Soft 18 in blackjack often confuses players because it looks finished when it is not. You see an 18, your brain reads “safe,” and then the dealer’s upcard changes the decision. That is why this hand creates so much hesitation. A hard 18 is a made total. A soft 18 carries flexibility because the ace can fall back to 1, which means the hand can absorb another card without immediate danger. The number looks settled, but the hand is still alive.That tension matters because fast decisions tend to lean on pattern recognition, not slow calculation. Research on decision-making under stress shows how pressure can narrow attention and make people default to the first interpretation. Soft 18 invites that mistake. The first interpretation is “I have 18, so I should stand.” The better interpretation is “I have a flexible 18, so the dealer’s card decides how active this hand should be.”

Where the Hand Starts Making Sense

The fastest way to make soft 18 feel clearer is to stop treating it like a single rule and start treating it like a cluster. In many common blackjack charts, soft 18 presses against lower dealer cards, usually stands against 7 or 8, and turns into a hit against 9, 10, or ace. The exact detail can shift with table rules, but the mental picture stays useful. Soft 18 is not a “strong 18.” It is a flexible hand that asks whether the dealer looks weak enough to pressure, neutral enough to hold, or strong enough that improvement matters.If you want to see that pattern in a real blackjack setting instead of leaving it as a sentence on a page, one practical move is to play blackjack online games. This blackjack page brings together 8 real-money blackjack variations, including Classic Blackjack, Double Deck Blackjack, Single Deck Blackjack, and European Blackjack, and it also notes that players can test strategy before playing for real.That matters here because soft 18 is easier to learn through repeated comparisons than through one-off memorization. You can watch how the same total behaves against a dealer 6, then a dealer 8, then a dealer 10, and the hand starts to feel less like a trap and more like a pattern. The point is not speed for its own sake. The point is getting enough repetition that the decision stops feeling dramatic. Once the structure becomes familiar, you are not staring at “18” anymore. You are reading a flexible hand against a specific dealer story. That is the moment where playing blackjack online becomes useful as practice, not just exposure.You might also find this video on basic strategy useful. It uses soft 18 as a clear example of a hand people think they know until the pace picks up. The value of the video is that it shows how to turn a slippery rule into something you can recall under mild pressure, which is exactly the problem soft 18 tends to expose.

Why Soft Hands Feel Harder Than Hard Totals

A hard total tells you what it is. A soft total tells you what it might become. That difference sounds small, but it changes how people think at the table. With a hard 18, the hand already feels complete. With soft 18, the same total contains two meanings at once: it is respectable, but it is also unfinished.Furthermore, soft 18 sits near several border decisions. Those are always the hardest hands to learn because one dealer card can move the correct play. The dealer’s 8 may invite patience, while the dealer’s 9 demands more activity. That shift can feel unfair when you are still learning, but it is also why the hand becomes memorable once it clicks. You are no longer memorizing an exception. You are learning to classify the dealer’s upcard into broad groups and react accordingly.

The Real Fix Is Better Recall

Most players do not struggle with soft 18 because it is complicated. They struggle because recognition has not become automatic yet. A strategy chart can explain the rule, but the hand only becomes comfortable when your eyes stop freezing on the number 18 and start noticing the structure around it. That is why short bursts of focused repetition usually help more than trying to absorb an entire chart in one sitting. That matters at table pace.There is a useful broader lesson in that. Your skill is most likely to improve when practice sharpens your understanding, instead of you simply repeating the same answer mindlessly. An open-access study on skill acquisition and repetition makes that point well: learning strengthens when practice forces cleaner recognition from one trial to the next. Soft 18 is a perfect blackjack example. Once you learn why 7, 8, 9, 10, and ace do not belong in the same mental bucket, the hand stops feeling tricky and starts feeling readable.

Online casinos once felt very static. Early versions were simple websites filled with rows of very simple games. Players logged in and picked something to play. That was usually the end of the experience. Some would say that the environment often felt anonymous and distant when online casinos were finding their feet.

Developers quickly worked out that digital platforms could offer something more engaging than just a list of games. Technology made it possible to add a lot of personal and small details that help players feel less like anonymous users when they log on to play. Plenty of online casinos now focus heavily on these personal touches. Interaction is a huge part of their end goal.

Live Dealer Games Bring A Human Element

One of the biggest changes arrived with live dealer games. Many casinos now stream real tables from professional studios with games that exist alongside those with digital interfaces. Real dealers run the games while players watch through live video. People who play live casino games online will know that it can feel closer to the experience of visiting an in-person casino.

This small change has a surprisingly large impact on how the games feel. Watching a real person deal cards adds a sense of presence that animated graphics cannot easily match. The pace of the game also becomes more natural because the dealer controls the flow.

Many live tables also include chat features where players can communicate with the dealer or interact with others watching the same game. Even a simple greeting from a dealer can make the experience feel less distant.

Different tables often have their own atmosphere as well. Some dealers maintain a relaxed conversational style and some keep things more formal and focused. Players sometimes return to particular tables simply because they enjoy the personalities behind the game.

That human element is one of the reasons live dealer games have grown so quickly in recent years. People also take to social media to discuss these games and share stories and even tips about games like blackjack.

Personal Game Recommendations

Another way casinos add a personal touch is through game recommendations. Large platforms may host hundreds or even thousands of games. It can feel overwhelming at first glance.

Modern systems now help organize those choices. By looking at the games someone plays most often, the platform can suggest similar titles. This works in a similar way to the science and algorithms behind other personalized recommendations on platforms like Amazon.

A player who enjoys blackjack might see other table games appear in their recommendations. Someone who prefers slot games may discover new titles with similar themes or features.

These suggestions help players find games they might otherwise miss. The result feels closer to browsing a personalized entertainment library (like choosing a new Netflix show to watch) rather than scrolling through a long catalogue.

Customized Bonuses And Promotions

Personalization also appears in how promotions are offered. Some casinos tailor bonuses to different types of players.

These customized promotions make the experience feel more relevant. These offers connect more directly to what the player actually enjoys. We’ve seen similar personalization on social media. It is one of the big trends of the modern age.

Profiles And Personal Identity

Online platforms increasingly allow players to personalize their accounts through profiles or avatars. This can help create a sense of identity within the casino environment.

Some platforms even track achievements or milestones. Completing certain challenges or reaching activity levels can unlock badges or titles within the account profile. 

These touches transform the casino space from a simple game library into something that feels closer to a community.

Smarter Interfaces And Easier Navigation

Personal touches are not always obvious features. Sometimes they appear in the design of the platform itself.

Modern online casinos often remember favorite games and display them quickly on the homepage. A player who regularly returns to the same title might see it pinned in a personal section.

Search systems also adapt to make browsing easier. Instead of long scrolling pages, categories and filters allow players to narrow down the game list quickly.

