Authenticity wins in the age of influencers, but do you really have a story to tell?

During my darkest hours, I often contemplate the idea of turning my hobbies into my work so that I could quit the nine-to-five grind.

Have you noticed just how many people are actually doing it? Dozens of people around me – or those I follow – have quit their jobs to pursue their dreams. Some lack charisma or even a compelling story. It’s just pure persistence and cracking the social media algorithm.

It’s all very cute at the beginning. A person finds their audience by being quite unique and investing themselves in exclusive content, and it all feels natural – until they learn how social media works and how they can cut costs.

I’m not proud of this, but I’ve been watching Stay Wild – a YouTube channel by Ben Azelart and Cam Huff. They’ve built a lot of secret rooms, and that’s what got me hooked in the first place. Just imagine having a secret room in your house where no one can ever find you. It’s a childhood dream come true.

But lately, I’ve noticed that many of their videos are just them watching random stuff on YouTube and commenting on it – nearly zero-effort videos that still get millions of views because these guys are famous now.

In Lithuania, we love to rank influencers – who’s the most influential, we wonder. This year, an Instagram model and socialite was overtaken by a cookbook author, television personality, and mother of five, who recently “shocked” the online world by simply getting pregnant at the age of 45. (Media articles discussing the dangers of late pregnancy fueled the uproar.)

If this tells us anything, it’s that people crave something real. They respond better to others sharing their genuine (or at least somewhat real) stories, offering real-life advice, and talking about their struggles. It’s certainly healthier than chasing a dream you know you’ll never live.

There’s a mother I follow on Instagram because I love her taste in fashion and interior design. But as she shows off her minimalist, nearly empty house – despite having two small children running around – it just makes me feel bad about myself.

Things simply find their way into my home: a random painting, a souvenir from a friend, a picture, a new Lego piece I just have to have. Plus, I let my kid arrange things around the house, and this combination makes my home anything but Instagram-worthy.

It’s all very private, too.

How much of your life would you be willing to show to earn a living?

I’ve lost four toenails running long distances, and can’t wear sandals because it looks nasty. But I love it, too, because it tells my story. I have at least three books in the bathroom, as I enjoy reading when I’m stuck there for a while. I wake up at five in the morning, looking like hell, just so I can finish my running routine before everyone else wakes up. I see people so determined during marathons that they soil themselves and keep running. I follow in awe, thinking that’s badass.

But we, at least my generation, were taught not to put elbows on the table, skip physical activity on your period, cause god forbid it leaked, shut up when grown-ups speak, and put tights with skirts even when it’s hot.

For better or worse, some of us have learned to overshare. However, many people crave polished information and aesthetics, especially when posting online.

Many still buy books with attractive covers just so they look good on the shelf, not because they are eager to read them.

“In the future, everybody will be famous for 15 minutes,” a quote, wrongfully attributed to Andy Warhol, states.

It's what happens when the clock runs out that matters.