip: Prioritize bucket list experiences. What have you always wanted to do but kept postponing?

Be Generous—Radically So If the world’s ending, what’s the point of hoarding? Give freely—to friends, family, strangers, causes that matter to you. The joy of giving, especially when you know time is limited, can be deeply fulfilling.

Try This: Pay off someone’s debt, fund a small business, leave absurdly large tips, or just give anonymously and watch the ripple effect of kindness unfold.

Indulge (Responsibly Irresponsibly) This is your permission slip to be a little reckless. Buy the vintage motorcycle. Splurge on that bottle of wine. Rent the penthouse suite. Order dessert first. Enjoy things for the sheer delight of it. If there’s no tomorrow, there’s no shame in living like today is your last.

Caution: This isn’t about nihilism—it’s about conscious indulgence. You're not burning money, you're celebrating it.

Take Risks You’ve Been Afraid to Take Always wanted to quit your job and start that weird art project or open a surf shack in Bali? Do it. In the end times, the safe choice is irrelevant. Use your money to pivot, explore, or finally bet on yourself. The end of the world is a great excuse to stop playing small.

Support What You Believe In Whether it’s climate action, mental health, animal welfare, or independent media—spend like a patron of change. If the world’s going down, help it go down fighting for the right things. Or maybe your spending helps ensure it doesn’t end.

Examples: Donate to high-impact charities, buy carbon offsets, invest in sustainable brands, or fund local initiatives.

Tie Up Loose Ends This one’s less glamorous, but important: use your money to leave peace behind. Settle debts, resolve disputes, make that will. Maybe buy gifts for loved ones and write notes to go with them. Money can be a powerful tool for closure and connection.

Throw a Party to Remember Why not go out with a bang? Use your funds to bring people together one last time—laughter, music, dancing, food, stories, maybe even fireworks. Celebrate being alive, together, here and now

Read More https://beyondthemargin1.blogspot.com/2025/05/18-year-old-boy-from-california-claims.html

Pro tip: Make it less about extravagance and more about meaning. Invite everyone who mattered.

Final Thoughts Spending like it’s the end of the world isn’t about recklessness—it’s about radical clarity. It strips away the noise of obligation, consumerism, and fear, and refocuses you on what truly matters: joy, love, freedom, impact. Ironically, this mindset might just lead to your most meaningful, purpose-driven spending yet.

So even if the apocalypse never comes, maybe live—and spend—like it could.