This kind of design reduces friction. The experience becomes smoother because the platform learns which games matter most to each player. Stats strongly suggest that the UX interface makes a big difference to the player experience.

Seasonal Events And Themed Experiences

Many online casinos now host seasonal events or themed promotions. These can range from holiday tournaments to limited-time challenges built around specific games.

These events create moments where the platform feels alive and changing rather than static. New decorations or mini competitions can refresh the environment and encourage players to explore different games.

Online casinos want to feel less like automated systems and more like interactive environments. This is a way to build a more personal connection with their base of players.

Most beginners stall because every table game looks “learnable” until you actually sit down. The shortest rules do not always feel easiest. What matters is mental load: how often you must decide, how fast the game moves, and how much you need to track at once. Pick your first game around that, and learning stops feeling like guesswork.

The 3-Variable Fit Test

Use three variables to choose a starting point quickly. Decision density is how often you must actively choose an action, instead of placing a wager and waiting. Pace is how quickly those moments arrive. Information load is how much you track at once, like hand totals, optional side choices, or a multi-step round sequence. These variables explain why two “simple” games can feel completely different in real play, even if both are easy to explain. The way you filter them and your personal preferences have a big impact on how they feel to you.

To make the choice real, run a 10-minute micro-test. Set a timer, then play two quick rounds each of blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and craps. Track three notes: how many active choices you made, how rushed you felt, and how much mental space the game took while you waited. A consistent practice setting helps because you can reset quickly and compare feelings without extra friction. For example, this table collection of online casino games lets you open those four formats from one place and use Practice mode to play without wagering.

As you test, pay attention to where decisions cluster: blackjack asks you to choose actions in most hands, baccarat keeps choices minimal, roulette puts most thinking into your initial bet selection, and craps asks you to follow a round sequence. If your notes point to a clear favorite, repeat the same timer test inside online casino games on another day to confirm the fit.

Once you have a frontrunner, your next decision becomes practical: do you like the overall experience of practising there? That includes how easy it is to keep sessions smooth and what players tend to notice once they settle into a routine. If you want a quick example of that kind of feedback, this Instagram post shares a short testimonial that highlights payout speed and helpful customer support. This kind of thing can help you identify a platform that suits your needs and preferences.

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What Each Game Rewards

Blackjack rewards attention and repetition. If you enjoy frequent choices and you like improving through small, consistent corrections, blackjack is a strong first focus.

Baccarat rewards calm consistency. If you prefer a low-decision rhythm where you can stay relaxed and simply follow the flow, baccarat often fits well as a first table game.

Roulette rewards restraint first, then personal style. Beginners do best when they pick one bet style and repeat it long enough to learn the cadence.

Craps rewards learning a sequence. If you enjoy momentum and you do not mind learning a round structure, craps can be a satisfying focus once the phases feel familiar.

A 7-Day Focus Rule That Works

Overthinking returns when you keep switching games. The way out is a short commitment that gives your brain enough repetition to form patterns.

Pick the game that felt clearest in your micro-test and do one short Practice mode session per day for 7 days. Keep it small enough that you actually repeat it.

If you chose roulette, keep your bet style the same for the full week so you learn the game’s natural rhythm. If you chose baccarat, focus on staying consistent and noticing how calm the pace feels. If you chose craps, focus on learning the phase order of a round until the flow feels obvious.

At the end of 7 days, ask yourself a question: Does the game feel quieter in your head than it did on Day 1? If yes, keep going. If not, run the micro-test again and choose the next best fit.

When Two Games Feel Tied

Break ties with another question: do you want to practise decisions or practise observation and computational thinking?

If you want decisions, choose blackjack. If you want observation and a steady pace, choose baccarat. If you want flexibility from simple to detailed, choose roulette. If you want a structured sequence and lively tempo, choose craps.

You do not need a perfect pick. You need a first pick you can repeat. 10 minutes of testing plus 7 days of practice is enough to make the right next step obvious.

Why Similar Rules Feel Different At The Table

Two games can have equally short rulebooks and still feel worlds apart because difficulty is largely about attention, not memorization. Blackjack creates frequent decision points, so your brain stays engaged with every hand. Baccarat has a fixed drawing structure, so most of the mental effort is simply tracking what happened, not choosing actions. Roulette concentrates choices at the start of each round, then gives you downtime while the wheel resolves, which many beginners experience as calming. Craps runs in phases and uses shared table calls, so the challenge is following the sequence and the table language, even when the core bets are straightforward. This is why “easiest” is usually a match between pace and focus style, not raw rules alone.

Data analytics is quietly weaving itself through the online casino world, shaping decisions far away from the spotlight. What once felt like a static space, log in, play, log out, now moves and shifts in real time based on the trails users leave behind. Operators watch, listen, and learn from each bet and click. Instead of blind guesses, there's a map taking shape beneath every interaction, connecting personal preferences with site layouts, tailored offers, even the games themselves.

Gone are the days when gambling sites simply hosted games and waited. In 2024, both industry giants and smaller upstarts lean heavily on data, to hold their ground, to anticipate players' next moves, to keep up with a market that won’t stop evolving. Sites such as Betinia’s online casino website demonstrate how contemporary operators invest in data-driven methods to enhance customer satisfaction and sustain business momentum.

Analytics at the Core of Casino Operations

Sophisticated data use runs deep in this sector, but it isn't all futuristic dashboards and cold calculations. At its core, operators are parsing real-time player actions, session frequency, favorite games, shifting budgets, often translating these patterns into quietly personal touches. Some players see different game suggestions pop up, others notice carefully timed messages or offers. All of this springs from layers of predictive models built on registration details and device habits that users may not think twice about. These aren’t just gimmicks.

Casual or returning players find fewer bumps and less friction, thanks to metrics flagging problematic lags or confusing layouts. Meanwhile, statistics about which games engage longest or which bonuses attract attention give product teams just enough feedback to adjust, sometimes overnight. For those running an, this loop of data and response powers not only drawing in new players but helps keep regulars around. There’s rarely a pause. Operators have learned to watch, tweak, and respond as quickly as trends appear or fade.

Market Shifts and Future Directions 

While numbers splashed across industry reports hint at big things, Grand View Research cites $19.11 billion in 2024, with the market pace expected to double by 2030, the real story is quieter, rooted in strategic adaptation. The niche of casino data analytics alone is growing, with teams scrambling to wring clarity from a messy swell of numbers. Predictive tools now borrowed from tech giants help operators pick up on spikes in demand and push resources where players will be happiest.

Oddly, as the numbers in headlines grow more impressive, the business itself starts to feel almost intimate, knowing players deeply and moving resources moment by moment. Those willing to blend AI, live data feeds, and analytics dashboards aren’t just following a trend. They’re positioning themselves for the next twist, as each new wave of digital users brings even subtler expectations and habits.

