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  • I Just Started An Experimental Income Stream Journey – Guess What Industry It Is

    New Adventure Uncovered - An Experimental Income Stream Journey

    After graduating from nursing school in April 2024, I focused more on my online business ventures. I have been so deprived of the luxuries of managing my own time because of school. Once I passed the NCLEX, I knew I was entitled to a well-deserved treat by immersing myself in doing the fun stuff. Enter, gaming.

    Yes, you read that right. GAMING. I started playing League of Legends (again) after years of being AWOL. Can you believe that? I couldn’t believe it myself either; But I think I have found my true niche and I am in a predicament. More on this later.

    The Big Income Stream Idea

    It’s nothing truly exceptional, imo but the business model might a little bit be unique in its own way. I don’t have a fully structured model yet as this is again, experimental.

    What makes it unique is that the goal is to become a Twitch Partner in the end, PLUS integrate my current business into the scene. I planned to do this through my Kaizen SaaS platform.

    So, how does this look like?

    To put it simply, I begin my adventure as a small Twitch streamer (while playing LoL –  and having fun), climb my way up to Twitch affiliate, advance to become a Twitch Partner, and finally be able to include this in my Income Stream List.

    While all of this is happening, I intend to promote my services as the web “specialist” that I am by assisting other streamers with branding, design, and streamer business growth via my Legacy Kaizen SaaS Platform.

    How I will do this is still in the making. I am exercising due diligence in documenting this new journey.

    Why the sudden pivot, again

    If you don’t know me already, I love exploring different avenues to find the best ways to achieve my Ideal Income Lifestyle. Not to mention that this is also a waterloo I often struggle with the most – sticking to one project at a time.

    My personal business brand won’t be going away, nor my Millennial Bella brand. Think of it as digital real estate expansion, embarking on semi-new territories on a quest to find lucrative opportunities.

    Caveats that I foresee happening

    Not counting the fact that this will divide my attention as a solo business owner, many caveats are lurking beneath the surface.

    👉 prioritizing between online ventures
    👉 time constraints as a solo business owner
    👉 unforeseen solo business biases
    👉 maintaining good health, discipline, and focus
    👉 creating consistent content for growth

    Intertwining the biz with a twist

    While this plan is put in place, an idea I came up with that might be mutually beneficial between ventures is a Twitch Live Stream Workshop (Freestyle Mode). In a nutshell, this is a free “workshop/webinar” where my Selfmade Brand community members and followers can freely attend and ask away questions about branding, design, and anything business-related.

    If the popular route for office hours is Zoom, my new model would be the Twitch stream. The format is casual and more (young gen) younger-generation-friendly. It’s an ask me anything workshop while I stream my favorite games and EVERYONE is free to join and chat with me.

    Obviously, this is free, asynchronous, and unstructured. There are no specific topics, schedules (yet), and is participant-led. In addition, regular Twitch followers who do follow for the sole purpose of gaming will be there, that’s why I’m calling it Freestyle Mode.

    👾 If you’re a gamer and interested in embarking a similar pathway, I encourage you to subscribe and follow my Twitch channel. This way, you’ll get updates on how I’m progressing when I’m live. Plus, ask me anything too!

    Published: June 18, 2024

  • My First Faceless Video Was A Failure But I Learned A Lot

    Let’s face it (pun kind of intended), as introverts, the idea of showing up on camera for our businesses can trigger a cascade of self-doubt. We may feel like impostors, uncomfortable in the spotlight. The mere thought of recording ourselves evokes an internal chorus of “what ifs” and “I can’ts“. If you’re a fellow introverted solopreneur, you might be feeling the exact same way – a mix of excitement and “what am I even doing?” kinda thing.

    I know this feeling all too well. But recently, I finally took the plunge into creating my first faceless video recording (thanks to my mentor who always pushes me to show up even if I don’t want to). To say I was a ball of nerves is an understatement. Here’s a breakdown of the emotional rollercoaster I experienced while recording my first faceless video along with valuable lessons I learned.

    Feelings encountered before recording my first faceless video

    Let’s set the scene: There I was, all geared up (or so I thought) to make my first video. The truth? I was a bundle of nerves. Thoughts like “Who’s even going to listen to me?” and “Do I sound like I know what I’m talking about?” were my uninvited guests. And yes, feeling a bit embarrassed wasn’t fun either. Stepping into the spotlight, even without showing my face, felt like a huge deal, and thinking about it drained my energy faster than I could recharge.

    But here’s the thing – those feelings are totally normal. When you’re about to try something new and scary, you will get tachycardic. And that’s okay (at least in this situation)! What the heck does tachycardic/tachycardia even mean?! In the medical world, tachycardia means a faster heart rate than normal (normal range is 60-100 beats per minute for most adults). Anyway.

