Get it Dre! I'm so in the same boat. I know Im a dude and I dont feel the same pressure to be "dolled up" for the cam. But I do feel that pressure to make my life look like something its not.
Yesterday I popped open the camera to let people know what a in new person gathering was all about. No script, no lighting, 1-day hair (? I dont even know what that is. Im guessing a day without washing it?), and ugly back ground without a care. Check it out (less then 2mins) https://youtube.com/shorts/3cBa0hg7tS4?si=u5vbtT4CFxhAYbvh
The more I do these kind of video with my community the easier they are getting for me.
🤣 nailed it! 4-day hair is hair that hasn't been washed in 4 days. A.k.a me every single time I think about recording something.
I'm so proud of you for doing this fearless video shit, too. Yup, it's definitely going to take a lot of repetitions + desensitizing myself by publishing over + over again to get past this and that's what 2025 will be. I'm excited for Substack to roll out there live streaming... it's where the bulk of this growth is going to happen.
Loved YOUR video (and that epic beard - that thing could definitely achieve 4-day status), and YOU definitely got this. You already look like a natural! And you know authenticity is music to my ears. 🌭🫶
I might tattoo that on my forehead -- run toward the fears and they run away! I'm gonna need the reminder hourly. 🤣
It's just a matter of time before I force you by sheer Kool-Aid-laced inspiration to get your ass (well, your face) on camera. Save the ass for OnlyFans.
ME TOO! It’s about damn time… and I can’t thank Substack enough for creating the kind of platform that makes me feel safe enough to make these fearless, burnout free moves. I’m in this with you, brotha! 💃🏽
That's my honest answer. No real clue yet, because I have not had a chance to catch my breath or to have the peace of mind due to commitments, agreements and contracts over what I do right now.
I'm coming to the end of those (I hope), but I don't know what to do when the lights still have to turn on. When the wife and kids need to eat. My 5 year old needs shoes. EVERYone needs a dentist...and I find myself holding my breath more times than not.
As for myself...I'm a whole different problem.
I think I found myself spread too thin this year. Not that the working was bad, but life turned it up from 10 to 25...and the dial only WENT to 10.
So what do you do?
All I know how to do is step back, grit my teeth, focus on tomorrow and push like hell through today.
My HOPE for 2025 is to remain consistent.
My GOAL on substack is to make it to the top 2% of publishers...where I currently reside at 3%. It's silly and doesn't help anything, but to remind me that I have been consistent.
Ya know what?
...I'd like to lose myself in my stories.
Truly let go and write/create like crazy, and not do anything else. To figure out how to have a 4 day work week...and spend at least one day a week doing things for other people in my little community.
There are many older folks that could use a hand, or a hug, or some company.
...I'll be that old someday, and I hope someone will care enough to come visit with me.
I'm rambling...I know, but it's because I don't have a plan...and none of my plans have worked since telling myself I was going to marry that beautiful young girl I met at church.
I think we can all relate to this, brotha!! I'm sorry you're stuck in the busy cycle + are getting stretched every which way... that's NO way to live or business.
Seems like you've already nailed the consistency, no? Don't you have a 80+ week streak on publishing??
I want you to be able to lose yourself in your stories and not have to worry about anything else either. I KNOW we can help you put a plan together, so let us know where you're getting stuck.
I'm curious, have you ever done an accounting of how you spend your work time each week?
THANK YOU for being real... that's fearlessness right there, Jaime!!! 🤗
Yes, I've done an accounting of time. It's how I got to this pont of consistency.
The challenge with that aspect is perfecting the ability to get "into" a creative place, so you can perform.
I think I'm pretty good and consistent in that respect also...but the start and stop aspects of life wear me down faster than anything.
My writing used to be at 4am,but now trying to put health first has taken that option away except Mondays and that's going to change as well.
...so physically I'm doing better, but I trade my mental and emotional health to achieve it.
It's all locked to income.
All things would change with enough income, which I've pursued for decades. Making money with my projects and not working for others would flip a switch from night to day.
As for what I need help with, we touched it during our zoom call...
It's exposure.