Data-Driven Evolution: New Directions and Tools

Fresh uses for analytics keep cropping up, nudging the sector in unexpected ways. AI now steers content recommendations and realigns marketing budgets mid-campaign if patterns shift. It’s an arms race of sorts, spotting sharper segments, testing new offers, seeing what resonates, then reallocating on the fly. Alongside this arms race comes a growing focus on privacy. It’s become clear that gathering insights can’t come at the expense of user trust, operators are responding by building systems that cut personal exposure but still surface valuable behavior signals.

Cryptocurrencies and blockchain aren’t just payment options anymore, but sources of transparent, detailed activity logs, fodder for analytics teams but also peace of mind for wary customers. All of these tweaks and experiments add up. Markets shift, technology pushes forward, but whoever adapts quickest tends to pull ahead.

Shaping Games and Security with Analytics

Game design has drifted far beyond pure creativity. It is now closely tied to data and constant observation. Developers sift through interaction logs to see what actually holds attention, and just as importantly, where interest starts to fade. Small adjustments follow. Tweaks, updates, quiet changes rolled out while teams watch closely to see what lands and what does not.

Away from the player’s view, analytics also act as an early warning system. Sudden spikes or strange patterns can flag cheating or fraud, allowing security teams to step in quickly and precisely rather than relying on blunt rules that frustrate everyone. The result feels less like occasional inspections and more like continuous fine-tuning. Gameplay stays smoother, and the wider community is better protected without most players ever noticing the work happening underneath.

Responsible Gambling and Ongoing Oversight

As analytics grow more advanced, the balance between commercial goals and player care has become harder to manage. Operators now lean on data models to catch early signs of unhealthy behaviour, stepping in with guidance or limits before situations spiral. Profit still plays a role, obviously, but it now sits next to a stronger sense of responsibility than it once did. Ongoing oversight, grounded in solid data, helps keep the industry steady. It shows that progress in technology does not have to come at the expense of player well-being.

The last time I worked as an employee was back in 1998 when I was 19 years old. It was also the first time I’d take the bus to get to work, have coworkers in an office, and most importantly, have bosses giving me a hard time for spending one extra minute in the bathroom.

So today, I’m going to talk about the stories from my first and last job as an employee at a telephone directory assistance center.

But mostly, I’ll talk about the lessons I learned during the three months I worked as a phone operator and how those lessons made me see life differently, leading me to take a few more risks and do my own thing.

Because I don’t think I’d be where I am today if I had stayed an employee my whole life.

My Dream Life at 19

The period before I started the job at the call center was one of the best in my life.

At 19, I had already taken the university entrance exams once, gotten into the Technological Institute in Kavala, Greece, and was planning to take the exams again to get into the Faculty of Engineering in Thessaloniki, which had been my goal from the start.

Having decided to retake just two out of the four subjects back then, my only real job for that year was to focus on physics and chemistry. That meant about 4 to 5 hours a week in classes at a tutoring center, and maybe another 2 or 3 hours for homework. After that, every other hour of the week was completely mine.

So yeah, you can tell I had a ton of free time back then.

My daily routine during that period consisted of going to the gym, playing video games, and hanging out with friends. I wasn’t learning any other foreign language since I’d already gotten my C2 proficiency certificate in English four years earlier, I wasn’t studying any art, and I definitely wasn’t working. Total slacker!

I sometimes wondered if I was living in a dream!

Why I Suddenly Decided to Get a Job

It must have been around Christmas when my dad told me there was an opening to hire people at the call center where he worked.

“Are you interested?” he asked.

Even today, I still don’t know what made me say yes.

It was probably because I truly felt I had way too much free time and wasn’t contributing much to the family, so it seemed like a chance to make myself useful. And then I thought that, at the very least, I’d make my parents somewhat proud to have a son who was finally going to work for the first time in his life.

It wasn’t about money. I didn’t need cash. My parents were providing everything for me.

I didn’t have any close friends working at the time that could have influenced me either. Maybe I also saw it as just an experience, since I knew the gig at that specific call center wouldn’t last more than three months.

So I told myself: go for it, and if you don’t like it, you’ll be out in three months anyway.

That’s pretty much how I started working for the first and, as it turned out, the last time as an employee.

Answering My Very First Call

The first three days at the call center were training days.

Experienced operators, both men and women who had been working there for years, trained us on how to use the equipment, but mostly on how to handle customers over the phone. There wasn’t any specific book we had to read or a strict protocol to follow, other than a few standard opening lines we’d use when answering a call.

“Hello, directory assistance, this is seat 313, how may I help you?”

Of course, all of that felt overwhelming to an introverted guy like me.

I never regretted dropping out of university 25 years ago. That's what I've been saying lately to the people asking me if I should have gotten the chemical engineering degree. You know, to have a backup plan if things don't go well.

And the truth is, a lot could have gone wrong when you risk your future in one of the most uncertain and misunderstood fields out there: gambling!

Now, more than two decades since I left the engineering classrooms and having changed careers more than 4 times, it's time for another change.

And maybe this one will be the last and the best.

But I definitely don't plan on going back to university desks; the ones I first sat in at 19 years old.

It Was Never My Dream to Become an Engineer

I remember back then, to get into university, in our senior year of high school we filled out the mechanografiko form. Basically, we declared which university department we'd like to get into.

It was March, about 4 to 5 months before taking the exams. So, without even having any idea about our scores, we had to declare the department and the corresponding city where we'd want to study.

At that time, I saw university as an extension of high school. Like gaining, let's say, essentially 4 to 5 or 6 years of carefree life.

Just like I was in school, that's how I'd be as a student. The allowance would come, my parents would support me, and it would be dolce vita for Jim.

So, back then, I'd initially declared all the engineering departments across Greece.

My parents had oriented me more toward engineering – toward science in general, but specifically I thought it was obvious that the goal was Engineering.

During that period, everything piled up at once: I was filling out the mechanografiko, and at the same time my dad decided to buy me a car earlier than usual, because there were rumors about Greece devaluing the drachma, our currency before the Euro.

The plan was to buy me the car when I got into university.

In fact, my mother asked me:

"Hey, my boy, are you sure you'll keep going? Will you be able to study after getting the car? I don't want you to get distracted with the car, and not pay attention to the exams."

To which I said:

"No, of course mom, obviously I'll stay focused on what I have to do."

Inside me, though, the only thing I was thinking was that as soon as the car arrives, I'd go crazy with joy. No way I'd sit down to deal with the lessons.

But from the moment I learned they'd buy me a car, and since it was a week before submitting the mechanografiko, I changed the schools I was declaring. I removed all the ones outside Thessaloniki, to save some expenses for my parents. I wouldn't want to get into another city and burden them financially with rent, since they had already spent on the car.

