Appreciation, Art & Soul #14: Why I made a Virtual Tip Jar Pt. 4

Hey, hi, hello,

You’ve reached Pt 4. This is the final part of this chat on my new tip jar. In case you haven’t caught up on the last few newsletter updates from NHL (NaturallyHighLife) go back to read them.

The conversation is about how I’m starting a virtual tip jar because I want to help my newsletter community to also feel confident about their work.

The clear idea to create a virtual tip jar came to me when I was reading one of my favorite newsletters from a delightfully funny writer and realized that the writer was struggling with self limiting beliefs from a lack of self-worth ridden with self-doubt.

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I wanted to help this person plus others because my intuition whispers how I can help.

Plus on a regular basis some force gives me solutions to use or to give away to someone else all of the time. I overflow with too many solutions if i don’t go write about it, or channel it and give it away to those people the content belongs to,

Back to the story, when I read the self doubt concerns the writer was speaking on through their writing I wanted to help the struggling person. I wanted to help the person who wrote the blog I had been keeping up with. Damn, but didn’t know how.

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Here’s the rest of the story: That’s when it come to me – what if there was a way for readers to give back in a way? What if they could leave a tip on their own. I’m starting this virtual tip jar because I want readers to know and feel like they are supporting each other, even when they can’t be in the same physical space.

As a creator, writing this newsletter has brought me so much joy and given me confidence in my future. I can tell that my work — from videos, to articles, to curated info — is resonating with people in a way I have not experienced in the past.

I know that I’m on to something, and I only have your readership, comments, thoughtful replies and overall engagement to help me understand this. A part of being a journalist is being of service, and I’m glad that in this time of content overload, you find value in what I cover.

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Again, now that I’m on a routine where I publish this newsletter consistently (every week). Currently, I’m wondering just what a paid subscription of this newsletter would look like. In other words, I keep asking myself: How can I put more value into researching and writing the content of this newsletter?

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I’m not sure, but until then, while I figure it out, I am beginning a virtual tip jar where readers can contribute to as they want. I decided that after personally writing 50,000+ emails then sending them out- that I needed to create a Virtual tip jar of my very own.

Especially after I reviewed my recent newsletter (which was way better than my older newsletters) only to notice after publishing, “I could have certainly pitched my article to a company, and gotten paid.

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A truth is that I wrote blogs and articles for other companies and in the past I got paid for it. One thing I have learned about my person <due to the way I channel my content > is that I don’t care much for guidelines when I write.

With my newsletter I get to decide the guidelines with my community and I love that. And, I’m completely happy with my decision.” I have so many topics that I am passionate about sharing with you. I’d rather make a radical move to follow my dreams and do what i love right here writing with you.

Also quite honestly, I much rather add value to my own newsletter then send it directly to a community (all of you) who are into the topics I’m actually into too. There are so many reasons to have a newsletter. It means being able to make key choices which are important to you plus complete freedom in your self expression.

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One of my goals has always been to share my writing in an impactful way without giving away more than I want to. It’s my desire to be in charge of my space and to feel free to exchange ideas without having to think about if I will be welcomed to stay within the self help writers arena or not based on if people want to read from me or not or like me or not.

I don’t care one way or the other at this point. Nor do I want to depend on a company that can let me go whenever they decide. (Caviat): There’s a place for everything too. I firmly feel you should do what works best for you at the time. So it’s never a judgement call against anyone else for what they choose to do- when I say something.. just know that…

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In conclusion, Here is a link to my Virtual tip jar where you can give easily and safely. All pay transactions are secure and protected. You will notice also moving forward there will be a tip jar button within the newsletters also. As always bless you and yours, thank you. Any amount is appreciated. Thank you for your generosity and above all, thank you for being there while reading each newsletter.