From 0 to 100 Followers on Medium: Earnings, Lessons, and the Honest Journey Behind My First Milestone

Growing on Medium looks different for everyone. Some writers arrive with polished writing skills. Others bring an audience from TikTok, Instagram, or X. Some catch a lucky break with a viral article.

I was none of those.

I started with zero followers, zero writing experience, and a strong case of imposter syndrome. Even with years of experience in personal finance and investing, I kept delaying the moment I would finally sit down and write.

But I knew something:  Writing could help me grow — not only as a creator, but as someone on a journey toward financial independence.

This is the story of how I reached my first 100 followers:  What I earned. What I learned. What I messed up. And the habits that finally helped me stay consistent.

Starting From Zero (and With Imposter Syndrome)

While many writers grow thanks to audiences from other platforms, my Medium journey began with nothing except curiosity and the desire to share what I was learning.

I focused on two themes:

1. Topics that genuinely helped me in my own life

2. My journey toward financial independence

And although I wasn’t a writer yet, I leaned into the one strength I did have:

I read — a lot.

Since 2019, thanks to Audible, I’ve consumed over 100 books per year. Those books became the fuel: stories, ideas, frameworks, and mental models I could turn into articles.

I published my first article at the end of July 2025.  Three articles in August.  Weekly writing in September.  Daily writing by mid-October.

So far, I’ve published 49 articles.

After publishing my third article, a publication invited me to join them. That tiny milestone gave me massive confidence. Today, I write for two publications — with more to come.

Building a Backlog and Finding My Voice

Like most new writers, I started with about 20 article ideas. But something surprising happened:

The more I wrote, the more ideas I had.

Writing → creates clarity  Clarity → unlocks insights  Insights → generate new ideas

Today, my backlog is over 40 ideas, and I refine it weekly.

What helped most:

• Prioritizing my backlog

• Drafting consistently

• Publishing even when it wasn’t perfect

• Focusing on value instead of virality

This shift made writing less intimidating — and genuinely enjoyable.

The Top 5 Things I Did Right

1. I wrote from experience, not theory.

Authenticity builds trust. Readers feel it.

2. I stayed consistent, even when my views were tiny.

Some articles barely hit 20 views — but showing up built momentum.

3. I used reading as creative fuel.

Books gave me endless examples, mental models, and ideas.

4. I focused on helping, not impressing.

Value-first writing always performs better. I also respond to most comments.

5. I embraced imperfection.

Publishing regularly accelerated my growth more than anything else.

The Top 5 Things I Did Wrong (and What I’d Do Differently)

1. Overthinking every article

This fed my imposter syndrome and slowed me down.

2. Waiting too long to build consistency

Discipline is the foundation of growth on Medium.

3. Ignoring SEO for too long

A few strong keywords can boost exposure dramatically.

4. Not engaging enough with the community

Supporting others leads to natural, meaningful growth.

5. Delaying a structured writing system

Templates and routines make writing easier, faster, and more fun.

Earnings: A Realistic Snapshot

Reaching 100 followers isn’t about making big money — but it is a turning point.  You start to understand:

• What readers respond to

• What topics resonate

• What momentum feels like

My earnings were tiny, but meaningful:

• July: $0

• August: $0

• September: $0.12

• October: $0.95

• November (so far): $1.81

Small numbers. Big motivation.

My Top-Performing Articles

These articles resonated the most:

1. Why Building Wealth Is More About Mindset Than Math— $0.56 (68 Views, 25 Reads)

2. The Power of Leverage: How to Multiply Your Efforts and Accelerate Your Growth — $0.28 (24 Views, 6 Reads)

3. Wealth Accumulation vs Wealth Preservation— $0.22 (24 Views, 15 Reads)

4. 5 Worst Money Moves That Keep People Broke— $0.21 (33 Views, 17 Reads)

5. The First $100K Is the Hardest — $0.19 (73 Views, 36 Reads)

They performed well because they combined practical lessons with personal experience.

What I Learned on the Road to 100

• Growth feels slow… until it isn’t.

• Confidence is the result of writing, not the requirement.

• Creativity expands with consistency.

• The more real you are, the more readers connect with you.

And here’s the biggest lesson of all:

My most valuable earning so far hasn’t been monetary — it’s the people.

Connecting with like-minded writers.  Learning from their perspectives.  Engaging in conversations that sharpen my thinking.  Supporting others and being supported back.

Money is nice. But community is priceless.

Reaching 100 followers wasn’t a finish line — it was proof that showing up works.

As James Clear said:  “Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become.”

Writing is my daily vote for becoming a better thinker, a clearer communicator, and someone who helps others grow — financially and personally.

And this is just the beginning.  I can’t wait to reach 200, 500, 1,000+ followers — and bring even more value to every person who reads my work.

I will be glad to know where you are in your writing or financial journey.

Towards Finance

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