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Fabienne Mannherz's avatar

I think it was the best decision that you did not have any content planned and just went freeflow with your story! It's incredibly inspiring, but first of all, I am so happy I got to know you and your journey a little better.

I am also excited for what you are going to do about the additional offers for paid subscribers. The AI image workshop was great and I am already looking forward to the next workshops on your schedule. Honestly, for my personal The-Bored-Millenial-Fan-Girl opinion, it didn't need more to become a paid subscriber. But I guess having longer, well researched essays as an additional benefit might help you get to your conversion goals.

Fun fact: I am going to talk about morning routines in my next postcard 🤣

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Loved the morning routine postcard Fabienne!!! Sounds like you are a early bird type! Which I am not and I tried to long to do a morning routine for morning people 😄

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Fabienne Mannherz's avatar

I am!

Good you figured that out about yourself. I am really not a night owl 🦉and have to get better at getting to bed/winding down more early.

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sol s⊙therland 🔸's avatar

Looking forward to your morning routines, Fabienne 👀

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Fabienne Mannherz's avatar

Oh, and I was going to add that I wanted to learn about how you got yourself off Social Media. And here you go - already on your idea list 😊

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Christie Sausa, MS's avatar

All of this is so relatable, except the business analyst being successful at your job bit. I've never been particularly good at jobs.

I've always been a writer, but tried to stuff myself into a corporate 9-5 work. It didn't end well - mostly because of my adult ADHD, but also because I was ignoring what I was supposed to do. Writing was my first love, even before my sports (figure/speed skating) yet I kept thinking I needed to do something else. Things started improving when I started to take writing seriously, wrote consistently on Medium, started two Substacks, and prioritized learning. This is my job and business now. I'm not doing well financially from it yet but I'm hoping to learn as I go and build. :)

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

I wholeheartedly believe financial rewards will come when you do what you love. I first went working as a consultant for a lower wage then what I already had built up working in a bank. Sometimes you have to start with less to get more.

I love you started following your dream of being a writer 😍

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Mika's avatar

I love how you get new ideas and are willing to experiment!! Thanks for taking us along for your journey!

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Mladena's avatar

Beautiful story, Marie!

My way is coaching and writing, too.

Good luck!

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Freya V Locke ACB-KSA's avatar

I really enjoy how honest Marie is about the process!

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Oh I loved Norwegian Wood, probably one of my favourite books ever. Since you're Belgian and I think you're Flemish, have you tried Ik kom hier nog op terug, by Rob Van Essen. It's amazing, I just finished. Some have compared it to Haruki Murakami, so may be a good one to read after Norwegian Wood. Enjoy.

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Ooh leuk!! Dankje voor de tip! Heb hem al gedownload, zat in mijn Kobo Plus abo 😄

Ben jij ook Vlaams, Sophie?

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Adi Melkic [Mel-kitsch]'s avatar

Between reading this and drinking a hot cup of coffee somewhere on the Mediterranean coast, I'd say my day started just fine. ;)

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Sakshi Deora's avatar

I greatly admire you for leaving your job and working hard from the start for what you like and excelling at it. Not everyone is bold enough to do so, but this piece instills confidence and drives them to take that step. More power to you!✨️

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Thank you Sakshi 🧡

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Sammy Jamar's avatar

I love your embrace of challenges, always taking them as redirections to something better. Thanks for sharing your journey and waiting for the "How I" series

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Awesome Sammy! 😍😍

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Os Ishmael's avatar

I loved reading your transition from fulltime to freelance. Are you still doing that kind of work? I hope in future posts you can expand on your early days.

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

I'm still doing it, 3 days a week! 😄

Indeed, I might expand on my early days, I do have some stories as well from that time

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Becca Holmes's avatar

I love the idea for the "how I..." Series! I have similar ideas for articles surrounding my yoga/mindfulness journey in motherhood...how I used pranayama to overcome PPA, etc. I too have quit social media to focus on writing, and I also read a ton!! 🤌👏

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

We clearly have been on a similar path Becca! Thank you for sharing!! 👊🏻🙌🏻

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Yiling's avatar

Thanks for being honest and generous in sharing your journey! Sending you love! 💜 This is a memoir, but I just finished Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime and would highly recommend it. What he and his mom went through makes our difficulties seem manageable, plus it’s full of laughter, heart, and great storytelling.

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Thank you so much for your kind words and the tip Yiling!! 🧡

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Maggie Jon's avatar

I feel you on the restlessness. And on everything you said about being self-employed. I love it, but financially there's a lot more pressure. I'm taking a week off and trying to ignore what that will mean to my wallet 😅

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Oh yes, I do recognize that feeling. 😂 But now I feel more comfortable!

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Alexis Mera Damen's avatar

Love this story! Good for you for leaping into the unknown. High risk = high reward. 😻

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Yes! That's the equation 🚀

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Sonaakshi's avatar

I love how honestly you have written your journey. I can relate to this so much because I had quit my corporate job in 2014 for freelancing. I wasn't enjoying the monotonous work environment and had to find a way to earn money in a better way. Made the best decision of my life! I am also excited for your upcoming topics. They sound interesting!

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Marie Vandoorne's avatar

Yay 😍😍 that's good to read! And love we have followed a similar path Sonaakshi.

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Shanjitha's avatar

I love your ideas for the upcoming series. They sound interesting.

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