I seem to win people if they find me, but I don't know what the right combination is. Never been good at marketing myself.
Been giving all I have and am for so long (decades),... I've run out of gas ⛽️.
This is all exacerbated by the health challenges...the full list and weight I've not shared with anyone. What I've shared is enough.
I'm here for now, and I want to do as much good as I can.
I hear you!!! I'm telling everyone I know about you because I believe in you so damn much. I've got 15 gallons of gas in my garage (true story) and it's YOURS anytime you need it. Sending you this biggest hug, brotha. I know how hard you work and how much this means to you... I'm in your corner, always!!! ❤️
Right? I am all for Natural EVERYTHING! There’s been so much fake for so long that real and natural are exotic now. I wish we would all go back to the basics and see the health and beauty in natural. 😉
The internet makes us feel like slowing down is a sign that’s something is wrong… I’m sooooo grateful for people like YOU who help me stay in this hustle-free lane. To slooooooowing way down and knowing it’s a great, NORMAL thing. Seasons, baby! 🫶
You just made my day!!! It feels so good to be seen + acceptable as the real ME. This love almost makes me want to record another one already. Almost! 🤣
P.S. We have to listen to our bodies because it’s always trying to set us on the right path.
So proud of you! You’re beautiful! The camera loves you! We love you! Now all you have to do is talk about all the genius shit you can’t stop talking about and I/WE will enthusiastically consume Dre TV! Or HDC TV! Even that name is fantastic!
Can’t wait to SEE so much more of you this coming year!
And yes!! It’s hibernation season—especially when you live in the colder climate areas of the world. Less sunlight means less vitamin D, means less, absorption of the other vitamins and nutrients, means more muscle weakness and body aches, means less energy to work, means added push to produce as much as you did in the earlier seasons will result in quicker burnout and exhaustion. Stay warm, fuel your body with warm foods and fluids as anything cold will shut down the fire in your digestive system and cause backup and bloating from putrefaction of the slowly or undigested food.
It’s absolutely a time to SLOW DOWN and celebrate all the work you’ve done all year round in all the departments of your life! Because damn, it’s been one hell of a changing and growing kinda year and we are stronger, wiser, healthier and more unified in our community than ever! If that’s not worth taking time to celebrate, I don’t know what is!! Add the fact that our kids are well and thriving —this is the best it gets!!! Realize right now that you are living what you have dreamed of, prayed for—for years!! If it gets better because you find a more peaceful routine and lifestyle, great but be present right now and bask in blessing of the life you’ve created right now. Take all the time and don’t feel the need to explain yourself. Just BE. Happiness is not a destination, it’s in the moments we feel it so feel them, savor them when you wake up after a good night’s rest, the sun peeking through your windows and a laughing kid snuggling you —and then let them go with a smile knowing they will continue to return the more you quiet the outside chatter and just do YOU! Just BE. Big hugs my love! 🤗 🫶
No guilt! There is a season for everything. 💗
Yes, there is... you've opened my eyes to that truth! 🫶
Get it Dre! I'm so in the same boat. I know Im a dude and I dont feel the same pressure to be "dolled up" for the cam. But I do feel that pressure to make my life look like something its not.
Yesterday I popped open the camera to let people know what a in new person gathering was all about. No script, no lighting, 1-day hair (? I dont even know what that is. Im guessing a day without washing it?), and ugly back ground without a care. Check it out (less then 2mins) https://youtube.com/shorts/3cBa0hg7tS4?si=u5vbtT4CFxhAYbvh
The more I do these kind of video with my community the easier they are getting for me.
I love your vid. You got this.
🤣 nailed it! 4-day hair is hair that hasn't been washed in 4 days. A.k.a me every single time I think about recording something.
I'm so proud of you for doing this fearless video shit, too. Yup, it's definitely going to take a lot of repetitions + desensitizing myself by publishing over + over again to get past this and that's what 2025 will be. I'm excited for Substack to roll out there live streaming... it's where the bulk of this growth is going to happen.