So, I declared only the schools in Thessaloniki. First the engineering ones and some lower-base ones, so if I didn't get into Engineering, I'd still get into some university class in my city.

And that's how I got into Chemical Engineering in Thessaloniki, almost last! For just about two points, I'd have gotten into Surveying Engineering instead of Chemical.

Once I'd gotten into the University and fulfilled my parents' dreams, life was pretty simple again. I just had to pass the courses. All expenses were covered, and my parents were happy.

But along the way, already from the first year, I began wondering if it was the right choice, and second thoughts started creeping in.

The Student Life Felt Just Like High School All Over Again

Already from the first year as an Engineering student, the course schedule hit me right away: math, physics, chemistry were three of the 5-6 main courses that year. It really bothered me that I had another full year ahead exactly like senior year of high school.

The same subjects I'd studied one or two years earlier just to get in.

These, again?

I was expecting new courses and a completely different life. Instead, I ended up with the same home-school, school-home routine. Only difference was I drove there now and didn't have as much studying.

At least until exams.

But it wasn't just the courses that turned me off.

It was also professors' attitudes and conversations with classmates. Through all that, I started doubting if I'd made the right choice following this path.

The Visit That Made Me Question Everything

It wasn't one specific moment when I decided to drop out of the university. It was gradually, a buildup of experiences that led to it. Just at some point, I said to myself for the first time:

"Probably, in the end, I won't finish it."

And as time passed, I got more and more sure I wouldn't get the degree.

One of the most impactful moments was when they took us to a cheese factory. There I came face-to-face with what a chemical engineer's job could look like. And I didn't like it at all.

Stench and working conditions were just like you imagine. It was a strong shock about what might be waiting for me if I got the degree.

I even discussed it with classmates on the bus ride back. They weren't as shocked as I was, but I remember sitting leaned against the window, looking at the school as we approached the building, thinking:

"No way I'm doing this."

I Looked at the Future – and Didn't Like What I Saw

Another conversation that discouraged me was about salaries in chemical engineering. Basically, how much we could make after finishing university.

We had professors talking about 2-3 thousand as starting salary. At the same time, other professors and engineers already working in factories told us about a thousand euros.

So we were hearing conflicting views and amounts that, personally, didn't satisfy me.

Many classmates saw going abroad as the solution. There, salaries supposedly started at 4,500 to 5,000. Whether those numbers were true, I wasn't in a position to verify. Even today, I don't know if they hold up. But I had another problem.

I didn't want to leave the country.

So I saw the whole thing as climbing a mountain. Gradually, more and more reasons piled up that would stop me from reaching graduation.

Computers – and Money – Were My True Passion

When I finally decided for good to leave university, I'd already started making my own money. And actually more than I'd expect as a chemical engineer.

Now I had no reason to go back.

While I was studying and hearing all these different stories, I started looking for ways to make my own money. But not the traditional way.

My path started with blackjack at casinos. There I began counting cards and managed to win some money for almost a year before they banned me.

Now I would have to start visiting casinos abroad if I wanted to continue as a professional blackjack player, as a pro gambler. Which of course I didn't want.

So I went back to university until I found something else, got my thesis done, but still had 20 to 22 courses left. I hadn't fully dropped it yet.

On the other hand, I'd seen what's out there and how much money you can make. So my mind was on trying other things while I still had time.

While studying and doing my thesis, I got into betting. Searching like crazy for something that worked, I stumbled on trading betting odds.

After 2-3 years as a sports trader and having made even more than from casinos, I'd figured out by then that I wouldn't go back. But I needed that final push. And it didn't take long!

One time I went to renew my student ID. There in the department hallway, the professor in charge of my studies ran into me. The one I'd done my thesis with years earlier. I hadn't seen him in ages.

"What's up Jim? You're still here? What are you doing, either finish it or leave."

So simple! And I left! Just like that, thanks to him!

But my betting strategy started not paying off anymore shortly after. Then came the poker era. Same story there. I was winning until I wasn't.

And from poker, I moved to websites. Blogging, SEO, display ads, and building a career around the business model of writing useful stuff and monetizing traffic.

Websites were more my thing. I'd always wanted to get into computers.

When I filled out the mechanografiko to take university exams, my first choice was Electrical and Computer Engineering, not Chemical. It was, after all, the top department in Engineering in terms of prestige and scores. The hardest to get into.

But when I saw friends studying there, I realized very few got into computers the way I imagined. Most I know ended up in energy, production and transfer of it, or renewables.

So maybe I wouldn't have finished even if I studied there.

I Never Had Doubts About My Decision

Adjusting as a university dropout after finally leaving was easy. And that's because as long as you have income, you don't have second thoughts.

The problem comes when the money tap tightens, when revenue drops and things get tough professionally. Like now with my websites, which had a 75% drop in traffic and consequently in ad revenue.

Of course, I've been here before.

Blackjack, betting, poker – all ended for me at some point. And those periods are the hardest.

You start doubting your decisions.

You look for mistakes that maybe weren't even made. You might even regret getting comfortable in the comfort zone you'd created – working from home alone, not answering to anyone.

But regret university? I never did. I'm sure I wouldn't have been happy following it. I'd end up doing something that didn't fulfill me and constantly wondering "what if..."

I'm a lone wolf type.

I want to do my own things, rely only on my own strength and skills. That's why everything I tried was individual – I never built a team or joined one. That's why I prefer individual sports like swimming and tennis, where my success doesn't depend on teammates.

I never thought "maybe I should have gotten the degree." Not once, even in tough times. Of course now in the hard times, everyone jumps at the chance to remind me. But when everything was running smoothly, no one ever asked.

The Life I Lived – Not the One I Didn't

First off, if I hadn't dropped out of university, I wouldn't have found all the things I've found now. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gone through some moments of absolute happiness – amazing moments that I lived through the things I got into.

I think the happiness and that feeling of success I've experienced a few times wouldn't have come my way on that other path.

Of course, that's a big statement – don't bite off more than you can chew, as they say. Maybe there too I would've felt successful at some point, depending on what I might have achieved as a chemical engineer.

All that aside, I know I've been happy for a really long time with my decisions.

I have complete freedom to do whatever I want. For 20-25 years now, my schedule is whatever I decide. I wake up without an alarm, just from the excitement I have to get up in the morning and dive into what truly fulfills me. What truly excites me.

I doubt I'd have that as a chemical engineer.

Not saying chemical engineers can't have those moments. I just believe that I wouldn't have with my personality.

So I think I chose a path that gave me things I couldn't have had if I had finished university. And it's given me moments that are truly unforgettable.

