Priorities, priorities, priorities...

I look back at the past 3 months and see 1 published blog. Argh!

It haunts me, yet it makes sense. There’s a proper time and place for one to exercise creative freedom and in that moment, go all in. Pedal to the metal. Otherwise, retreat. It’s like watching Leo Messi play soccer — he walks around the pitch but when the time is right he outmaneuvers the entire roster of the opposing team.

From the moment of my final daily blog in Charlottesville until now (except that miscellaneous Kimchi blog), I decided to go dark.

____

Before I go on — I want to notify you of a new blog I started. Same me writing — just a bit more about work than food, Please subscribe by clicking the link above and entering your email!

Then keep reading below!

____

Over the past few weeks, I’ve felt an urge to start writing again. In September when I moved into NYC (Stuyvesant Town in particular!), I started making acute observations and drafted up some blogs, but for some reason held myself from pressing publish.

My favorite component of the September drafts was talking with a distributor of homemade Seltzer Water to Russ and Daughters for their infamous Egg Nog. Apparently, that man’s family has been manufacturing and delivering this seltzer water throughout Russ & Daughters 112 year existence. Wild!

Why write now?

Before I get there, let me catch you up on a few things:

On a public facing note — I released 2 YouTube videos:

I have also been fermenting foods in my apartment. So far Kimchi (came out better than expected), Sauerkraut, Cherry Peppers, and Sour Pickles. Not to mention the quick-pickled onions, ginger, and cucumbers (Grillo’s Style) in the fridge. Moderate obsession. Many mason jars purchased. Cheaper than you’d think.

My Inner Career Dilemma

I’ve been debating writing about this but something I’ve continuously told myself since ‘22 is every time you share your thoughts, you can change someone’s life. Also what is the downside? For real — like worst case scenario? Someone tells their friend about my struggles. Yeah I can open up.

I’ll be direct. I’m in a funny spot right now. I moved into NYC. I’ve been operating a video production agency for the past 1.5 years. I have honestly hit a plateau in September after taking off July / August (as mentioned in previous blogs) and had to make a decision: if I don’t want to grow my video production business, how do I want to earn income?

After a tremendous amount of internal debate, I decided to open myself up to a full time job. Everyone around me has been tremendously supportive. It’s been 7 years since I’ve really looked for work. Wild!

So technically this made me unemployed — which by definition means without a paid job, but able and looking for work.

In the future, I will definitely write about my experiences as an unemployed single 27 year old in New York City as a guide to help those who happen to find themselves in a similar position to the September/October 2025 version of myself. It’s a title I’m proud to have lived and will look back at the time as a pivotal moment in my career. I’m certain of it.

I’ve been interviewing and will hold myself from going deep here (feel free to reply and I’m happy to open up privately), but I mention this to bring up the prioritization dilemma.

SO what am I optimizing for?

If sustainable $$$ around meaningful work is what I want to optimize my life for in the present moment, is there room for creative work?

For weeks, I told myself nope, which is why over the past 3 weeks you can see no recent YouTube videos posted on @extravirginguy.

I told myself, go all in finding your income muse.

Ironically, I went all in $$$, and what happened? I felt lost, unproductive, and wanting to create. In fact my favorite part about that period of time was creating documents outlining how company X can do Y thing better. Many of these documents covered improving brand-specific YouTube channels — a newfound interest of mine. Exercising the real-world creative ability was fulfilling.

But sending in applications, reaching out to recruiters and alumni? Not so much.

Funny enough, part of the reason I want to put myself in a full time role is to reignite a desire to create on the side. That has proven to be correct (I guess?).

Which brings me here. I have a desire to create, but I have a constraint of seeking consistent income. Different than how I felt both during the olive oil days and this summer as food factory videographer.

That constraint has altered my creative expression. Though I will ALWAYS be super interested in food and wanting to teach people about food and eventually launch more cool food products and perhaps even do olive oil again. Never forget that :)

Adjusted Form of Content

Today I felt a strong push to write about something I’ve been secretly learning and reading about for years as a consumer but oftentimes held back those thoughts from my @extravirginguy identity. In general I’ve wanted to keep @extravirginguy constrained to food-related endeavors. How-to videos, fun experiences like in Little Italy, and cool food products I come across or create. This blog is part of the @extravirginguy network.

Typically I don’t share new personal discoveries DAY OF to several hundred people but at the same time I look back at 2025 and I pretty much did this every day for 70 something days straight. I may not be comfortable sharing things to my LinkedIn network, but to you.. my loyal readers! I must be.

A Blog is Born

Anyway I discovered a desire to create content around thought leadership and helping people do meaningful work (namely around personal branding online). Most personal branding people are oftentimes financially wealthy and proven success stories. I am not that, but I also don’t care. If I can inspire just 1 person, it’s worthy to share. So that’s what I am doing.

We’ll see how this ages — remember the job application thing. I have no control of interviews and offers that come my way, but I do have control of the way I spend my time while awaiting these results.

And with that, I created a Substack account today and am sharing with you a new blog about doing meaningful work.

Something that I learned throughout my experiences from a young kid until now is that certain work has been very meaningful, certain work has made me a lot of money, and I’m on a mission to find work that does both and ultimately bring me happiness. As I embark on that mission myself, I share the wisdom I’ve accumulated and lessons I continue to learn to help others (like you) do the same.

Thank you for reading. I’m excited to be back writing again!

-Jack

PS I will continue to write here on Beehiiv. I just wanted to share the new blog for people interested in doing meaningful work and even perhaps improving their personal brand online.

You guys are the best. Over the past 3 months so many of you have randomly come up to me and complimented my work. The most unexpected of you guys. Thank you for that. It means the world. For real.

Good night.