Loved YOUR video (and that epic beard - that thing could definitely achieve 4-day status), and YOU definitely got this. You already look like a natural! And you know authenticity is music to my ears. 🌭🫶
4 day hair ✅
Ass sweats ❌
Proud of you, girl!!!
Yes, yes, yes.
Winter is a time of internalization, slowly coiling the energy need to burst into a blooming masterpiece when the time is right.
Video scares the 💩outta me, so that means I better do some, stat.
Run towards the fears and they run away!
I might tattoo that on my forehead -- run toward the fears and they run away! I'm gonna need the reminder hourly. 🤣
It's just a matter of time before I force you by sheer Kool-Aid-laced inspiration to get your ass (well, your face) on camera. Save the ass for OnlyFans.
Ha!
My ass has been ready for its close up— wait til you read tomorrow’s post. 🤣🤣🤣
Ohhhh, I can’t wait!!! 😍
Super agree with this and I love that we are entering the post burnout era! Plus I’m all in for video on Substack. Let’s get it!
ME TOO! It’s about damn time… and I can’t thank Substack enough for creating the kind of platform that makes me feel safe enough to make these fearless, burnout free moves. I’m in this with you, brotha! 💃🏽
Same! I love this platform, and 2025 will be even better!cheers to being fearless!
I don't know.
That's my honest answer. No real clue yet, because I have not had a chance to catch my breath or to have the peace of mind due to commitments, agreements and contracts over what I do right now.
I'm coming to the end of those (I hope), but I don't know what to do when the lights still have to turn on. When the wife and kids need to eat. My 5 year old needs shoes. EVERYone needs a dentist...and I find myself holding my breath more times than not.
As for myself...I'm a whole different problem.
I think I found myself spread too thin this year. Not that the working was bad, but life turned it up from 10 to 25...and the dial only WENT to 10.
So what do you do?
All I know how to do is step back, grit my teeth, focus on tomorrow and push like hell through today.
My HOPE for 2025 is to remain consistent.
My GOAL on substack is to make it to the top 2% of publishers...where I currently reside at 3%. It's silly and doesn't help anything, but to remind me that I have been consistent.
Ya know what?
...I'd like to lose myself in my stories.
Truly let go and write/create like crazy, and not do anything else. To figure out how to have a 4 day work week...and spend at least one day a week doing things for other people in my little community.
There are many older folks that could use a hand, or a hug, or some company.
...I'll be that old someday, and I hope someone will care enough to come visit with me.
I'm rambling...I know, but it's because I don't have a plan...and none of my plans have worked since telling myself I was going to marry that beautiful young girl I met at church.
We'll be married 34 years this Thursday.
THAT was a good plan.
The rest of this?
...I just don't know.
There's my being real.
I think we can all relate to this, brotha!! I'm sorry you're stuck in the busy cycle + are getting stretched every which way... that's NO way to live or business.
Seems like you've already nailed the consistency, no? Don't you have a 80+ week streak on publishing??
I want you to be able to lose yourself in your stories and not have to worry about anything else either. I KNOW we can help you put a plan together, so let us know where you're getting stuck.
I'm curious, have you ever done an accounting of how you spend your work time each week?
THANK YOU for being real... that's fearlessness right there, Jaime!!! 🤗
Yes, I've done an accounting of time. It's how I got to this pont of consistency.
The challenge with that aspect is perfecting the ability to get "into" a creative place, so you can perform.
I think I'm pretty good and consistent in that respect also...but the start and stop aspects of life wear me down faster than anything.
My writing used to be at 4am,but now trying to put health first has taken that option away except Mondays and that's going to change as well.
...so physically I'm doing better, but I trade my mental and emotional health to achieve it.
It's all locked to income.
All things would change with enough income, which I've pursued for decades. Making money with my projects and not working for others would flip a switch from night to day.
As for what I need help with, we touched it during our zoom call...
It's exposure.
I seem to win people if they find me, but I don't know what the right combination is. Never been good at marketing myself.
Been giving all I have and am for so long (decades),... I've run out of gas ⛽️.
This is all exacerbated by the health challenges...the full list and weight I've not shared with anyone. What I've shared is enough.
I'm here for now, and I want to do as much good as I can.
