Great read. I too have been here since the very early days. Though I didn’t even click monetise until Feb 2020 and when I did money flooded in. I got lucky those first two months but then again, I’ve written for free online since 2001. I guess we’re all out here paying our dues.

I love your line about Medium not owing anyone a goddamn thing. Bang on. Nothing here is guaranteed. If Medium disappeared tomorrow it would be my fault for not making other plans if it screwed me. We’re all lucky Medium is here!