I Didn't Know Why Dropping University Was So Easy for Me – Until This Week

Not finishing university upset my parents quite a bit, I imagine. If I were in their shoes, I'd have been upset, seeing my kid put in all that effort, investing money and time to achieve those things and in the end watching them tear down everything they'd built for so long.

Spilling the milk bucket, as they say.

But I think they're the only ones who were really upset. I don't think anyone else paid much attention to my decision.

For sure my mother was looking forward to hanging the chemical engineering diploma on the wall. Right above my room door, where she's left space next to the school awards, the parade photos I was in, the prizes I won... does any of that stuff have a point, really?

But personally, I don't think I paid any heavy price for what I did.

The most interesting part is something else: how easily I decided to leave university, while how hard it was for me to move from one line of work to another.

How hard it was when the time came to look for something else.

• Like when I stopped blackjack, because they kicked me out of the casino.
• Betting, when suddenly my strategy wasn't working anymore.
• Poker, when the online companies left and stopped accepting players from Greece. Poker was dead for me.

And I discussed this recently with friends. I told them: "Look at this, how easily I decided not to finish university, but how hard it was when the moments came that I had to quit what I enjoyed doing."

I loved playing blackjack in casinos. But the moment came when I told myself: "Man, I can't play here, now what? How do I chase this dream? I have to do this. Yeah, I know there's money there, but how do I play more? You have to do this, you have to do that. Jim, make a decision. No, I can't do it anymore, let’s find something else."

That was way harder than leaving university.

Then with betting: I saw my strategy not working, slowly losing when I'd been winning every day, feeling others were faster than me. The moment came to say, "You know, you can't win anymore. Accept the defeat."

Same with poker: really bad variance, math not holding up, probabilities not working as well as they should, my game had gone bad and I was making mistakes.

Had to say "that's it, poker over."

All those hours you've put in, books you've read, videos you've watched, time you've dedicated. It’s all over, time to throw the towel, leave it behind, and go find something else.

It’s a similar thing about now, with everything I did with websites. I learned how to make money from websites, executed the ideas, got the sites to a good place.

Now the world is changing. AI is coming and I have to change with it. Like before, when the games changed, I had to change too.

Adapt or die.

This is a much harder decision, for me at least, than deciding to leave university.

And when I discussed this the other day with friends, guys and girls, they said:

Back in the day, every Amazon order felt like a celebration: I’d hit “buy” before noon, and the very next day at exactly 3 p.m., the intercom would buzz.

“Mr. Jim, UPS here—a package for you.”

I’d gotten to the point where I’d ask the delivery guy about his wife and the baby. That’s how often he showed up.

I didn’t mind dropping an extra 25-30€ on expedited shipping.

That’s what my impatience cost me.

This year, late November, I decided—for the first time in years—to order with standard, free shipping. It was just some filters I put in front of my camera lenses because the one I had broke. Nothing urgent.

“It’ll take a week, maybe ten days,” I thought.

“I’m not in a hurry.”

I never imagined that one little click would turn into a journey of anxiety, phone calls to the Greek postal service, an AI reading me the exact same thing I was already seeing on my screen, and a package that got “stuck” for 4 days in Athens.

When I finally got it, I realized the 25€ I saved wasn’t just money. It was proof that it was never worth paying in the first place.

How I Ended Up Knowing My UPS Driver Personally

For years, I ordered from Amazon with fast shipping simply because I couldn’t wait.

I was so impatient to get my package as quickly as possible that I’d end up paying an extra 25-30€ on every single order.

Sure, I’d always find good deals on the products themselves, but as long as my finances allowed it, I didn’t mind getting the order in two days at most—and most of the time, it arrived the very next day.🚅

Jim Makos (@jimmakoscom) on Threads

I must be in a lucky streak. Can’t explain it any other way. I was waiting for a package from the post office, but I completely zoned out and hopped in the shower and shave. Something I NEVER do when a delivery’s coming, just in case I miss it. Luckily I remembered right after I finished, otherwise I’d have jumped out of the tub. And literally the second I put on aftershave the intercom buzzes. The delivery guy! Perfect timing. Yes, I get ridiculously excited about these little life wins.

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In fact, during the golden days when my online business was doing really well, the UPS driver had gotten to know me. He’d show up at my house all the time, especially during sale periods like Black Friday. The intercom would ring, and he wouldn't even use my surname:

“Mr. Jim, UPS here—a package for you.”

Eventually, I learned his wife was pregnant, then a while later that she’d given birth, and whenever I saw him after that, I’d ask how the family was doing. We developed a real sense of familiarity.

After Years, I Finally Chose Standard Shipping on Amazon

This year, late November—sale season again—I decided to order some filters I needed for my cameras after one of them had an accident that broke a filter.

After months of not spending any money, I finally decided to loosen the purse strings and ordered the specific filters I’d had in my Amazon cart for months, ever since the one broke while I was on the island of Skyros.

That cart trick helps me track prices and know if a deal is actually worth it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this.

But this time, for the first time in years, I chose standard shipping instead of expedited.

That’s what I heard once while sitting in a café with friends. The conversation was about content creators—the “influencers,” as most people usually call them.

“But is that even a job?” they kept going.

“Come on, I could just go out there showing off clothes or how I spent my vacation.”

For me, someone who probably lives more on the internet than in real life, it seemed like a completely normal job.

In fact, I knew it wasn’t easy to create content if you wanted to take it seriously and expose yourself 10 times a day to people who live to peek into others’ lives through the keyhole.

Jim Makos (@jimmakoscom) on Threads

“That’s contradictory,” they told me today. “You’ve chosen the thing with the biggest exposure, even though you don’t want anyone around, that you want to be alone all day.’ They were talking about me putting myself out there on social media. For me, exposure isn’t new. I’ve been writing publicly on websites for 20 years now. I first showed up on YouTube around 2010. Yes, I want to be alone. But I also want to feel creative. And I want to talk to people who are like me. ❤️ internet

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That didn’t scare me, though. What scared me was that I’d have to do everything perfectly before deciding to put myself out there.

So instead of letting a few more years pass while drowning in overthinking, the switch flipped, and I started. Not timidly—with full force. And I completed a month with over 100 pieces of content uploaded across 5-6 platforms!

The Day I Started Writing Online Every Day

I remember it was October 26, my name day, when I began writing every day on social media. I thought that if I managed to post something every day, I’d always remember the day I started.

I also remember Casey Neistat’s vlog, which was the reason I started taking YouTube more seriously back in 2015. He started his vlog on his birthday. Ever since then, inspired by him, I’d thought, what a great idea to start something on a meaningful day.

So I always had it in mind to start something on my name day or birthday—or any day that felt special, not just some random day.

Of course, I didn’t think I was “starting” something when I hit the button to post my first message that day, simply because it wasn’t my first social media post ever.

Inspiration usually comes at an unexpected moment.

