Being a kid is great! I long for those days when the only worry in the world I had was to make sure that I got home in time for dinner when I was out playing with my friends. I loved being a kid and thinking about all those times that I simply had fun. But sometimes, it was also challenging and stressful to be a kid.
One of the things that I remember that caused me a lot of angst was when it came time to being picked for a team at recess. When I was in grade school, or primary school, as some people call it, we used to play football, baseball, basketball and kickball every recess. Kickball was the one we played the most.
I’m not sure how your kickball (or other game) started, but ours started with two captains and each captain taking turns to choose who they want on their team. No kid wanted to be the last one picked. I didn’t have the strongest leg so I was often picked near to last.
I remember the feeling of embarrassment and sometimes shame when so many others got picked before me. I also remember that how the feeling motivated me as I tried extra hard during the games to show the other team that they should’ve picked me.
As I got older and my leg got stronger, I remember I was not always the last or near to last to be picked. While filled with a sense of pride or accomplishment I still felt for the younger kids as they looked down to the ground while other names were called before them. On the occasion that I was one of the team captains, I tried to remember that feeling and made sure that I mixed up my picks so that those that were usually pick last were sometimes picked close to the top.
It was a great feeling to be chosen!
Another example of the thrill of being picked as a kid was when my best friend, Micheal, called me up one day and asked if I wanted to join his club. I had no idea what he was talking about but of course I said yes… Because that’s what you do when someone wants you, right? I went over to his house and he informed me that his father had built him a treehouse in the backyard, he was starting a club and wanted me to be a member.
I don’t remember what the club’s name was nor do I remember what we did in that treehouse or who else was in the club. I just remember the feeling of joy when I was chosen to be part of his club and getting to see my name scratched into the wall of that treehouse as part of the group. I wonder if that treehouse is still standing and if my name is still etched on its wall.
Being part of a team or a clubhouse or really just being wanted is such an incredible feeling, especially when you’re a kid who just wants to fit in and not be left out.
As I got older, that feeling didn’t change. When I got my first job in high school it was like I was chosen to be part of that work team. Later on in college, I was selected to be part of a fraternity and that was such a great feeling knowing those guys wanted me to be part of their group.
When I got married, my wife’s family welcomed to me into their family as if I had always been the member and they were waiting for me.
I could go on and on about the different groups that I was selected to be part of, but the common thing is that I was selected to be part of something.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
I have mentioned in previous blog posts that I am testing several theories with my online business. One of the things I am doing is creating content that I can post on the TikTok platform. While posting my content has been very rewarding and often times fun, my main goal is to obtain the required number of followers so that the platform will let me join something called TikTok Shop for Creators.
This part of TikTok will allow me to monetize the platform by suggesting products and services that might be beneficial to those that follow me and to those who are scanning through content on the platform. What the platform wants to know before you are selected to be able to be part of this monetization area is that you are a dedicated user, committed to the platform and interested in providing value to those who view your video content.
For this reason, the platform requires you to get a lot of followers. In my case, the number of followers that is required was 5,000! I remember thinking, how in the world am I going to get 5,000 people to follow me? It really felt like climbing a tall mountain in a rain storm! To me this seemed almost impossible, but I was motivated, and I began creating content and getting followers.
I heard that TikTok will sometimes allow people to participate and use TikTok Shop for Creators when they haven’t reached the required number of followers. This exception is usually made when the moderators of the platform see that you are committed and making a sincere effort to promote the platform. They must have liked what they saw with me because once I got to just over 3000 followers, they invited me to join TikTok Shop for Creators!
I was beyond thrilled! I remember having that same feeling I had when I was a kid and was selected to be part of a team. I felt like I was now in the club.
I had just gone through TikTok Shop for Creators training with my mentor and was ready to apply all that I learned to start promoting products that would be beneficial for my followers and other people on the platform. From what I remembered, it was not complicated, but I didn’t quite remember everything so I am in the process now of re-watching some of the training.
I can’t wait to choose products and promote items that will be beneficial to you should you wish to see them and see my content. I don’t have any products now, but if you wish you can get an idea of my personality by visiting my TikTok account and seeing some of my content HERE. But beware, most of the stuff that I produce is a little silly and a little random. You’ll see if you choose to go view. 😊 As I begin to become successful with this new monetization tool, and I am more than confident that I will be successful, I’ll keep you updated and I welcome your thoughts and questions.
I’m curious, how do you persist and stay motivated when it seems like you have a task to complete that feels impossible. Getting the number of followers that I needed seemed to be out of reach, but I did not give up.
OK, that’s enough ramble for me plus it’s time that I go create another silly video, get more followers and learn how to promote product.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
Making TikToks is harder than it looks. I just spent 45 minutes lip-syncing to a 10-second audio… and I still got it wrong!!”
Me: “I’m gonna be productive today.” Also me: Spends 4 hours making a TikTok no one asked for.
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Hey, Ernie!
