In Aug 2021, I started writing about crypto for fun.
In Jan 2022, I quit my corporate engineering job to pursue it full-time.
In July 2022, I co-founded a DeFi-focused marketing agency.
Here's the story... π§΅
In Jan 2022, I quit my corporate engineering job to pursue it full-time.
In July 2022, I co-founded a DeFi-focused marketing agency.
Here's the story... π§΅
My crypto journey has been a blast.
Today, I want to share that journey and some of my biggest lessons.
I'll cover:
β’ Transitioning from corporate to crypto
β’ Making a living as a freelancer
β’ Starting an agency in web3
Let's dive in π«‘
Today, I want to share that journey and some of my biggest lessons.
I'll cover:
β’ Transitioning from corporate to crypto
β’ Making a living as a freelancer
β’ Starting an agency in web3
Let's dive in π«‘
In 2019, I was a fresh college grad heading to work as an engineer in LA - times were great!
Big corporation, nice benefits, very stable.
I loved it for a total of 2 months.
Then I was ready for the next push.
Big corporation, nice benefits, very stable.
I loved it for a total of 2 months.
Then I was ready for the next push.
Up until then, every big move in my life had felt pre-determined - from high school, to university, to finding a salaried engineering job.
Once I started the corporate job, it wasn't long before I was thinking "what's next?".
So... I tried random shit (especially during COVID).
Once I started the corporate job, it wasn't long before I was thinking "what's next?".
So... I tried random shit (especially during COVID).
I dipped my toes into entrepreneurship in a typical way:
β’ Dropshipping
β’ Trading sports cards
β’ Studying social media
I learned a lot, but nothing stuck.
β’ Dropshipping
β’ Trading sports cards
β’ Studying social media
I learned a lot, but nothing stuck.
So I took a break and doubled down on my health.
β’ Eating clean
β’ Long-distance running
β’ Shaping my days around physical goals
In 2021, I ran over 1,700 miles.
For a lot of the year, my life revolved around running.
This was a fun one:
β’ Eating clean
β’ Long-distance running
β’ Shaping my days around physical goals
In 2021, I ran over 1,700 miles.
For a lot of the year, my life revolved around running.
This was a fun one:
With running comes a lot of time to think, reflect, and get pretty intentional about what you want.
What I learned in that era:
β’ Running is powerful
β’ My 9-5 wasn't satisfying
β’ Something needed to change
So, what came next?
What I learned in that era:
β’ Running is powerful
β’ My 9-5 wasn't satisfying
β’ Something needed to change
So, what came next?
I became obsessed with probabilistic options trading in TradFi (capturing premium during times of high IV).
I realized my quantitative knack was better channeled toward finance than engineering.
You can probably guess what rabbit hole I fell down next...
(crypto)
I realized my quantitative knack was better channeled toward finance than engineering.
You can probably guess what rabbit hole I fell down next...
(crypto)
It wasn't long before I was set on making DeFi a full-time pursuit.
But - I needed to find a skillset that could start making me $ in the space ASAP.
My background is in hardware engineering, so I knew I wasn't going to *quickly* become a proficient dev.
But - I needed to find a skillset that could start making me $ in the space ASAP.
My background is in hardware engineering, so I knew I wasn't going to *quickly* become a proficient dev.
But, I did want to leverage my technical background.
I decided on writing.
The only problem was, I'd never done any freelance writing.
That was easy to change.
I decided on writing.
The only problem was, I'd never done any freelance writing.
That was easy to change.
I wrote my first article on Upwork for $15. It was about a Meditteranean recipe for some health blog.
Woohoo, I made money on the internet!
Too bad it didn't even cover a Chipotle burrito after Upwork fees + taxes.
Onto the next.
Woohoo, I made money on the internet!
Too bad it didn't even cover a Chipotle burrito after Upwork fees + taxes.
Onto the next.
My experience started to compound. I was freelance writing on the weekends for health blogs and random companies.
On the side, I started writing about random internet hacks and crypto topics on my Medium profile.
Soon enough, the two merged.
On the side, I started writing about random internet hacks and crypto topics on my Medium profile.
Soon enough, the two merged.
Here's what I doubled down on:
β’ Writing about DeFi on Twitter/Medium for my personal brand
β’ Writing for TradFi/Crypto gigs on Upwork
β’ Building my web3 network
β’ Writing about DeFi on Twitter/Medium for my personal brand
β’ Writing for TradFi/Crypto gigs on Upwork
β’ Building my web3 network
As my network and writing portfolio grew, so did the opportunities.
By the end of 2021, I'd mapped out my plan to go full-time in crypto. It was time to take the leap.
On 01/03/22, I gave my two weeks' notice. It was scary.
By the end of 2021, I'd mapped out my plan to go full-time in crypto. It was time to take the leap.
On 01/03/22, I gave my two weeks' notice. It was scary.
I hadn't matched my engineering salary yet, but I was betting on myself.
It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Between Jan & July:
β’ Grew my personal brand & network 100x
β’Β Took freelance gigs to pay the bills
β’ Brainstormed SO many ideas
β’ Traveled the world
It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Between Jan & July:
β’ Grew my personal brand & network 100x
β’Β Took freelance gigs to pay the bills
β’ Brainstormed SO many ideas
β’ Traveled the world
Even through the bear market, there was significant demand for my technical/copy/content writing.
It was more than I could handle as a one-man show...
There were two logical next steps:
β’ Charge more as a freelancer
β’ Start an agency around crypto content services
It was more than I could handle as a one-man show...
There were two logical next steps:
β’ Charge more as a freelancer
β’ Start an agency around crypto content services
I chose option 2.
With that, my mindset shifted from seeking individual gigs to working w/ projects on a recurring basis.
It wasn't a smooth transition - lots of rejection (still). Starting an agency meant going after a new client base and turning down the little jobs.
With that, my mindset shifted from seeking individual gigs to working w/ projects on a recurring basis.
It wasn't a smooth transition - lots of rejection (still). Starting an agency meant going after a new client base and turning down the little jobs.
It took time to build credibility + infrastructure around the services we were providing to DeFi projects.
Out of it, @Scrib3_co was born.
A DeFi-native content marketing agency founded by degens with the perfect blend of technical, writing, and marketing skills.
Out of it, @Scrib3_co was born.
A DeFi-native content marketing agency founded by degens with the perfect blend of technical, writing, and marketing skills.
Over the past few months, we've expanded our services outside of just social and long-form content.
We also assist with PR, design, community, and general product strategy.
It's been a blast to grow the business, work with awesome protocols, and expand our team.
We also assist with PR, design, community, and general product strategy.
It's been a blast to grow the business, work with awesome protocols, and expand our team.
There's SO much to say about SCRIB3 & our future goals - but I'd rather end w/ a few takeaways from my journey:
β’ Calculated risks are scary but powerful
β’ Use a low barrier-to-entry endeavor (like freelancing) to find product market fit
β’ Then, work your ass off to scale it
β’ Calculated risks are scary but powerful
β’ Use a low barrier-to-entry endeavor (like freelancing) to find product market fit
β’ Then, work your ass off to scale it
I write about crypto marketing, building a web3 agency, and occasional DeFi alpha.
If you enjoyed the thread:
1. Check out @Scrib3_co and give us a follow
2. Retweet the first tweet to help it reach others β¬οΈ
If you enjoyed the thread:
1. Check out @Scrib3_co and give us a follow
2. Retweet the first tweet to help it reach others β¬οΈ
Loading suggestions...