Life has become all about work. Nothing else really came to my mind to write about. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Working is good, of course. But what was it that I wanted to do, and what am I doing now? I think it was around 12–13 years old when I first started making educational videos and similar content on YouTube. Since then, my journey with creating and publishing content has continued.
But along the way, there were shifts: at 6 years old, I wanted to be a commercial airline pilot; a bit later, I dreamed of becoming a military pilot; during university years, I studied computer engineering; and just six months before graduation, I stepped into the media industry.
Now, I’m about to complete my fifth year in this field professionally. In 2023, I turned 30. And now 2024 is ahead of us. You might say, “What’s the difference between one day earlier or later?” But have you ever felt this way: let’s say you need to input 500 entries into Excel. Isn’t it more productive to say, “I’ll do 100 entries in one sitting before I stop,” rather than randomly sitting down and working whenever you feel like it?
Of course, having clear goals and focus makes it faster.
Think of it like this: 2023 is 500 entries, and we complete them step by step. 2024 is another 500, maybe 1000 entries. That’s why I like to see each year as a package. It changes how I look at the year—monthly goals, weekly goals, daily goals.
I am grateful for how this year turned out. But my hope is to work as if death will never come, while living as if I might die tomorrow—balancing this world and the Hereafter. My biggest struggle right now? Could it be my job—social media itself? Writing this makes me reflect on whether it’s really a problem for me.
Work this year has been intense, especially with the launch of a new platform. The responsibility and workload grew heavily. Everything revolves around social media—tracking trends, managing the team’s progress, producing content. From the outside, people might think, “Oh, you just prepare a video and post it.” But in reality, it’s far more complicated.
We grew the platform into one of the top two most engaging digital platforms in Turkey within 6–7 months (out of about 10 platforms in the country). That brings satisfaction, of course. And being someone who enjoys working, I’ve often worked 18-hour days. Not 18 hours of hanging around—literally working. Eating twice a day at most, usually in front of my computer, and sleeping 6 hours. The rest is pure work.
The meaning in my work keeps me motivated, but when creativity fades and monotony sets in, it becomes tough. And right now, my creative spark feels low. I’ve stopped producing my own projects, and starting again is always hard. I’ve gone through this cycle of stopping and restarting 3–4 times before 30, so I know I can get back up—but still, the discipline I show in my workplace is hard to apply to my personal goals. I’ll find a way though.
Outside of work, this year was good travel-wise. I visited New York, and also Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro. Six countries in total. Those breaks were refreshing. I joined many sets, galas, and events in the media industry and probably met around 50–60% of the celebrities in Turkey. Though that didn’t really benefit me personally, it was an experience. I tried creating Twitter-exclusive content but didn’t keep it consistent. We launched Turkey’s digital platform. Built a racing drone. Attended my first basketball game.
Looking back at my Instagram stories, I noticed something: maybe the earthquakes and the situation in Palestine this year left me more somber, pushing me to focus only on work. But then I realized: such events should push me to work harder and be more useful. Maybe that’s why I’m even writing this blog post—to push myself back into a more creative, productive space.
Because if I don’t make time for myself, to explore new things, I’ll eventually stagnate. Producing will stop, and I’ll just be repeating my past achievements without adding anything new. Think of people like Mimar Sinan, Ibn Sina, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, or today’s Selçuk Bayraktar, Elon Musk… What inspires me about them is their discipline and openness to continuous growth. Writing this also makes me realize I haven’t read much about them. If I did, maybe I’d find a turning point of inspiration. Reading is crucial.
And surrounding yourself with the right people matters. If you spend time with those who chase goals and push themselves, you’ll naturally move forward at the same pace. That’s why it’s important to sit with people who are open to growth. But don’t forget the balance with the Hereafter. Otherwise, life becomes an endless chase: A, then D, then P, then Z—and at some point, you’ll wonder, “Why?”
Balance is key. Without it, we may leave this life with regret.
So, may 2024 bring happiness, good intentions, health, and well-being to us all. Don’t forget to set goals. Without them, I personally fall apart—everything feels meaningless. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but if you want to try, it’s your life.
Stay well, and may Allah protect you.