That day, I just felt like writing something and sharing it into the abyss of social networks, the way I’d occasionally done before.

It just happened that I loved the speed at which I shared a few thoughts, and by the end of the day, the idea crossed my mind: “Hmm, let’s try this again tomorrow.” And I got hooked!

It wasn’t like I forced myself out of my comfort zone. It happened completely spontaneously on a Sunday that just wasn’t an ordinary Sunday.

Social Media Won Me Over Instead of Writing on My Blog

I’d always wanted to write more often, wherever that might be. So social media became the place where I could share something quickly.

Write something and have it travel the world immediately.

Of course, social media is rented land, as we say. You never know when they might pull the plug, and all your effort goes to waste.

With that in mind, my goal was to write on my own personal website. But there, I didn’t want to post just a simple text—a paragraph, a random thought that popped into my head.

I wanted to add images, choose catchy headings, make it SEO-friendly, add links, and format the text with bold and italics.

All of that stopped me from sharing a thought when it came. I wanted it to be perfect, or at least not something as rough as a post on X or Threads.

Jim Makos (@jimmakoscom) on Threads

Trying not to be so hard on myself. I just realized that yesterday marked exactly one month of writing online every single day. Yesterday. Not today. I don’t put that much weight on these things. Yeah, it’s a tiny win, a little achievement, but the real win is that I’ve found something I actually enjoy doing. And if I missed a day? The world wouldn’t end. If I had a little shop and closed one day because I was sick, would I go “oh no, I broke my streak”? It’s all part of the game.

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On those platforms, I could write even a single sentence and send it out into the internet. On my blog, that felt impossible. Or at least I didn’t like it—though of course I could have written a one-sentence post.

But I wouldn’t be happy ending up with a blog full of mini-posts.

The Beginning Is Half the Battle

From the very first day, I shared five thoughts—five ideas—on X and Threads. And it felt fantastic!

Every time I finished one, I told myself: “See, it wasn’t hard—let’s do the next.”

I felt incredible freedom turning all the ideas I’d saved as drafts over the previous years into published content. With over 400 thoughts waiting to be posted, I knew I wasn’t short on ideas to create content.

My problem was that I overthought how to share them, why to do it, and what the ideal, most efficient way would be to maximize every detail. That kept me from being consistent about writing online and sharing ideas sporadically—ideas I truly couldn’t keep inside.

By the end of that first day, I remember sitting there proudly looking at my five posts.

And then I did something completely new for me.

I started scheduling the next day’s posts!

That alone felt like it would be enough to keep me going. It would be a shame not to stick with it now that I’d found something that worked.

My Ideas Weren’t Reaching Far Enough

Once I got into the groove of posting my ideas daily on X and Threads, I had time to add more social platforms to my workflow. Where it used to take me an hour to prepare and schedule six posts in a day, now it took half that time—so I wanted to use the extra time to amplify my “voice” even more.

The question now was:

Which platform offered the most leverage?

Clearly, YouTube.

But YouTube is much more focused on video than text. Still, since it’s one of the two core hubs for everything I create online (along with my blog), I wanted to make the most of it.

So I first started cross-posting anything with an image from the other platforms to YouTube. Now my YouTube channel would have daily content in post format, Shorts, and long-form content like podcasts, vlogs, and mini-documentaries on my English channel.

Post van Jim Makos

Building a newsletter and podcast episode at the same time. - Left: the script I read for the podcast - Middle: cutting the video - Right: my blog While I’m…

YouTubeJim Makos

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that everything I create on my English channels, I upload exactly the same content in Greek! But that’s a topic for another episode.

Next, I added Facebook (where quite a few people follow me), Instagram, and finally TikTok to my cross-posting workflow. Those are mostly channels where I repurpose content—pieces from what I’ve already posted elsewhere. My original thoughts, where I always start writing ideas from scratch, are X and Threads, since they’re the most text-focused platforms.

The Worst Social Media Platform

When I decided to share my YouTube Shorts as Reels on Instagram and TikTok, I knew it would add a lot of extra work.

I’ve never drunk coffee in my life. And yet I’ve lived and managed to reach 46! So yeah, it’s possible!

Joking aside, I get that coffee is a daily expense for most people. And it’s the first thing they tell you to cut if you want to get rich in life.

But what does “rich” really mean, and how much money can you actually save? Is coffee the only sacrifice we need to make to get out of our comfort zone?

Are we all just lazy and prefer the easy fixes?

And finally, is switching to hot cocoa instead of coffee the secret to success that will guarantee me a pension when I’m old?

Let’s dive into all that in today’s letter where coffee… gets the spotlight!

Get Rich by Quitting Coffee and Other Fairy Tales 🤦‍♂️

I’ve noticed a lot of buzz lately in the Greek YouTube space (and beyond) about financial influencers. Suddenly, everywhere I look online, I see discussions about the “fairy tales” these “experts” are selling, especially on YouTube.

To my surprise, one fairy tale that everybody’s mocking is: “Quit coffee and in X years you’ll have saved Z amount and you’ll be set for life.”

I didn’t realize this advice had become so widespread. I’d heard it here and there from friends over the years, but I thought they were mostly kidding.

Jim Makos (@jimmakoscom) on Threads

Get rich by skipping coffee! 🤦‍♂️ I’ve been seeing a ton of noise lately about financial influencers in Greece. Everywhere I look online (especially on YouTube), people are tearing into the “fairy tales” these “experts” keep pushing. To my surprise, the one story getting the most hate is the classic: “Skip your daily coffee and in X years you’ll have saved Y amount, then the sky’s the limit.”

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My take on it is this:

It’s way easier for someone to cut a small pleasure, a tiny daily expense, than to get off their butt and earn more.

Who’s out there burning the midnight oil figuring out how to make more money?

It’s obviously much easier to skip that takeaway coffee in the morning. Sure, you can only cut expenses down to a certain point, while there’s literally no ceiling on how much you can earn.

And humans always pick the path of least resistance, with the least friction. It’s not bad. It’s just human nature.

Plus, who doesn’t love being told they’re already doing the right thing? All of us.

That’s why people love the “quit coffee and get rich” fairy tale. Because it validates the easy choice they’ve already made.

At least that’s what I think. 🤷

How Much Spendthrift Can You Be When You Still Live With Your Parents?

My mindset has always been to earn more money instead of obsessing over cutting costs.

Ever since I got that lesson from my dad, which I talked about in a previous episode, I understood the goal should be to make money.

Not necessarily insane amounts, but at least to focus on growing my capital instead of shrinking my expenses.

After all, when you’re young and still fully dependent on your parents, how much could you even save?

From an early age, I realized that to become independent, I needed to focus on increasing my income, not on cutting the (very few) expenses I had while living with my parents!

