" I wholeheartedly believe that influencing will put you so out of touch . "
A former full-time influencer is going viral for sharing the reasons why she left the field of content creation, and I don’t think anyone was expecting to hear what she had to say:
Replying to @abcgail if you stay for this intact video congrats & thank you ! Lmk your thoughts on influencers . I m down to hear it all
In aTikTokwith over half a million views, Maddison Collinge, 28, who goes by@maddison__lynnon the platform, reflects on her decision to quit full-time content creation. “I was a full-time influencer for little over two years, and before that, I had a real job,” she said in the clip. “Well, long story short, I just started making more money doing this [content creation], and I was like more passionate about it, so I was like, ‘Why the heck am I like doing this job?’ Could be doing this [content creation] full-time and like making more money.”
“So I’ve been influencing, content creating, whatever you want to call it for the last couple of years… [There were] a lot of different reasons I decided to go back to work. One of them being, I just got bored. Every single day, I would do the same thing.”
“Of course, you’re working on different projects some days. But, a video concept, a video idea, filming a video, editing a video, it does not take me that long. It does not take me all day… I just felt like I just wasn’t fulfilled, I, I didn’t feel like I was filled with passion, I didn’t feel like I was helping anybody, I didn’t feel like a, like a purpose, really,” Maddison explained.
“Completely relate to this. I haven’t let go of working for a multitude of reasons but sometimes influencing feels so meaningless tbh.”
“This is my exact thought process, I’m a full-time student, work and record my life on the side, I feel like doing this full-time wouldn’t fill my cup.”
“That’s exactly how I felt and that’s why I decided to go back to school and get an interior design degree already having a bachelor’s in biz so I could work in something creative that’d fulfill me.”
Further, commenters were praising Maddison’s transparency and her refreshing take on the subject of influencing as a full-time job:
“This is such an interesting and unique perspective that I have so much respect for. Good for you! Not many ppl would challenge themselves this way.”
Others also pointed out how some don’t often view full-time content creation as a career people can grow out of:
“People are forgetting that being a content creator is another career that you could potentially not like. Just [like] how you want to leave your job when you’re not stimulated mentally.”
To learn more about the current state of content creation, BuzzFeed spoke to Maddison, now a social worker, about how her life has changed since she left full-time content creation and what advice she would give others who are looking to do the same:
The 28-year-old explained, “My 9-to-5 makes me feel like I have a purpose outside of myself. I feel like my content is very ‘me’ focused, and in my 9-to-5, I get to focus on others.”
" My most late position back at a 9 - to-5 was a abbreviate travel position in a infirmary as a societal worker . It was eight calendar week long . My situation may look a little unlike than someone now in a full - clip billet . But speak from my experience , getting to go back short full term was my perfect billet . It bring home the bacon me with a unlike routine ; I was able-bodied to palpate a sense of determination in something else again ; it was neat sharing the experience with my interview . And when the contract bridge terminate , I feel a new sparkle and motive for my societal culture medium again . "
When asked if she believes more influencers will choose a 9-to-5 job as time passes, she said, “I think as the influencer market continues to change, there is a strong possibility that more influencers will continue to keep a 9-to-5 or additional job on top of influencing. Personally, I feel it provides a good balance of routine, income/stability, social activity, etc.”
“I think people think because you work on your own time, you don’t have anyone telling you what to do, it’s extremely flexible. I think for some, this sounds like a dream. Of course, who wouldn’t want such a flexible schedule? But it also takes a ton of self-discipline, which I was not prepared for and still struggle with occasionally.”
She also shared her take on the future of influencing, “This is just a prediction, but I definitely see creation getting more personal and less ‘consumer-y.’ Focusing on more experiences and real life than products. But I also think product promotion will always be around. "
Finally, if other influencers are considering whether they should return to a 9-to-5 job, Maddison says, “Maybe try something part-time first to see if it’s something you really want to get yourself into. Part-time might actually be the perfect mix of being back at a ‘regular job’ while also having time and energy to create content. But balancing a full-time job and influencing is definitely achievable. Go for it!”
You can keep up with Maddison onTikTok.