This is a puzzle I've never solved.
I hear you!!! I'm telling everyone I know about you because I believe in you so damn much. I've got 15 gallons of gas in my garage (true story) and it's YOURS anytime you need it. Sending you this biggest hug, brotha. I know how hard you work and how much this means to you... I'm in your corner, always!!! ❤️
OMG yesss love everything you say about a more authentic and natural way of creating content and get over your fear! Natural content, yasss!
Right??! It should be FUN + rewarding… and feel good. I can’t do anything else anymore.
Exactly. That’s where I’m landing as well. Fuck the “shoulds”, we are creatrixes and this should be FUN!
Right? I am all for Natural EVERYTHING! There’s been so much fake for so long that real and natural are exotic now. I wish we would all go back to the basics and see the health and beauty in natural. 😉
It starts with us!
Yes it does!
Totally ok!! Love this.
It is winter. Time to retract, slow down, snuggle and review and think of this year. And all that.
I’m right there with you. Time to slow doooown.
The internet makes us feel like slowing down is a sign that’s something is wrong… I’m sooooo grateful for people like YOU who help me stay in this hustle-free lane. To slooooooowing way down and knowing it’s a great, NORMAL thing. Seasons, baby! 🫶
Absofreakinlutely.
The body does its thing, doesn’t care about what mind and ego and the hustle culture want. Thank God for the body, forcing us, fools, to slow down. 🥰
Freakin loved your video, and happy you fit that publish button!
You just made my day!!! It feels so good to be seen + acceptable as the real ME. This love almost makes me want to record another one already. Almost! 🤣
P.S. We have to listen to our bodies because it’s always trying to set us on the right path.
Follow your inspired impulses. I’m poking fwd to the next one, whenever it comes, whatever it looks like!
I will… that’s all I’m willing to do anymore. GO GET ‘EM, GURL!! 🥰
*hit not fit
Aaahhhhh.... Authenticity is honesty in action!
And you're leading the charge!
Love this. Love you.
V
I just don’t want to be afraid of silly shit like this, ya know? Love you something fierce, girl!! 🫶
Eating fear for breakfast like Fruity fucking Pebbles! 🥣 ☕️
YESSSSS!!! With your bare fucking hands. 😆
💯
You did it! YES!🙌
I did... and now I need to keep doing it, even if it's just for myself. You're CRAZY live streak has inspired me!!
Sometimes it can be especially for ourselves. Which is a good thing!
So proud of you! You’re beautiful! The camera loves you! We love you! Now all you have to do is talk about all the genius shit you can’t stop talking about and I/WE will enthusiastically consume Dre TV! Or HDC TV! Even that name is fantastic!
Can’t wait to SEE so much more of you this coming year!
And yes!! It’s hibernation season—especially when you live in the colder climate areas of the world. Less sunlight means less vitamin D, means less, absorption of the other vitamins and nutrients, means more muscle weakness and body aches, means less energy to work, means added push to produce as much as you did in the earlier seasons will result in quicker burnout and exhaustion. Stay warm, fuel your body with warm foods and fluids as anything cold will shut down the fire in your digestive system and cause backup and bloating from putrefaction of the slowly or undigested food.
It’s absolutely a time to SLOW DOWN and celebrate all the work you’ve done all year round in all the departments of your life! Because damn, it’s been one hell of a changing and growing kinda year and we are stronger, wiser, healthier and more unified in our community than ever! If that’s not worth taking time to celebrate, I don’t know what is!! Add the fact that our kids are well and thriving —this is the best it gets!!! Realize right now that you are living what you have dreamed of, prayed for—for years!! If it gets better because you find a more peaceful routine and lifestyle, great but be present right now and bask in blessing of the life you’ve created right now. Take all the time and don’t feel the need to explain yourself. Just BE. Happiness is not a destination, it’s in the moments we feel it so feel them, savor them when you wake up after a good night’s rest, the sun peeking through your windows and a laughing kid snuggling you —and then let them go with a smile knowing they will continue to return the more you quiet the outside chatter and just do YOU! Just BE. Big hugs my love! 🤗 🫶