    It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and nervous especially when you are recording your first faceless video.
    Action Tip: Whenever you start feeling this, stop and take a breath. Acknowledge your feelings and yourself. Try to make sense of what and why it is happening. Tell yourself and your brain that everything is going to be okay. WE are okay.

    How I felt while recording my first faceless video

    Moment of truth. I took a deep breath, fumbled with settings, and finally hit record. The first moments were undeniably awkward, to say the least. My voice sounded weird to me, and I kept wondering, “Is this really me talking?”. We’ve all heard our voices at some point in time and we’ve all seen the memes that go with it.

    Stutters, mispronounced words, and the inevitable sigh of frustration were all there. Knowing I have an accent did not help either. But, something shifted as I went on.

    Gradually, I began to focus on delivering my message, not on how I looked or sounded. A sense of enjoyment replaced the anxiety while recording my first faceless video. I realized this process allowed me to clarify my ideas and improve my communication skills.

    How I think I sound like versus how I actually sound like

    How I felt after recording my first faceless video

    After hitting stop and replaying my creation, I was not surprised by the sound of my own voice. What particularly caught my attention was how I delivered it. Someone, sign this girl up for communications 101 or something was my first thought. Shame, Kimmy. Shame.

    Here’s what I discovered:

    • Relief: It wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. My first thought, “Huh, I can do this”.
    • Potential: I could see areas for refinement when recording any faceless video – my pacing, tone, and word choice. Instead of feeling discouraged, I felt an exciting sense of direction. This wasn’t about being perfect; it was about taking the leap and making progress. You will never know unless you try.
    • Improvement as Motivation: Suddenly, those imperfections became opportunities to grow. 
    • Shifting Perspective: True confidence, I realized, wasn’t about being flawless. It was about showing up with what you have and a commitment to improve – an ongoing lesson every solopreneur needs to learn.

    So, If you’re sitting there, doubting if you should make a video or share your ideas because you’re an introvert, I’m here to tell you – go for it. You might feel all the feels like I did, but that’s part of your journey. And it’s a beautiful one.

    So, If you’re sitting there, doubting if you should make your first faceless video or share your ideas because you’re an introvert, I’m here to tell you – go for it. You might feel all the feels like I did, but that’s part of your journey. And it’s a beautiful one. Many successful course creators and online business owners began with those same feelings of hesitation and self-doubt.

    Key takeaways when deciding to record your first faceless video

    Here’s what I want you to take away from my experience:

    • Just start small, there is no rush: Don’t compare your starting point to someone else’s highlight reel. Begin at your own pace, even with short, unedited behind-the-scenes faceless video clips. No need to plan an epic movie. A short clip is always a great beginning.
    • Focus on progress: Celebrate the small wins – a clearer script, a smoother delivery, a new editing technique learned. True confidence grows gradually. Every video is a step forward. Learn and tweak as you go. Pat yourself on the back and celebrate every little win along the way. You’re doing great!
    • Self-discovery: Faceless videos can be a powerful tool for gaining insight into your communication style, strengths, and areas for development.
    • Authenticity is key: Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Let your passion and knowledge shine through, even with imperfections. People connect with realness.
    • Perfection Is a Myth: Honestly, your authenticity is way more appealing and is what sells the most. People buy you.
    • Feedback Is Gold: It might sting at first, but it’s priceless for your growth.

    Here are some practical first steps if you’ve been itching to create your own faceless video content as a solopreneur:

    • Start with audio: Record a practice session without the pressure of the camera.
    • Use screen recordings: Share your expertise by demonstrating a process on your computer.
    • Turn blog posts into videos: Expand your reach by giving existing content a new format.
    • Invest in resources: Explore online courses, workshops, and tools that enhance your faceless video creation and communication/public speaking skills.
    • Invest in a mentor. It’s easy to get drowned by subconscious beliefs and inner biases (that’s why it’s called subconscious). Embrace the gift of feedback from a mentor who has been in your shoes in the past.
    • Find your community. You know it can be a lonely journey at times. Joining a like-minded community who you share a mental model with is a great start to lifelong learning. As a solo business owner, you are always learning.

    Remember, creating faceless videos as an introvert is a journey, not a destination. if I can move from nervous to kinda loving it, so can you.  Embrace the learning curve, and let your desire to serve your audience lead the way.

    Remember, creating faceless videos as an introvert is a journey, not a destination. if I can move from nervous to kinda loving it, so can you. Your voice matters, and there’s someone out there waiting to hear just what you have to say. Embrace the learning curve, and let your desire to serve your audience lead the way.

    PUBLISHED: APRIL 11, 2024