To Get Rich, I Quit Peinirli-with-Egg Instead of Coffee

I’ve been following some personal-finance creators on YouTube (mostly English-speaking ones) for years.

I’ve learned a ton, especially about investing in real estate, which I obviously didn’t know before. Pretty much everything I know I learned from the internet over the last 30 years I’ve been online.

So yeah, I listen to what all these people have to say behind the screen. I listen to everything and everyone. But definitely not unfiltered.

One of the big mantras in personal finance is to cut your expenses as much as humanly possible.

I don’t think that’s necessarily bad, because without saving, how are you going to have money to invest in the first place?

I get the concept of saving, but I never really noticed the specific “quit coffee to start saving” thing. Probably because I’ve never drunk coffee, so that advice never hit home.

But I definitely noticed other equivalent daily habits I had, and if I cut them I could boost my savings.

For example, I used to have a peinirli with egg for breakfast. Back in March 2024, I swore to myself that I’ll only buy it again once my online business is back on its feet. Still keeping that promise.

Humans Always Choose the Easy Path

I know from myself that humans always choose the path of least resistance.

I constantly face challenges where my first thought is always to follow the easiest, least painful way out. Obviously, like everyone else, the last thing I want is to cause myself pain; physical or mental.

Yet I also know that only pain leads to big achievements.

For example, I spent years of my life in gyms and swimming pools. I was pretty athletic as a teen and in my early 20s.

I remember the pain I had to go through at the gym to bulk up. I was 75 kg and wanted broader shoulders and a wider back.

No pain, no gain, they say, and they’re not wrong.

A lot of people want to become known, to get fame and glory.

But fame has one very special characteristic compared to other things, like health, power, or money.

Fame is something that once you get it, you can never get rid of it!

I say this all the time to my daughter who wants to become a pop idol and YouTuber when she grows up.

“If you become famous and then it starts bothering you that people recognize you everywhere and you can’t live a normal life like everyone else, you’ll never be able to go back to where you started,” I tell her — not to scare her, of course, but so she’s aware of a danger she probably can’t fully understand yet.

But me, her 46-year-old dad, I’ve been trying to get a little bit of fame lately — something I never wanted in my entire life. The reason? Because with artificial intelligence, very soon it’s going to be extremely hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake. And the easiest way to know something is real on the internet will be to recognize the human face talking to you on the screen.

In other words:

We’ll trust a familiar face much more easily.

So, with the goal of building my personal brand (as they call it), I’ve changed my social media bios and my blog description countless times. Who I am and what I do.

After tons of thinking, worrying, and experimenting, I even ended up asking my daughter. And one of the answers she gave me was so disarming that it made me rethink my priorities. But most importantly, what the heck I’m actually doing on the internet!

Who Actually Knows Why They’re on the Internet?

It’s been a while since I started working on my Greek blog again. I put a new Ghost theme, translated some of my big English articles with AI, and generally spruced it up a bit.

But the homepage had one problem. A big problem that every website that wants to sell something or keep the visitor on the page has. Which is, after all, the whole point of having a website.

There were two lines of text that I had to write.

You’ll say, “Just two lines and you got stuck?” And yet!

I was thinking about it for weeks.

Because those two lines define what the %#@& I’m doing on the internet!

I’m Jim and…

That’s how the first line starts on my blog. The question is what comes after the “and”!

It looks simple, but it’s anything but simple! I’m telling you, weeks — maybe months — I’ve been thinking about it.

And it’s not just the first line.

Streaming has changed how people experience games of every kind. A decade ago, most viewers stuck with esports or story-heavy console titles. Now streaming platforms feel more like open stages where anything can appear. Casino games slipped into that space with surprising speed. They offer bright visuals. Clear rules. Fast rounds. This makes them easy to follow even when someone drops into a stream halfway through a session. Viewers do not need long guides or deep lore to understand what is happening. The action speaks for itself.

Roulette Takes Center Stage

Roulette sits near the top of the list when people talk about casino games made for streaming. The wheel looks good and simple to follow on camera. The rhythm of each spin feels natural for a viewer. The game moves at a steady pace without long breaks. That helps keep attention high in a streaming format where constant motion matters. A streamer can explain the bets before each spin and give a quick sense of what the round will look like. The result plays out in one smooth moment as the ball drops into a pocket.

Roulette also works well because the action comes in waves. Each spin feels like a fresh start. There is no need to track a complicated board or follow many steps. The simplicity builds a bond between streamer and viewer. People sit and wait for the wheel to stop. They react together when the winning number appears. That shared moment drives the appeal.

Some streamers even use variations of roulette with colors and bonus rounds. A look at the Roulette Games Cafe Casino offers shows that there are loads of different ways of playing and variations within those games now. Many add a small twist without burying the familiar feel of the game. The design stays simple. The outcome stays clear.

Other Strong Streaming Picks

Blackjack stands close behind roulette in popularity. The game gives viewers a sense of control. They can follow decisions in real time and think about what they might do in the same spot. The back-and-forth between dealer and player feels lively on camera. Each card revealed changes the whole shape of a round. Blackjack also has a smooth flow. Quick decisions. A clear goal. The hand ends, and a new one begins. This pacing helps a stream stay bright and easy to watch.

Slots also found a huge home online and continue to be popular. In fact, slot streams helped some channels grow faster than anyone expected. Visuals drive a big part of the appeal. Modern slots look bold with animated reels and theme-based sound design. Viewers can drop in for a single spin or stay for a long run. The streamer reacts to each outcome, and the chat reacts with them. 

Baccarat has also gained traction. The game runs with a clean structure and steady rhythm. It often suits streamers who prefer quieter shows with relaxed commentary. People who enjoy clear-cut outcomes and quick rounds tend to like baccarat streams.

The list keeps growing. Casino platforms release new games all the time, and this means streamers can mix up their content. Crash games. Dice games. Card games with new mechanics. The variety pushes streamers to try new formats and gives viewers a regular supply of fresh action.

Why Casino Games Fit Streaming Culture

Streaming thrives on reaction and connection. Casino games make that easy. They deliver small moments of tension followed by clear outcomes. Streamers can talk while they play. They can respond to chat with little breaks between rounds.

Another part of the picture is how big platforms shaped the culture. Twitch drew millions of people who wanted to watch games rather than play them. That opened the door for more niche content. Casino streams fit neatly into that shift. They turned into a comfortable background view for people who enjoy bright visuals and simple rounds. Some viewers tune in to learn how a game works. Others just want to relax with a steady flow of action.

A Market Packed With Choice

One of the biggest reasons casino streaming works today is the size of the modern catalog. Players and streamers have access to thousands of games. Themes shift from fantasy to sci-fi to simple fruit reels. Table games appear in many formats. Live dealer rooms replicate real casino tables. The variety gives streamers endless control over their style. Some focus on table games with a calm vibe. Others build shows around flashy slot play and strong reactions.