Congratulations on becoming a TikTok creator! BTW, I get a kick out of your Daditude videos! Especially the ones with your wife! I like Madela’s quote that it always seems impossible til it’s done. Isn’t that the truth? In that situation, I think what’s the next baby step and focus the next ten minutes on that. I even got a timer to help me focus. I can certainly do one small thing for ten minutes. When it seems more possible, I’ll work for 20 or 25 minutes, shake it off, and head back in for another dive. That timer helps me! But when it’s absolutely overwhelming, I just do ten and then another ten. Baby steps 😁!
Hi Nakina – Thank you for your visit and for your comments! I appreciate your visits to my TikTok channel and for your well wishes. I still have a long way to go but I’m enjoying the process. Baby Steps are the key for understanding and appreciating success. It’s a lesson in patience that I am learning to embrace. I like your ideas regarding spending short nuggets on time on projects. I do believe this will help prevent burnout and can invite fresh ideas with a fresh brain. Thank you for your thoughts!
This post hit me right in the nostalgia! I totally remember that feeling of waiting to be picked for a team—such a mix of nerves and excitement. Fortunately, sport was the one thing I was good at so I was always quietly confident, math teams- another story! And you’re so right, that feeling of being chosen never really goes away. It’s awesome to hear how you pushed through on TikTok and got that invite before even hitting 5K followers—proof that effort and consistency pay off! Looking forward to seeing how your TikTok Shop journey unfolds. I KNOW its going to be amazing for you.
Hi Sarah – Thank you for your visit and for your very nice comments. It is such a great feeling when you get picked and now that I’ve been picked to be on the TikTok platform I need to get to work. I’m not going to slow pace it but I’m going to take my time to ensure that I do it correctly and that I comply with their requirements. I enjoy your videos as well and want to copy your success! Have a great week, my friend!
Hi Ernie,
I love this! It’s such a great reminder of how good it feels to be chosen and be part of something. Your story about kickball and the treehouse club really took me back to childhood memories. And congrats on getting into TikTok Shop for Creators before hitting 5,000 followers, that’s amazing! It just shows that hard work and consistency pay off. Can’t wait to see how you grow from here! Keep going!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Thank you for your very kind and warm thoughts. I was really happy to be invited to the shop and now I need to get to work making videos and promoting appropriate products that would not only support my niche but add value to others. I may be calling on you from time to time as I really not only enjoy your content, but I can see how you take care to make it professional and valuable. Have a great week!
Love this story and the full-circle moment of being ‘picked’—from childhood games to TikTok Shop for Creators! 🎉 It’s such a great reminder that persistence and showing up consistently pay off, even when the goal feels out of reach. Your journey proves that sometimes, just putting in the effort gets you noticed before you even hit the official milestones. Can’t wait to see what’s next for you! What’s been the most surprising thing about growing your TikTok following?
Hi Allison! Thank you so much for your visit and comments to my blog post. I was instantly reminded when I was asked to be part of this club of my youth. It’s funny that that’s how my mind works. As you have seen in my other blog posts I always correlate a personal story with my business. Just me! The most surprising thing about growing my following was seeing how quickly people may unfollow. That is something that I don’t get and wonder what I may have done or not done to keep them as followers. Anyway, it’s not discouraging, it’s just strange. Have a great week, my friend!
First of all, congratulations! Is there a limit as to how many promotional videos you can do every day or do you have to wait until you have 5000 subscribers or followers to go Full Monty? In any case, being chosen, reminds me of a story. I was the understudy for a major role in “The Importance Of Being Earnest” in high school. Unfortunately I wanted the main role and was not sufficiently grateful for being the understudy.
A few days before the opening production, my understudy status became real because the lead came down with a lethal illness and eventually died.
I had a choice: To feel guilty or do the best that I could possibly do or all of the above? Sometimes “dreams that come true” are accompanied by challenges and loss. Life is like that.
Hi Kate – Thank you for your visit to my blog post, your comments and your kind regards! Your story regarding being chosen to be the lead instead of the understudy in a major role is so interesting. The highs, the lows and finally the opportunity. I have no doubt that even though your selection to the role was a result of something tragic, you excelled! Thank you again for your visit and have a wonderful week!
Hey Ernie! Awesome you have been chosen in the TikTok shop team! I look forward to see you on video selling things. Your videos are so funny, now you are going to play a slightly different game but I can bet they will be as fun to watch😂. I got a new professional job since 2weeks now and I understand that feeling of being chosen because It happened to me recently. This is a nice feeling being the one they chose within many candidates.
Wish you the best on TikTok shop!
Martin
Hi Martin! Thank you very much for your nice comments and for your visit to my blog post. I really do enjoy making my videos and now I need to evolve into making shop videos. To try to find the balance between being funny and providing content to those wishing to see my products and services. Congratulations on your new job! I am so happy for you and look forward to hearing of your success at your work site as well as your success online!