Life Update: Why It’s Good to Double Down

I've been quiet on here, and there are many reasons for this. I explained all of them in this post and give you an insight into my life right now. Spoiler: I moved again and started a new role.

It’s been a while since I last published a blog post. There are many reasons for this, mainly my lack of motivation to sit down after work and write an update, and I want to share them with you today to give you an update on where I am in life at this point.

Vienna, My New Hometown

First off, my current whereabouts. Some of you might know that I used to live in Switzerland and moved to the United Kingdom, London to be exact, a couple of years ago. This move was mainly because of my freelance career and the opportunities London had to offer. I was in and out of London for a while before the move and already had a pretty big circle of friends there.

However, the last couple of months felt weird. Most of my friends were leaving the UK for Europe. Most of them work in the banking industry and move to Frankfurt or Paris. The others who are more creative and work in agencies moved to New York. At one point, my friend circle decreased by 75% because they all left the city for good. This was roughly in May 2023.

Work-wise wise, I was doing great. You know the everyday struggles with freelancing, getting paid late, or living off noodles for two weeks straight. Although I was making decent money and being able to travel to conferences and see the world, I wasn’t satisfied. I knew I had to change my life and try something else.

The only thing I haven’t done until now is being employed at a company. I would always be the outsider and either be brought in as a contractor or be that one marketing guy who doesn’t want to be employed. While on holiday in July, I asked myself if this was worth it or if I shouldn’t double down and get a job at a Bitcoin company. Luckily, I knew some of the folks over at Relai and reached out.

Surprisingly, they were looking for someone similar to what I would do for the end of the year. This was amazing! One of Europe’s most recognizable Bitcoin companies planned on hiring someone, and I would fit the description. I knew I had to take this chance and plan my exit out of freelance life – at least full-time freelance life – and find a new place to live. This was mainly because of Relai’s target audience. They serve the German-speaking area, and I would be able to fit in pretty quickly.

My first crucial step was finding where to live and work in 2024. It didn’t even take me 10 seconds to say Vienna out loud. Most of my cousins and Bitcoin friends in Austria live here, and I always liked the city. Plus it’s less expensive than London, and I can speak my native tongue.

That was it; I knew what job I wanted to apply for, where I wanted to live, and how to spend my next few months. Fast forward, and I managed to get everything done by December 1st. This was the day I officially started at Relai, signed the contract for my flat in Vienna, and had everything ready for the move later that month.

So, if you’re ever in Vienna, reach out. This city has some of the best coffeehouses and unique spots to check out. There is also a small Bitcoin community with a monthly meet-up.

My Current Role at Relai

I’m the Content Manager at Relai, meaning I’m responsible for all the content on our homepage, blog, newsletter, social media, and multimedia. Because I used to work in the Media world, I’m also tasked with reaching out to them, establishing good relationships, and ensuring our press releases get featured in the right outlets.

Now, for most out there, this might look like a lot. I’m either writing, producing, or editing content to be sent out to the Relai channels while maintaining constant contact with the Media. Sure, it’s a lot, but this is what Start-Up life looks like. You have to put on many hats and be able to change direction quickly.

It took me two days to settle in, mainly to get access to everything and know the ins and outs of the processes. However, once I was settled in, I was ready to deliver. And let me tell you, it’s such a fantastic team to work in. After I started working there, we had our end-of-the-year team retreat in Palermo, Italy. I met my co-workers in person and couldn’t have asked for a better start.

The whole month of December passed quickly, and it was suddenly Christmas. By then, I was already familiar with how we work at Relai, what challenges we face currently, and where we’re heading in the next couple of months. I’ll not be at so many conferences and events as I was in 2023, but I’ll be at the biggest conferences, so come by and say hi.

2024 will be an exciting one, and I’m already looking forward to returning back to work. We have so much content, updates, and cool stuff planned for this year. It’s refreshing to be part of a small team that shares the same passion for Bitcoin, society, and improving the lives of people around us.

What to Expect Going Forward

I’ll continue posting blogs here. After all, this is the place where I can share thoughts, ideas, and longer content pieces. What I won’t do is post twice or even four times a month.

I want to focus my time on my role with Relai and some of the side gigs I still have. I’ll also continue with my podcast and still want to go out and explore the world.

Most importantly, I want to ensure I’ll double down even more in 2024. This past year has taught me that I can achieve more if I focus on one thing and not try to do 100 things simultaneously. Just like Bitcoin, yes, I had to add a pun in here; our time on this planet is finite. You shouldn’t waste it and get the most out of it.

With that in mind, I wish you an excellent start to the new year and hope you’re making the best of it!