Making internet money independently is very addictive

A salaried job just can’t compete (how a single article earned me more money than a full-time job).

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I look like Caitlin Moran in this photo.

It’s November 2016. I just turned 30.

I’m in Lithuania, briefing local YouTubers on an upcoming project when my phone goes “Cha-ching!” mid-presentation.

Ah, the universal sound of a cash register.

I glance down. “You earned £140,” says my phone.

I’m flushed with happiness as I try to maintain my composure to continue speaking as if nothing had happened, but inside, a natural high of dopamine is coursing through my veins.

It’s the same hormone, they say, that people experience on cocaine, but mine is all organic.

Why does making internet money independently feel so exhilarating?

Because there’s a profound sense of accomplishment in creating something from nothing. Succeeding on your own terms without the safety net of an employer.

A salaried job never gives me the same thrill.

A salary is predictable and mundane. Everyone gets one.

I could be making a £150K salary and still get a bigger rush by the spontaneous “You just made £140”.

Creating something from nothing takes bravery, curiosity, and an innovative mind — all traits I value in myself and others.

I like to think that some of us are born hunters, with an entrepreneurial spirit; while others are gatherers, thriving in the stability of being an employee.

So, what exactly did I do to earn it?