Developers push for new ideas all the time, which means the streaming scene keeps shaping itself. Viewers want color and clear action. Developers want games that hold attention. Both sides end up feeding each other. It is a cycle that keeps the niche alive.

Streaming and Casino Games Grow Together

Streaming changed the relationship people have with games. Casino titles joined that shift and carved out a solid place. Roulette leads the way with its clean format and sharp visual flow. Blackjack and baccarat offer strategy and a steady pace. Slots bring bright worlds and animated reels. Together, they build a space where viewers can sink into simple action without feeling lost.

The growth of platforms like Twitch and YouTube only pushed this further. Streamers found a style that works. Viewers found something easy to enjoy. And developers found an audience that responds well to bold ideas. Some studies find that people watch for over an hour of streaming each day. It shows how much it has become part of culture.

Black Friday week is the toughest time for me to win the no-buy challenge. The challenge of trying not to spend any money for as long as possible.

It’s not that I want to spend money.

It’s that during the week of the supposedly huge sales, there are services and products I actually need for work and personal life, and I want to take advantage of the (relatively) low prices.

But it’s quite easy to get carried away and end up buying something I don’t really need.

Sure, you can probably resist buying another TV when you already have one. But what happens when annual subscriptions I was planning to cancel come up for renewal exactly during these days, and I end up paying for another full year of something I know I won’t even use?

The solution to this problem is called budgeting. It wasn’t invented for this exact purpose, but it’s yet another advantage of knowing exactly how much I spend and on what. And since I’ve been budgeting for 10 straight years without missing a single day, I know down to the cent what Office 365, Adobe, WPX and the shoes I destroy walking 8–15 kilometres a day actually cost me.

And those are exactly the things I spent money on this Black Friday.

The open secret of Adobe users

For the past 10 years, right around Black Friday, I renew my Adobe subscription. The full Creative Cloud suite that includes everything from Photoshop and Lightroom to Acrobat and Premiere Pro. It’s not that I’m waiting for Black Friday deals, though.

I honestly couldn’t care less about them.

Because one day before my annual plan expires (and the monthly price jumps from $29.99 to $69.99), I go in and “cancel” the subscription.

Except it doesn’t actually cancel. Adobe immediately counters with another full year at the exact same price.

I often see old people sitting on their narrow balconies, staring at the wall across the street or the road below.

That image really bums me out.

But what would bum me out even more is seeing myself like that one day. So years ago, I made a promise to myself: I’m not ending up there.

I was where you are now, and one day you’ll be where I am

I still remember the first time I really noticed an old man on a tiny balcony like it was yesterday.

I’m about 20, driving through downtown in the middle of a scorching summer, stuck at a red light. The intersection is chaos—traffic, noise, exhaust from scooters baking in 104 °F heat.

Me? Cool as a cucumber with the A/C blasting.

While I’m waiting for green, I’m idly looking around with zero worries in my head. Then my eyes land on a balcony in the building opposite.

First floor. A balcony maybe three feet wide. There’s a white-haired old guy in a white tank top, hairy shoulders out, just staring down at the busy intersection in front of his place.

I distinctly remember checking if there was an outdoor A/C unit anywhere. Couldn’t spot one. My brain immediately went into overdrive:

I’m on the verge of making a big switch in the AI chatbots I use.

Since 2023, I’ve been paying $20 a month for ChatGPT from OpenAI. I’ve got it organized with separate chats and projects, so each conversation has a specific job. It’s basically like having a bunch of mini AI agents.

I even built my own Custom GPT. An agent trained on everything I’ve ever written online over the past few years.

In a way, I basically cloned myself.

If I kick the bucket, my family (or anyone else who wants to) can chat with “Jim AI,” as I named it, and it’ll feel like talking to me!

Meanwhile, I’m also paying for X Premium+.

Ever since Elon Musk bought “my” shares in Twitter and turned it into X with a subscription model, I signed up. Back then, it was about $10 a month. Now it’s up to $30, but just this week I discovered that Premium+ gives me access to SuperGrok.

So I started thinking… should I ditch ChatGPT?

But the real trigger wasn’t Grok itself. It was something way more vain and honestly kind of stupid. Because why would I pay more money to switch to Grok when I already have everything I need with ChatGPT? 🤷

The reason is simple: I finally could get the @ handle I’ve always dreamed of for years.

X Handles Matter (to some of us)

The other day, while browsing X, I accidentally stumbled on the Handle Marketplace. I had no idea it even existed.

It’s a service X offers to business accounts. For example, if I were Coca-Cola and some random person grabbed @CocaCola twenty years ago, I could now claim it, as long as I meet certain criteria, of course.

But it’s not just for companies. Premium+ subscribers can request handles, too. And there’s a waiting list. The demand is that high!

So the bug bit me and I started digging. I’ve been on the platform since the Twitter days, after all.

I created my account in 2009 under the name @JimMakosCom.

I’m used to showering with the door open. Obviously, when I’m alone! I’m not THAT weird!

I do it because I want to feel like I’m outside. Like I’m showering… in the garden, say. And especially in Greece, it’s a shame to be cooped up in those four walls and not enjoy the sunshine, even if it’s just through a window or a balcony door.

Maybe if I had a bathtub with glass all around, I wouldn’t feel this need.

But then I wouldn’t be here. I’d be enjoying my millions!

This is a quirk I’ve picked up lately, and it got me thinking about how many times I’ve gone against the rules and the “shoulds” in my life. In fact, when I decided to share this weirdness with the world out there, I wrote as an intro that it was day 17,016 of refusing to follow social norms.

Jim Makos (@jimmakoscom) on Threads

Day 17,016 of freedom and breaking social norms. Taking a shower with the door open. 🛀

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First off, yeah, up to the day I wrote it, I’d actually lived 17,015 days. Of course I didn’t calculate it myself.

What do we have AI for?

And second, my message reached more eyes than the others. Probably, I thought, there are quite a few out there who’d love to break some of their own chains. So I decided to talk a bit more about my whole philosophy on social “shoulds” and, basically, on life itself.

Because somewhere in my student years, I realized I wasn’t built for a normal life.

The moment I realized “normal” life isn’t for me

Up until I got into university, my life was pretty much like most people’s.

Kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school, and then university entrance exams like clockwork. There was no other path. Up to that point, everything was mapped out.

The first detour I could’ve taken would’ve been if I didn’t get into university. Luckily for me, I got into polytechnic, so what I felt back then was just that I’d won another 5 years without having to find a job and learn to support myself. 🥳

Bless my parents!

Basically, I felt like my teenage years had gotten a life extension. But right there at polytechnic, the next four-step program would kick in:

• University
• Army
• Job
• Pension

And that’s when I first realized I wasn’t made for that path.