Why Aren’t You Famous?
TOTAL READ TIME: About 3 minutes
A lot of people say they wanna get famous on social media but not many do and even fewer know what they actually mean when they say it. Been there - had therapy for that.
It takes a lot to be an influencer. Above all else it takes a good mix of hard work, good luck and opportunity. Being an influencer with the ability to sustain a lifestyle off of their content is statistically very rare and very challenging.
I know this because for a brief moment in time I was one of the numerical anomalies who got to do just that. Future blog posts will be full of stories from this digital life and other past lives of mine but alas like all things it did not last. I struggled to reach sustainability but after being a content creator in LA for 5 years I was burnt out.
Not only was it the exhaustion of all the apps, conventions and performances but it was the additional realization of the state of our society and that on a lot of these occasions I was the only creator like me in the rooms I was granted access to.
I decided I needed to take some time away from the digital space to do some self exploration and to work on healing & growth. I recognized this was social suicide and that I would not only be losing my half a million followers but also my way of sustaining my livelihood. I had no choice. I had to do it.
I didn’t leave the space completely though. During this time I worked as a social media manager for other businesses and brands. I was freelancing and consulting then eventually I started exploring podcasting and started live streaming on Tik Tok. I really did not plan on getting back in front of the camera again in this way. I didn’t plan on rebuilding an entire digital ecosystem for myself after I had dismantled the last one. Alas - here we are.
I also started going to therapy. That’s another reason I felt safe coming back. It was a GREAT move on my part. Saved my life no joke - no cap. Metal health is a very important component as to whether or not you’re going to be a successful influencer/digital creator/functioning human. I had to go through a lot to get to where I am and I am so grateful for all the help and support I had along the way. Shout out to my therapist, should out to my friends and family and shout out to my audience. I am especially grateful to my supporters who have followed me through and especially to those who have been there for my my entire internet journey. Y’all are family. It means so much to me to still have you along (if you’re reading this - hi) because I know you truly accept me for who I am at my core and I love you. K bye.
When people who just meet me see my explosion of energy, skills and talents then ask why I’m not famous - I just laugh because I can honestly say the answer is it’s because I don’t want to be. As I said I honestly didn’t even mean to “make a come back” or whatever. I just so happened to start posting on Tik Tok and one viral video became another then here I am with tens of thousands of viewers from all over the world who are now looking to me for entertainment, education and enlightenment. I couldn’t turn that down. So I chose to create again but this time I would do it with purpose.
Yes you may recognize me from that one app. Yes you may know me as a different name. You may be just meeting me for the first time now and all of that is cool because it’s all me.
After some time away I’m now reintroducing myself into a world I helped grow (just under my dead name) and now I’m building my brand back up under a new name with a new message. I could not come back as the same person. I was because I was no longer that person. Living offline, exploring and learning helped me find a sense of peace and joy even through the pain associated with all I needed to learn.
There is still much to learn and much to do but no I don’t want to be famous. I would like to create a sustainable lifestyle for myself in digital and physical space and I hope to inspire others to do the same in ethical ways that brings them the most joy and happiness.
That’s all for today. Namaste,
JFS