A couple of challenges. I’ve noticed that when I blog, I like the relative anonymity. I can discuss what I really think about things- that’s generally desirable.
However, there’s a paradox because if I am too blunt, A. It’s entertainment value rises and B. It becomes more indicting. He thinks that?!? Leaving low-hanging fruit out there seems risky, especially in a cut-throat environment.
So, the question becomes whether it’s possible to both write a truly entertaining blog absent the shackles of corporate life.
Some options. Lean into the controversy. Work at a think tank that supports your general perspective, and be professional enough on enough topics that people respect it. Essentially, choose a firm that respects your overton window. The problem, what if the opportunities in front of you don’t neatly correspond to a worldview that’s easily monetized.
Part of being an evangelist is the idea that there’s a paycheck at the end of it. If your worldview is weird enough, I doubt you’ll get money. For instance, incels are probably not going to pay proponents of their worldview, so you are back to square one on that front.
Another option is further anonymity/pseudonymous identities. This approach seems to be the best available for early-mid stage careers. It allows you to develop your writing identity without having to publicly own all of your positions. If your blog ages well, you can claim it.
One big downside to this approach is that attaching your names to things is generically helpful to show what you’ve been doing, and failing to do so can lead to stagnation. The people knowing it’s you doing the writing is an important part of wanting to blog.
A final way of approaching blogging is to get enough money or start an unrelated business. Having your own wealth means you ultimately can choose who to work with. This idea is naturally appealing, but it comes with the limitation of already being established, and potentially losing business based on your beliefs, but what is there to be done about that?
Isadore Johnson's Website 