I don’t often flex my experience in this industry, but let me share some pearls of wisdom that I wish I’d listened to sooner:

1) Therapy is a better investment than AP will ever be

2) Save your fucking money

3) Clients pay your bills, not other SWs

4) Stay out of drama

Seriously. Talk therapy isn’t enough. Go and do some functional brain work and learn how to develop strong boundaries and self love. You will need it for when Twitter and bookings aren’t around to validate you every ten seconds.

If you pay attention, you will notice the same names at the heart of every industry dumpster fire. You will be connected by association. Understand when to distance yourself. Nurture connections that nourish you, instead of causing you stress.

Don’t let other workers tell you what you can or can’t achieve. Back yourself. My ‘friends’ told me that a face-in, non-explicit subscription platform wouldn’t work & here I am using it to pay rent. I have such a great relationship with my pages now that I’m running them my way.

I will come back and add more later, but I’m off to go and do regular life things, because having a work/life balance is the most important asset you could ever have.

Oh, briefly: you will contribute to the SW-drama machine. You’ll make friendships that don’t nourish you. You’ll say and do the wrong thing at some point. Know that everyone is capable of growth and change, and you should not be defined by your past associations or mistakes.

Controversial (and I say this gently): if you constantly post screenshots of you telling off people who contact you in ways you dislike, you will give your clients a complex and inadvertently market yourself as being angry. Don’t shit where you eat.

On the above: we all know I love a nicely roasted Jimothy, but try not to make that the entirety of your feed’s content. Get an alt if you need to.

Ummm what else...

http://ProtonMail.ch  is the fosta-safe email address, not http://ProtonMail.com .

Put used condoms in disposable nappy bags - if we’re going to destroy the environment (condoms aren’t biodegradable), at least it won’t have to smell like rancid jizz.

Important: your clients are going to tell you heavy things & you are going to take that emotional energy on until you learn how to manage it. Investing in regular chats with a psychologist will help you learn to be there for clients without sacrificing your own mental health.