Heyaa
Weāre already a month into a new financial year. Taking note of the progress and failures?
I may have said it earlier, but you definitely should keep a note of whatās going well and whatās not. Every little thing that you did, started doing, or happened to you.
It wonāt make any sense now. Not even month after month. But when you compile them together at the end of the year, youāll smile seeing how many things you know more (or tried) than the last year.
Itās Sunday, Apr 28. The month hasnāt been particularly good so far, and Iām in hope of seeing it any better.
For the last few days, I havenāt been in the mood to read.
It can happen. And thereās no shame in admitting that. It felt that itās perhaps time to binge videos. Let me give books some rest for a few days.
So, I started watching movies again.
One of the movies I watched is Amar Singh Chamkila. I wonāt comment whether it was good or bad. I am not sure, actually. But watching it, reminded me of a quote from the Yellowface book:
āAnd once you're writing for the market, it doesn't matter what stories are burning inside you. It matters what audiences want to see.ā
Relatable?
In the marketing industry, we do what our target audience wants, not what we want to do.
More than creating, I have been worried about how to make something popular.
But now, more than ever, I feel I donāt want to promote anything, I donāt want to ātargetā people with ads, and I donāt want to follow trends. Itās too tiring to keep an eye on the pulse. I donāt want any of it.
I just want to create. I want to play. I have always liked playing with colours, doodling on the last page, and making things out of things.
I want to go dirty againā¦ with inks, glue, paintsā¦ there's madness, thereās fun, thereās art.
Itās just that marketing has ruined me. All I can think isā¦ will this thing make me money (and how)?
Yes, money is important. I know. You need money for livelihood. I wonder since when. How did the world survive on barter before money came into being?
Can we go back to barter? Not you and me, but the entire world?
You give what you likeā¦ and get what you likeā¦ upon mutual consideration.
I show you my art, you give me ten ton of chocolates. Iāll write the leave application you want, you reward me with a book I want. Like monkeys do. āYou feed me some banana; Iāll give your goggles back.ā
Itās a good system, right? If only the world agrees, probably everyone will be rich in their own way, with the kind of things they like to enjoy.
We are already paying for so many things with not money, but time, right?
These IG Reels and YT Shortsā¦ theyāre entertaining you in return for your time. And youāre happy, too. This could be a good arrangement: paying with time. Maybe/maybe not.
It reminds me of a kdrama scene I came across in a reel. Through the comments, I found it was from Guardian (also called Goblin). Someone mentioned the background music is their ringtone. And I listened to it again and again. The music was definitely ringtone-worthy.
I changed my mobile ringtone for the first time after buying the phone last April. Even though I donāt pick most calls.
Yes, I have my ringtone on. My phone is Silent only when Iām sleeping. That too because I realised I could turn Silent mode on by simply putting the phone on its face.
Not that I receive too many calls. Only 2-3 a day, short ones.
Most of my conversations are over text. Friends know not to scare me with impromptu calls.
Recently, a prospect messaged if I do book reviews. After a quick chat, they asked if itās fine to get over a call. They messaged me firstā¦ that itself made me feel fine to take it on a call, at a later time.
I could have discussed it right away over call. But you know, anxiety and time for preparationā¦ to settle down and talk properlyā¦ with as much attention as I can give.
Wait, let me add this to my monthly progress. So far, Iāve received three queries I think this monthā¦ for doing book reviews
My attention wanders away often, easily. Even writing this newsletter wasnāt mentioned in my to-do this time. I kept forgetting.
On Friday, I first thought about adding this to my Sundayās to-do. And the next moment something took my attention away. My list is only two inches away from me, and still I couldnāt mention it.
Ā I just kept a mental note that Iāll write this on Sunday. What, why, howā¦ no idea.
So, as soon as I opened my laptop today, I opened a blank doc. At 08.49 hours. Not to write, right away. But to act as a reminder that I have to write this newsletter today.
And thatās all for today. Pulled out my to-do from notebooks pile and wrote āWrite newsletterā now, just to cross it away. One less headache to carry on the shoulders.
Iāll take your leave now.
Bidding adieu. Enjoy your day. Live long and prosper.